Opinions needed on Browning BLR 308 for whitetail

[thom1960]

What do you think? Can get a pretty good deal ($700) on a lighty used BLR 308 with a Leupold Vari x II. Thinking about letting kid borrow it for deer hunting, and I think it's pretty cool rifle. Always thought a guy should own a 308 for SHTF. It's light and compact. Would it work well for Minnesota whitetail hunting? I shoot a Ruger 30-06 myself, but started on a Marlin 30-30. (hell, might let the kid use the Ruger!) How much are ballistics affected by the short barrel? What would be the practical range on this rifle? Basically, would you buy this rifle? Any and all opinions would be appreciated!

Tom

 

[Fremmer]

I used one in .243 Winchester. It was accurate. With the scope, that sounds like a good deal. You can use it like any other hunting rifle, it makes a good brush gun, but it is accurate enough to use from a stand for the longer shots, too. The shorter barrel won't be a problem (other than it'll be a little louder). The .308 is a great deer round!

 

[Rokman]

I had one for deer hunting and it did a good job at it. I did not shoot factory 150gr. ammo worth a darn, but 165 Federal fusion was very accurate. It is one of the few guns that I sold that I wish I had back.

 

[Naphtali]

I have a long-standing rule: Never buy a firearm that I cannot disassemble for maintenance.

Browning calls out in its manual, and via "support" response to not attempt to disassemble the BLR's action. When procedure for disassembling bolt-lever from its rack & pinion then reassembling it - without resorting to sending the rifle to Browning - becomes generally known-and-doable, then a BLR becomes a lever action to consider buying. Were you fixed on a lever action, I strongly recommend a side lever safety Savage 99 rifle. Everything the BLR 308 can do, a 99 does as well or better. And it's easy to futz with.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Natty Bumpo]

Two Thumbs UP!

I've got one and will never sell it.

Mine wears a Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5, but the scope you mentioned will be just dandy. I have too many deer/BG rifles (is that even possible ) so the BLR 308 is a "shooting guest/loaner" piece. Mine is the older model with a dull oil finished stock.

Mine shoots the REM CL 150gr factory loads just dandy and its a sure venison getter with one thru the boiler room. It has plenty of power, accuracy and range (easily 250yds) to make a dandy deer rifle.

NB

 

[thom1960]

I really liked the way it felt. Reminded me of the good old days of the Marlin 336. Took my first whitetail with one, but not ready to go back to a 30-30. Savage would be nice but hard to find and pricey for excellent condition rifles. The one I'm looking at is near mint. It is a MN Deer Hunters Assn Collectable numbered gun from 1996 and was taken care of. Few minor scratches on the stock, but no matter. Gonna get more before it's used up! I'm not a collector, I'm a shooter.

 

[ColeK]

That sounds like a good price to me. I wouldn't mine another one myself.
As I recall, the recoil would get your attention but was manageable, in the straight grip model and no recoil pad, I had years ago.

 

[JASmith]

I have a .270 Winchester BLR -- It works fine!

One thing to consider about the .308 is the vast variety of ammunition you can buy. This lets you to, among other things, use reduced recoil ammunition to help get new shooters accustomed to shooting the rifle.

The reduced recoil ammo, BTW, will still be able to regularly reach out and touch deer at well beyond practical 30-30 ranges.

Hope you go for it!

 

[thom1960]

Yep, the more I've been reading and thinking about it, the more I believe it would be a useful addition to the collection. Tomorrow I'll go give it the final once over and bring it home. Any recommendations on ammo? My Ruger 30-06 loves Winchester Ballistic Silvertips 150 grain. 1" groups all day at 100 yards. I'll probably pick up a box for the 308 and would like to try at least 1 other. What do you think? This will be my go to deer round.

 

[JASmith]

I have a great fondness (one might call it nostalgia!) for Winchester Silvertips so have no interest in weaning someone away from them!

That having been said, you could try Remington's Managed Recoil (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=233209) which pushes a 125 gr bullet at 2660 out of a 24" barrel.

Folks also swear by Rem CoreLoct and Fed Fusion.

I haven't checked to see if Winchester offers a reduced recoil load for .308 -- this is becoming increasingly popular because it allows folks to get accustomed to their rifles and to be able to better use them when they need the heavier ammo!

