Browning BLR or BAR or Benelli R1

[sernv99]

I'm looking for a rifle for deer hunting, east coast, NY state. Probably some "sitting in the woods for a few hours" along with walking through high grass and waiting for a deer to pop up and run. I think a bolt action is too slow for this kind of hunting and I dont really need 1000 yards sniper range (since the area I hunt switched from shotgun to rifle last year and I only have about 70 acres to hunt on). So I was thinking of a lever action like the Browning BLR or a semi-auto (non-mil) type of rifle like a BAR or Benelli R1.

anyone hunt similar terrain and have used either of these three guns and was happy with it? I'm thinking to get it in 30-06 in case I want to take it elsewhere in the US and hunt.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I have hunted with a BAR Safari for quite a few years now. I've been very happy with the rifle. It's in .30-06 and I think that's a fine choice as well.

Like you I don't need much range. I don't think I've ever shot at a deer more than 200 yards or so away and the BAR is nice if you need a follow up shot in thick stuff.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

My grandfather bought a rem. woodmaster in 1964. 308 cal. It's killed a ton of deer, and never had any problems. It's very accurate too. So, I like semi-auto deer rifles.
I like the BAR a lot. I like the BLR a lot. Both are robust designs.
If I were to buy a new one, I'd likely buy the BAR in whatever caliber was best for the job I'd be doing.
And, if you want to get fancy, Browning can customize it for you.

 

[jmr40]

Of the 3 choices I would take the BLR. Nothing wrong with the others just personal preferance.

I hunt in Georgia and most of my shots are well under 100 yards as well and get those snap shooting situations in thick woods too. I own several rifles, mostly bolt actions or traditional levers made by Marlin and Winchester. I still favor the bolt action. My Remington model 7 in .308 is lighter to carry and quicker to the shoulder than even my Winchester 30-30's. The first shot is the one that counts but I can get off "AIMED" repeat shots almost as fast with the bolt guns as with anything except autos.

 

[paintballdude902]

save up and get a class III real bar thats what i would do lol

actually i would go with the blr

 

[TexasRifleman]

save up and get a class III real bar thats what i would do lol

Those are hell to haul up into the deerstand

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Sern...

Do yourself a HUGE favor, Sern. Buy the rifle and select the caliber that is appropriate for what you are going to do now - NOT for what you might (or might NOT) do someday in the who-knows-how-far-out-Future.

The BLR is .243 is a fine deer rifle.

 

[paintballdude902]

shawnee has a point but still .30-06 is a proven deer slayer as are the browning rifles ny probably has bear or moose towards the canadien border .30-06 will do fine for any of the animals you will come across around you

Those are hell to haul up into the deerstand

but the most fun thing i have ever fired 17th birthday

cut me down a pinetree

 

[sernv99]

what kind of stock would you recommend? the nice glossy walnut or black synthetic? I can't see myself walking through brush and the woods with a nice glossy walnut stock but man they look so sweet!!! The Browning and Benelli stocks are some of the nicest I have seen...but I'll be more concerned about my wood stock getting dirty and scratched then actually hunting....I guess synthetic would be the way to go....

 

[paintballdude902]

if you are going to fret over dings and scratches then go synthetic

i like wood stock gimmi a hunk of walnut over synthetic anyday i think of scratches as badges of honor not blemishes....and hell i get bored and refinish guns im actually doing my marlin now lol

i was once told by a gs that makes custom rifles "when i hand a rifle off when im done i say the first thing to do is go home, find the biggest tree in the yard ,and smack the stock on the tree so you wont worry when you get the first scratch"

if you care that much go synthetic

 

[TexasRifleman]

I agree with the "dings happen" thing. My BAR is 6-8 years old and it has a few places on the wood. I don't baby it that's for sure.

But I like the look of wood so I live with it. I don't sell guns for the most part so resale value doesn't come into play for me.

