BLR for targets and deer?
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788Ham
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In the .243 caliber, no ! Depending on the state your in, and whether that caliber is legal or not, the .223 might be light. In Colo., the .223 isn't legal to hunt deer with.
jakk280rem
Member
Probably not. For a range gun, I think I would prefer something with a barrel that is more easily changed. And a rifle with a bit better reputation for consistent accuracy. As a hunting rifle, Absolutely.
lastofthebreed
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BLR Accuracy
I just picked up a BLR in 7-08. It is, by far, the most accurate lever action firearm I have ever had my hands on.
I am shooting 120 grain bullets in it using Reloader 15 powder. Five shot groups at 100 yds. stay around 3/4 inch. I have handled a ton of bolt action firearms that will not shoot that well.
I am not saying every BLR will shoot that good, but mine does! I am looking forward to deer season and a chance to "blood" the rifle.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
I just picked up a BLR in 7-08. It is, by far, the most accurate lever action firearm I have ever had my hands on.
I am shooting 120 grain bullets in it using Reloader 15 powder. Five shot groups at 100 yds. stay around 3/4 inch. I have handled a ton of bolt action firearms that will not shoot that well.
I am not saying every BLR will shoot that good, but mine does! I am looking forward to deer season and a chance to "blood" the rifle.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
rodensouth
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Lastofthebreed, did you happen to group any factory ammo? I'm curious how much difference hand loading made.
SunnySlopes
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Two years ago I bought an old model (steel receiver) BLR in 308. W/factory ammo I got ~2 inch groups out of it, and that's with an old Redfield 1 3/4 to 5 power steel tubed scope.
I'm confident I could get better w/a more powerful scope.
I've owned both Marlin and Winchester lever guns. The BLR is far superior IMO.
I'm confident I could get better w/a more powerful scope.
I've owned both Marlin and Winchester lever guns. The BLR is far superior IMO.
bikemutt
Member
My 308 BLR is scary accurate. My initial concern with it was recoil; I've been pleasantly surprised. Its not a cheap rifle by any stretch but I have zero regrets buying it. If I could exchange it right now for what I have in it for cash, I'd buy it back on the spot.
whughett
Member
Had one in .358 Winchester. Hand loaded for it . Equipped with a receiver site the rifle shot better than I could hold it. Friend talked me out of in a trade, have regretted it ever since.
Cocked & Locked
Member
Blr .243
I shot two deer with this little .243 BLR (steel frame, Japan) and it put them down with no problem.
I never could work up a hand load that I was satisfied with in it and decided to quit trying. It would shoot inexpensive Federal Power-Shok 100 grain bullets into 1" groups at 100 yards. That was good enough for me.
I eventually sold it for no good reason other than I thought it was to pretty to hunt with.
I shot two deer with this little .243 BLR (steel frame, Japan) and it put them down with no problem.
I never could work up a hand load that I was satisfied with in it and decided to quit trying. It would shoot inexpensive Federal Power-Shok 100 grain bullets into 1" groups at 100 yards. That was good enough for me.
I eventually sold it for no good reason other than I thought it was to pretty to hunt with.
Don McDowell
Member
I have a couple of BLR's and know of several others. Every one of those rifles when fed their favored ammunition,will shoot with about any bolt gun for 3 shots off the bench. After that 3rd shot those thin barrels start to heat up and the groups will open, but those first 3 making one ragged hole at 100 yds is not uncommon.
As far as velocity is concerned the 243's and 308's I have ran past the chronograph don't show any loss of velocity to be concerned about.
As far as velocity is concerned the 243's and 308's I have ran past the chronograph don't show any loss of velocity to be concerned about.
I would really appreciate if a BLR takedown owner would make an accuracy and POI shift test using a good scope and firing from a well supported position.
I've been googling for years without getting a straight technical answer to the question:
How large is the POI shift if the BLR TD is taken down and assembled?
I've been googling for years without getting a straight technical answer to the question:
How large is the POI shift if the BLR TD is taken down and assembled?
foxtail207
Member
I have a very nice BLR in .22-250. It's a great varmint shooter. I love this gun. When working up hand loads for it, my final ammo selection gave me consistent groups within 3/8" at 100 yards. It has a Weaver V10 2.5-10x scope on it.
lastofthebreed
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rodensouth: I have not tried any factory ammo in my BLR. Years ago I loaded some ammo for a friend who had a BLR. I had to buy a set of small base dies to get my handloads to chamber in his gun. If memory serves me correctly his BLR didn't shoot quite as good as mine does, but it was certainly acceptable.
A caveat. His was one of the early models and mine is the later model. His was straight stocked and mine is pistol grip.
I am really impressed with mine.
A caveat. His was one of the early models and mine is the later model. His was straight stocked and mine is pistol grip.
I am really impressed with mine.
crazysccrmd
Member
Mine is a straight stocked, laminate and matte stainless.
rodregier
Member
+1 - Stainless, laminate, straight stock takedown in .308 Win.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?fid=003B&cid=034&tid=015
Mine is as accurate as I can see and hold with a 2.5X Scout scope. The trigger on mine is too heavy, which is apparently a common problem. (Factory spec is 4.5 lbs, mine was 8.8 lbs - ouch!). There appear to no independent gunsmiths in Canada who are competent *and* interested in reworking a BLR trigger. Given it is a fitting and not a parts-changing issue, I am reluctant to let a Browning Canadian warranty depot try to rework an otherwise fine rifle.