 

[thom1960]

2 words: Lead Sled! Learned my lesson dialing in a 870 Wingmaster with a Hastings rifled barrel and Nikon shotgun scope using Hastings Magnum Sabots. Took 20 rounds. Was using everything I could find for padding for the last 5 rounds! Nasty bruise for weeks. Bought the lead sled when I got my 30-06. Like shooting a 22! Now it's community property. Anyway, we'll see how the silvertips work.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

The blr's are good guns, especially the ones with steel receivers. The stocks on them are too long for me and don't try and take it apart cause you're going to have problems. Be very careful if reloading as I had a friend that used his reloads in .243 and he could not open the bolt. He finally broke one of the gears inside and Browning sent him the parts that he needed, but he ended up sending it to Browning. This was a long time ago, but RCBS used to make small base dies for these guns if memory serves me correctely. The safety is different. Even though the gun has a half cock, the safety is with the hammer all the way down. I read it in the manual, but I hope someone else will chime in and verify as I said it was a long time ago.

 

[zeke]

Have a alloy receiver BLR in 308, and the length of trigger pull was around 14 inches, way to long for my short arms. Had it cut down, and added simms recoil pad. Very nice short,light and accurate (first couple shots) hunting rifle. Am usiing slightly lighter reloads for it then a bolt.

Might also make good truck gun, as it loads up quick. Am not about to take it down far enough to remove the bolt.

 

[heeler]

I had the oppurtunity to use a BLR in 243 a few years ago.
Pretty rifle.
What I did not like was the trigger because of the long creep and it probably broke at 7 pounds.
It takes a person with true knowledge of these guns to adjust them.
For that reason and what Naphtali mentioned it would be good to give it a second ponder.
Other than that they are a well built rifle.

 

[thom1960]

Well, I picked it up this morning. Like new condition with a couple scratches on the stock. Bluing is perfect, bore is perfect. Trigger is nice and crisp. Not heavy at all. Action is smooth. I'm in love except for the engraving doesn't do much for me. It's a MNDHA collector gun from 1996. If it was shot, it wasn't much.

 

[dtvburns]

Nice, silver engraving would have been better in my opinion.

I have a take down in 308 with Bushnell 2X scout scope, quick pointer for hogs and brush hunting dear. Barrel will heat up after two shots and groups get big so bring another gun when you go to the range to try it out. The short barrel allows for a lot of noise and barrel flash. Recoil will not be an issue.

 

[trex1310]

Now, pick up a couple of boxes of Winchchester 168grn Silvertips.

 

[thom1960]

Grabbed a box of 150 grain silvertips. Gonna see how it likes them.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Silvertips will work just fine. They are the only bullets from a high powered rifle that I ever recovered from game. Both from a 250 lb. boar.

 

[Abel]

silver engraving would have been better in my opinion.

I have a take down in 308 with Bushnell 2X scout scope,

Laughin'. You'll run down the man's gold inlay in one breath & brag on a Bushnell 2x scope in the next. Priceless.

 

[whalerman]

I'm laughin' too, Abel. You got him on that one.

 

[fletchbutt152]

I would love to have a BLR. I know a few guys who have them and they are great. Just read an article in a gun rag that talked about a gray laminate stock take down BLR that shoots 1" easy. Can't wait until I get one.

In all my rifles, I've tried the cheap core-lokt and federal blue box specials from wally world. I've yet to find a rifle that won't shoot nickle sized 100yrd 5 shot groups.

 

[thom1960]

The gold will blend in better in the woods!

For you BLR shooters, is it normal for it not to eject the shells very far? I know they are completely different animals, but I seem to remember my Marlin throwing them half way across the county!

 

[jcollins1007]

An elder at my church uses a straight-stocked BLR in .308. Has taken many a deer and a few elk with it. His reloads will shoot sub-MOA. If you want a lever gun, then this is a great one to get.

 

[Ol` Joe]

My youngest brother has used that very same set-up (except the scope is a Vari X 1) since they 1st came out. I doubt you`ll ever get him to let it go.
Recoil due to the stock shape and gun wt is more then one would expect from a 308 though. Just a thought if the youngster is slight or a little young.