I remember every ding and scratch in the stock.

"A bad day scratching your stock hunting is better than a good day at work" or something like that

 

[sernv99]

yeah I like the look of wood as well....i'll decide on this later i guess..

one more thing, a few on this thread hunt in similar terrain like I do. What is more feasible, to use open sights or scope it? Just a few hours ago i took a walk around my property (70 acres) and honestly I dont see how a scope can give me an advantage. It would be too slow to shoulder it and get the deer in sight with a scope. If a deer pops up from bedding down, I'll be dealing with tall grass and some brush/hedgerows.

 

[paintballdude902]

look into some ghost rings

or a low power scope i use a 1.5x-4.5x scope on my .30-30 i like the low power because it makes for a quick shot and im not gonna get a long shot here where i hunt but my marlin didnt come with a sight elevator when i got it so i just tossed an old bsa catseye on it and im happy

remember "aim small miss small" a high power scope might have you looking at the tick on the deers back but ur heart beat alone can make u miss the shot with a high mag scope

 

[jmr40]

I like a low powered scope for the type or terrain where I hunt. Most people only think of scopes as long range sighting tools but they have other advantages as well. Most game is shot very early or very late in the day in low light. A scope helps you see better in low light situations. Where I hunt it is usually very thick with brush. Hitting a deer sized target is easy with irons at 30 yards, but putting the bullet through a baeball sized opening in the brush is easier with a scope.

 

[jmr40]

More thoughts to add to the above post. Earlier I suggested the BLR. Part of my reasoning was because it is lighter than the others. Many guns feel great until you get a scope mounted then they feel heavy and clumsey. That is the main reason for my preference for bolt rifles. They can be built lighter and quicker handling than most other actions.

On quick snap shooting. If you do not go too powerful on the scope I think you will find you will do better than with irons. The military has found that thier troops in Iraq are getting more hits when using low powered optics on their rifles in combat situations. With irons your eyes have to find the target, the front sight, then the rear sight. Trying to focus on 3 things at 3 different distances from the eye and trying to hit a moving target can be done. Just easier with optics.

Pay attention to eye relief on the scope, the more the better. One reason I am a big fan of Leupold scopes is because they are lighter, shorter, and the eye releif is less critical. Once mounted for me I can just throw the gun up and I am looking directly through the scope at my target. Some scopes, while being great optics, require you to waste time getting your eye alligned perfectly through the scope to find your target.

 

[TX1911fan]

I have the Benelli R1 in 300 WinMag and love it. I hadn't shot many rifles when I got it, and I was shocked when I shot my friends .270 and it recoiled more than my R1. The gas system really soaks up the recoil.

I will admit that it only gives me three shots before accuracy suffers and I have to let the barrel cool down. But those first three shots are really great, especially from a semi auto. Usually right around 1 MOA at 100 yards. Definitely enough to take game. Plus, it's a beautiful rifle and very well made.

 

[Full Clip]

I have an R1 in 30-06. Works very for me, it's accurate enough (no, not a sniper rifle), and it's beautiful, but probably not the most cost-effective solution. May be able to find a used one now that it's been around a few years.

 

[sernv99]

yeah I'm looking for used. I'm liking the Benelli R1. I wouldnt be concerned about accuracy past 3 shots considering if you are not able to get the animal in 3 shots, it's well past rifle range anyway or it ran into some thick cover and you cant see it anymore.

 

[shootr]

That R-1 looks like a fine rifle and I wouldn't hesitate were I in the market. But I already own an older BAR in 30.06 and can't recommend the BAR highly enough. Several of my relatives hunt with them too. Smooth, accurate rifles, and I like the caliber. Over the years, I've taken more than 20 Michigan white tail with it from 40 yards or so, out past 200. Hits like Thors hammer.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

You can't go wrong with a browning. My personal choice would be the one with the steel receiver as opposed to alum. The blr with the steel receiver is also a good choice.