Browning BLR: Pro/Con

[RPRNY]

I have heard vague negatives over the years about poor accuracy, awful triggers, and problems cleaning. They are attractive rifles. My only experience with one was firing one several times that had been chambered in 35 Brown-Whelen. I found it quite stout recoil and, as such did not learn anything.

Arguments in favor and against, preferably from those with direct experience would be most appreciated.

 

[Kendal Black]

Merely examined them. Am unconvinced they have advantages over bolt actions. Some fiddly bits inside them.

Highly motivated people years ago learned to shoot bolt actions faster than a body might imagine. Look up stangskyting and mad minute.

 

[entropy]

They are a PITA to disassemble for cleaning and repairs. I'm not fond of their looks, myself. There are several different iterations, looks wise and mechanically. They are the only way you can get a Magnum round in a lever action, though.

 

[Ru4real]

I have a 90's BLR in 358 Winchester that I've had for about 20 years. Accuracy is outstanding. Trigger is just OK. I've shot about a half dozen deer with it. Do you have any "lucky rifles"? This is my lucky rifle, never misses, I'm really confident in the rifle and caliber. I handload for the 358. It has the straight stock.

I removed the notch rear sight. I drilled and tapped the receiver for a Williams peep sight that I use when we have snow on the ground. I use a Leopold fixed 4x when no snow. I very much like the detachable box magazine for quick load/unload.

My brother bought a new BLR last year, with the pistol grip stock, in 308. His gun has better fit and finish, looks better, but is not as smooth working the lever as mine. Probably will be after a few years, I bet.

They don't carry as well as a Winchester 94 primarily because the balance point puts part of the box magazine in your hand for single hand carry. I had to adjust my box mag ears for reliable feeding. I also filed the transition from the feed ramp to the chamber to handle flat point bullets, which, in hind sight, was a waste of time, because once I discovered Hornady 200g Hornady spire points, 225g Nosler Accubonds and 250g Speer hot cores, I understood what a 358 is really about.

The posts about working on them? I can't imagine what would break. The geared, rotary bolt is built like a brick sh*t house.

 

[BigBore44]

Friend of mine had one in '06. Was fun to shoot but kicked like a pack mule. Accuracy was about like the Rem 7400-7600 @ ~2.5-3 MOA. Trigger was heavy. I'd guess about 6-7lbs. Action was fairly smooth but you had to work it in two distinct and deliberate motions. It was a huntable rifle. But in all honesty I'd much rather have my Marlins. All in all I'd give it a 6/10.

 

[EIB0879]

I inherited a 1971 Belgium made BLR in .243. I don't like the trigger but it is manageable. With Hornady SST 95 grain, I can get 3 shot 1" groups at 100 yards. It is heavy for a carbine (steel receiver). I won't disassemble it because it is a PITA to reassemble. I treat the mag like it is gold because it is almost impossible to find the old "guppy" magazines.

My daughter uses it and loves it. She stopped hunting so I may use it if I do any javelina hunting next year.

 

[Nature Boy]

Love my steel receiver BLR in .358 win. Just started loading for it last year as I was down to my last 20 rounds

As others have said, the trigger isn't bench rest quality but it's certainly adequate for hunting. I really like the rack and pinion action. To me that, and the DBM which gives you more caliber options are the BLRs best design features

I still have some load development to do but my BLR has always put a bullet where I was aiming and I've lost count of the deer I've taken with

 

[HOLY DIVER]

i owned one for awhile it was a steel receiver in 308,i wasn't that crazy about it not because i thought it to be poor quality it was a very well built rifle it just didn't fit me just didn't feel right when i would shoulder it.the blr surprised how well it grouped off sand bags it was sub moa with that said if your a lever gun guy and one feels good to you when you shoulder it go with it

 

[zaitcev]

Arguments in favor and against, preferably from those with direct experience would be most appreciated.

It's just as you said. The disassembly requires driving pins out, and 2 out of 3 on mine are frozen solid. But it might be just as well, since putting it back together requires indexing of wheels.

If I were to buy one today, I'd get Henry Long ranger instead. It's not going to have the amazing woodwork that my '85 has, but it's going to have a floated barrel and better trigger. The disassembly is still a pain, but at least I can start early.

 

[Elkins45]

Pros: light and handy, accepts high pressure rounds, lefty friendly, still chambered in 358 Win

Cons: pricy, clean from muzzle, hard trigger, too glossy for me

I have one in 358 Win and I like it, especially as a left handed shooter. Good luck finding a LH bolt gun in 358.

