BLR in 358 Win

[geezer56]

My local gun shop has one in the used rack. Has a few marks on the wood, and not the nicest piece of walnut I ever saw. It has a scope mount base. They are asking $499, it could most likely be had for $450 out the door. I'll provide the contact info to anyone who is interested. I know that this is a rare caliber, in a desirable gun. Don't want to violate any rules here, just thought some of you lever nuts may be interested. Gun is in Marion, NC, about 30 miles east of Asheville.

[Southern Son]

Might be a bit too much of a commute for me to go and get it. Wish I could, though.

[MT Gianni]

There are a couple of versions. Pre-81 has the magazine that hangs below the lever and is probably Belgium made. 81 has a flush magazine and a couple of different hammers were used. This is a good price and accuraacy has been good in mine until things get heated up.

[Tony65x55]

I'm thinking about acquiring a BLR .358 to go with my Savage 99-A. Can one of you BLR owners tell me about this gun before I lay down my hard earned cash?

[Ben]

Tony65x55

I can tell you this about a BLR 358 Win...............does this help ? ?

[MDF99]

My 358 BLR is an older one with the magazine that hangs below the receiver. The receiver is made of blued steel instead of aluminum like the newer ones. Wood is nicely fitted and high gloss. It's smooth, solid and a great shooter. Extra magazines for this older model are rare and demand top dollar. I can't say whether the older ones are better or worse than the new ones. I'm happy with mine except would prefer it had made in USA stamped on it instead of made in Japan.

[bdoyle]

I have a BLR in 358 like MDF99. Good shooter, but I'll admit it doesn't get much range time. IF it is the older style, check the magazine VERY carefully. I found my rifle a the Reno show a few years ago. It came with a 308 mag. I found an extra at the show($100) also a 308. They don't work. I finally found one on gunbroker for around $50 that was marked 358. It works. If you can cycle some dummy loads before you buy it. I only put it on paper once but the target looks like Ben's.

Brian

[Tony65x55]

Great info guys, please keep it coming and thanks. Ben, that is a very accurate rifle, do they all shoot like that or did you get a gem?

[waksupi]

Tony, from my experience, they all DO shoot like that.

[Trifocals]

I looked a long time for one of these. I finally nailed one at a local gun dealer. Mine is the older type with the protruding magazine, steel receiver, made in Japan, very accurate. It is a perfect companion/twin to my BLR in .308 Win.. I hope someone from this forum grabs the one posted about. They are great rifles. LOL

[59sharps]

I like mine but no confidance in it. It will not group. First shot will go in the black at 100 yrds the next 3 go high right w/ a 6" group. after that its any ones guess. barrel get hot after 5 rounds. Have not tried cast bullets in it. tried reloading 180 sp 200 sp and 200 rn. and factory rounds WW 200 grn silver tip because that is all that is made for it in factory. also have tought of swaping the barrel out for a 308.
Mine is made in Japan older stile mag hans down and marked 243 308 358. Round will fall out of the mag if you carry it loose. normal i put a heavy tight rubber band around my spare clip to keep the rounds in. just a light bump and they are coming out.
the older mags a 4 round +1 in the chamber the new flush mags are 3 +1 in the chamber.

[59sharps]

I looked a long time for one of these. I finally nailed one at a local gun dealer. Mine is the older type with the protruding magazine, steel receiver, made in Japan, very accurate. It is a perfect companion/twin to my BLR in .308 Win.. I hope someone from this forum grabs the one posted about. They are great rifles. LOL

what are you using for a load???

[Southern Son]

I just went into the Mackay gunshop. They have an old model one, I think a steel receiver, protruding magazine, low powered Leupold. It also had rust on the bolt (cold see it through the ejection port). I did not get a chance to look in the bore (they were very busy), but the price tag said $980.00. even with the rust, I am tempted.

[Speedo66]

I like mine but no confidance in it. It will not group. First shot will go in the black at 100 yrds the next 3 go high right w/ a 6" group. after that its any ones guess. barrel get hot after 5 rounds. Have not tried cast bullets in it. tried reloading 180 sp 200 sp and 200 rn. and factory rounds WW 200 grn silver tip because that is all that is made for it in factory. also have tought of swaping the barrel out for a 308.
Mine is made in Japan older stile mag hans down and marked 243 308 358. Round will fall out of the mag if you carry it loose. normal i put a heavy tight rubber band around my spare clip to keep the rounds in. just a light bump and they are coming out.
the older mags a 4 round +1 in the chamber the new flush mags are 3 +1 in the chamber.

I've got an older model, protruding mag, Belgian made, in .308. My mag is marked .243 and .308.

Just curious how they can also take .358. Is .358 based on a .308 case?

By the way, mine is quite accurate, more so than you would tend to think a pencil barrel like that would be. It's got a simple 4x Redfield Frontier scope on it.

[Tony65x55]

Yes, the .358 Win is a necked up .308 casing. As .358 brass is pretty pricey, I make all my own brass from .308's.

[59sharps]

Yes, the .358 Win is a necked up .308 casing. As .358 brass is pretty pricey, I make all my own brass from .308's.

yea me to. know guys that do not reload and just give me the brass. slow coming but free. they only shoot a few a year. to check zero.
what do you use for a loads? I really need to sit down and develope a load it likes.
right now nothing I tried I really like.
using 200grn jacketed.

[Hawkeyenc]

I've had a couple of the older ones with the protruding magazine and they shot well, but I did not care for the bulge under the receiver and now have a newer type with the almost-flush magazine. Seems I read somewhere in the past that the forend bolt can be a source of bad grouping if it is not tight. I would check that and see if it helps your groups, 59.

[Potsy]

I ran up on one of those several years ago and have lamented not buying it since then.
Sucks to be broke when you run up on a good gun deal.

[cabezaverde]

Any one have experience with a BLR in .308? Brian, are they good shooters?

One of our local shops has a nice used specimen for about $450.00.

[MT Gianni]

Cabezaverde, I have one that would be the first thing out of the house in a fire and the last one sold if I was headed to the rest home. Pre 81 shoots jacketed and cast well. J words have shot rabbits to moose, cast downed whitetail and antelope with some paper thrown in.