Since it is hard to rework/replace the trigger on the BLR, I would not recommend one for serious target work. The barrel is very good in my limited testing.
The takedown lockup is very good. Since I won't be deploying a higher magnification receiver-mounted optic I can't help with that request.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?fid=003B&cid=034&tid=015
Mine is as accurate as I can see and hold with a 2.5X Scout scope. The trigger on mine is too heavy, which is apparently a common problem. (Factory spec is 4.5 lbs, mine was 8.8 lbs - ouch!). There appear to no independent gunsmiths in Canada who are competent *and* interested in reworking a BLR trigger. Given it is a fitting and not a parts-changing issue, I am reluctant to let a Browning Canadian warranty depot try to rework an otherwise fine rifle.
Since it is hard to rework/replace the trigger on the BLR, I would not recommend one for serious target work. The barrel is very good in my limited testing.
The takedown lockup is very good. Since I won't be deploying a higher magnification receiver-mounted optic I can't help with that request.
JoeDorn
Member
I received my Gold Medallion BLR in .308 yesterday. I planned on putting a Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x50 on it but after getting the gun I believe it is an overkill and should be made into a more 'Scout-like" gun... any recommendations?
The gun is intended to be used for hogs and coyotes at night and that was my reason for the 50mm objective....
The gun is intended to be used for hogs and coyotes at night and that was my reason for the 50mm objective....
OP
OP
mainecoon
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There is a video on youtube featuring the BLR and just a red dot for hunting as you mentioned. However, If I were to get one I'd want something more than 1x magnification. If you want to keep your zero, are you limited to a scout scope on the takedown model (assuming you take it apart to clean it)? In other words, does using a standard scope mean that you lose your zero every time you take the rifle apart?
JoeDorn
Member
"There is a video on youtube featuring the BLR and just a red dot for hunting as you mentioned. However, If I were to get one I'd want something more than 1x magnification. If you want to keep your zero, are you limited to a scout scope on the takedown model (assuming you take it apart to clean it)? In other words, does using a standard scope mean that you lose your zero every time you take the rifle apart?"
I do not have a 'take-down' model... I did not see an actual gun until l received mine (I tried for over a year). After I received the gun I realized it is not good to have the large 50mm objective blocking the very good iron sights and decided to back up and start over. The iron sights are so nice that I might not put a scope on it at all since my shots will mostly be in the 100-200 yard range...
I do not have a 'take-down' model... I did not see an actual gun until l received mine (I tried for over a year). After I received the gun I realized it is not good to have the large 50mm objective blocking the very good iron sights and decided to back up and start over. The iron sights are so nice that I might not put a scope on it at all since my shots will mostly be in the 100-200 yard range...
MattShlock
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Joe;
Buy the factory Scout Scope Mount (especially for the takedowns -- there is no degradation of POI).
Nice choice -- .308 is the largest caliber still in 4-round mags. 3 after that...
Pictures please guys!!!
I want one of these guns but can't see the point for the money for me -- pearls to swine.
Buy the factory Scout Scope Mount (especially for the takedowns -- there is no degradation of POI).
Nice choice -- .308 is the largest caliber still in 4-round mags. 3 after that...
Pictures please guys!!!
I want one of these guns but can't see the point for the money for me -- pearls to swine.
JoeDorn
Member
It is a fairly high dollar gun but I am a Browning freak. I started out looking for the BLR in stainless and .270 but ran across the White Gold Medallion and fell in love.
The WGM is not available in .270 or I would have that model. I don't like having to marshal a bunch of calibers and had a hard time going to the .308. The upside is I saw .308 (and .270) on the shelves during the recent shortages when other calibers were missing.
I don't know how to post photographs but go to the following URL for the Browning page... CAUTION!!! it could be a hazard to your bank balance...
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/itemdetails.asp?item=034017118&cid=034&tid=017
Would someone give me a quick course on how to add photographs to an entry... I tried to find instructions on THR but all I found was that you can do it with albums but they are not allowed on the forum... There are a couple of unique features on the gun that I had not seen until I had mine in hand. It is not a 94 or 336 (I have one each)...
The WGM is not available in .270 or I would have that model. I don't like having to marshal a bunch of calibers and had a hard time going to the .308. The upside is I saw .308 (and .270) on the shelves during the recent shortages when other calibers were missing.
I don't know how to post photographs but go to the following URL for the Browning page... CAUTION!!! it could be a hazard to your bank balance...
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/itemdetails.asp?item=034017118&cid=034&tid=017
Would someone give me a quick course on how to add photographs to an entry... I tried to find instructions on THR but all I found was that you can do it with albums but they are not allowed on the forum... There are a couple of unique features on the gun that I had not seen until I had mine in hand. It is not a 94 or 336 (I have one each)...
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witchhunter
Member
I had one in .243 about a 1980 Miroku model. It shot great and was a sweet gun, a little heavy to carry. I used it for coyotes and I liked the detachable magazine. But I traded it for a Ruger 77 ultralite in .22/250 that was way lighter, and shorter.
Elkins45
Member
I recently bought one in 358Win with the intention of shooting cast bullets with it. So far I have been very impressed with the accuracy, and as a lefty I appreciate the ambidextrous nature of a lever gun.
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