 

[HOLY DIVER]

note:when i had mine i used heavy duty fishing string and cleaned from the chamber end took some time but i was able to get the job done with no damage to the crown

 

[GooseGestapo]

Mine is the twin of nature boys. (BLR '81, steel reciever, .358).
Accuracy was mediocre till I tried Ken Waters "Pet Load" using H4895 and seated the bullets out as far as the magazine allowed.
I also removed the abomination of a recoil pad. Fitted a Boyd's 1/2" rubber pad. With a Leupold 2.5-8x Vari-XIII it's handy and fits much better. Feels a pound lighter w/new pad.
Trigger is my only lingering complaint. Supposedly there is a gunsmith that does trigger work, but at $150 plus shipping both ways, I've passed. Mine had reasonable pull, but feels like a double action pistol pull. Loooooong.

Recoil isn't nearly as bad as I've heard described.
I'm lucky, rifle came with three mags.
I like it but I've got 11 Marlins. I'm prejudiced. Even my 1915 M1893 has a vastly superior trigger (no trigger job, made that way!), and shoots just as good. Both of my .338ME (MX,MXLR) have better triggers (I made them that way), equal or better accuracy, equal performance to .358 ballistically. No expensive magazines.

I too shoot "wrong handed" (left dominant eye). Hence I prefer l/a rifles.

 

[Speedo66]

I've got one of the early Belgium made steel receivers in .308 with an original Redfield 4x scope. Shot many deer with it using Hornady 165g Light Magnums, they've been one shot kills. I consider it one of the best woods rifles ever; light, short, hard hitting, and very accurate. It can also reach out if necessary unlike most other lever actions. Never thought the trigger a problem, exterior fit and finish is superb. I don't find the recoil noticeable.

If you like lever actions, I can't think of a better one. Mine's not a take down, don't know if they had it back then, but that would be icing on the cake.

Now I live in a state that only recently allowed straight walled cartridge rifles, and my poor BLR hasn't come out in a while. Not sure what to do with it.

 

[SwampWolf]

I'm not fond of their looks, myself.

Agreed. Subjective opinion by definition but the BLR has to be the ugliest lever-action rifle ever made.

 

[SwampWolf]

If you like lever actions, I can't think of a better one.

I can think of several that are as good or better than the BLR, including the Savage Model 99, the Winchester Models 1886/71 and the Model 88 and the Sako Finnwolf.

 

[Speedo66]

Which of those are still production?

 

[SwampWolf]

Your declaration didn't include a production status contingency but I think 1886 repos are still being made.

 

[RPRNY]

Thanks very much. Helpful insights. While they kind of match up with the hearsay over the years, it's good to have specific information. Interesting that there were so many mentions of 358 Win. I have a Handy Rifle chambered inn the slightly more powerful 35 Krag and would love to have a repeater in 358 Win. On a value for money basis, I'm just not sold on the BLR.

Would love to have a Win 1886/71 in 35 Krag! I could have an 1895, but I don't love that rifle.

Anyway, appreciate your experience and advice. Thanks.

 

[cdb1]

My only gripe with them are the triggers and there aren't many gunsmiths that will/can lighten them.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Triggers are not very good, but good enough for hunting. Don't take one apart as the gears have to be indexed properly. Small base dies if you are reloading otherwise you run the real risk of getting an empty stuck in the chamber & very hard to get out w/o damage. Happened to a friend of mine & he ended up breaking one of the gears. He bought a new gear from Browning, but he had to send it back to them for proper assembly. Spare mags. are available, but their prices are outrageous if you ask me. Someone told me that you can buy aftermarket ones, but I have not seen any.

 

[lastofthebreed]

I own a couple of the Browning Lever Rifles, they are very nice rifles - accurate and fun to shoot. I really, really like them. I also have a couple of Savage 99's - also accurate and fun to shoot. A Marlin 39A, Mossberg Palomino, Henry Lever Action. Did I mention lever actions are fun to shoot?

 

[BLRguy]

I have had a .308 since 81. Sub moa, carries nice. Also a .358 of the same vintage for a few years. Same accuracy. The triggers take some effort. The .308 has broken in over time. I would recommend them.

 

[Nature Boy]

I had no idea BLRs were so ugly until I started reading about it on the internet

 

[cdb1]

Same for me with Core-Lokts. Been using them for forty years with what I thought was success, only to read on forums how woefully inadequate they are.

 

[Speedo66]

You know some deer read the same publications we do and are refusing to die unless hit with the latest wiz bang tactical magnum, therefore rendering all previous cartridges obsolete.