.308 or .243 magazine for BLR Lightening?

[rodregier]

(I'm in Canada, so US ITAR export regulations make it easier for me to deal with Canadian retail channels).

I'm trying to find a Canadian retailer selling box magazines from *stock* that will function in a .308 Win BLR Lightening rifle.

Browning's web site lists different SKU's for the
.243 (112026011) vs .308 (112026012) box magazines for the Browning BLR Lightening lever-action rifle.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/accessories/itemdetails.asp?item=112026011&cid=112&tid=907

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/accessories/itemdetails.asp?item=112026012&cid=112&tid=907


Other retailers (including Brownells) say the 112026011 SKU can be used for:

243 Winchester, 6 mm Remington, 7 mm - 08 Remington, 308 Winchester.

http://www.brownells.com/magazines/rifle-magazines/magazines/magazine-prod1924.aspx

(I know all of these cartridges cases have the same parent, just have different diameter necks+projectiles.).

So, can the .243 and the .308 version of that magazine be interchanged or not?

I can find Canadian retailers listing the .243 SKU variant but not even listing the .308 SKU. The Canadian retailers listing the .308 SKU variant have no stock at present.

Thanks

 

[rcmodel]

One or the other of these guys should know for sure.

Browning Service Department
3005 Arnold-Tenbrook Road
Arnold, Missouri 63010-4728
1-800-322-4626

Canadian customers call or write:
Browning Canada Sports Ltd./Ltee
5583 Chemin St-François
St-Laurent, Quebec H4S 1W6
514-333-7261

rc

 

[rodregier]

Spoke to "Mike" in Browning service in MO this AM.

The primary difference is how the magazines are *marked*.
(RSR: probably a stamping).

Functionally, the .243 and .308 Win magazines will operate interchangably.

So, if I can find stock for .243 Win magazines I can purchase them in confidence that they will work with .308 Win cartridges for the BLR Lightening.

 

[rodregier]

After searching very hard, found in-stock BLR ".243" magazines at a couple of Canadian retailers. Ordered. Woo, woo! I'll report on how the ".243" magazines themselves are marked after I take delivery.

 

[rodregier]

Got my first delivery of Browning sku 112026011 which is nominally described on the attached chart as .243 Win.

Magazine follower is impact stamped "BLR 243 JAPAN" on the front "flat" of the follower.
If you loaded any cartridges into the magazine it would be difficult to see that marking.
(Not a big issue).

BTW, if you were thinking of loading any of your cartridges "long" for the BLR box magazine, the front-to-back interior dimension of the magazine box is approx. 2.825". SAAMI spec for .308 Win is max of 2.810" cartridge OAL.

http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Rifle/308%20Winchester.pdf