Late to this thread but . . .
I have a circa 1977 .308 BLR with a Leupold 2.5-8x36 on top. Steel receiver. I bought it used and the timing was off, the bolt would jam. I took the action apart, and adjusted the timing. The service manual (found online) says it's trial and error, and they are right. I did have to modify a punch to beat out the action pins without marring them.
Took two deer at about 170 yards with it. I used Federal 150 grain partitions. I have some Nosler Custom 165 grain partitions but haven't tried them in the BLR yet. I bought those for another gun.
It's a great gun, may be my favorite piece.
