Opinions on Browning BLR?

[Bigslug]

My Dad's got some physical limitations that are making rapid operation of a bolt action impossible, but he can still run a lever action. Considering options that get him out of the blunt nose bullet / tube magazine combinations and into spitzers and longer ranges.

Seems like the "geared" mechanism of the BLR would be easy to unlock and fast, it takes the "modern" rounds and allows for conventional scope mounting. Looks like a winner on paper anyway.

Your thoughts on the gun?

[Nobade]

I think they are wonderful rifles, as long as you don't take them apart.

[Cast10]

I think they are wonderful rifles, as long as you don't take them apart.

Considering one myself,,,,,,,Please explain “as long as you don’t take them apart”.

[dg31872]

I agree with Nobade.
I have a BLR81 in 223 that is a coyotes nightmare. Handy, accurate and fast.

[cwtebay]

My father has used his BLR in 308 for over 50 years. It's accurate, well built and reliable.
It is not the lightest rifle, and it's definitely not for the faint of heart to disassemble!!

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[Buzz Krumhunger]

They use a rack and pinion system to operate. If you disassemble it it can be difficult to get the gears to mesh in the proper relationship to lock up and fire.

I made the mistake of buying a used one at a gun show. Someone had disassembled it and not gotten it back together right. It wouldn’t fire much of the time. No local gunsmith would work on it. I sent it back to Browning who repaired it at what I considered an astonishing cost. That’s not the only case I know of where Browning’s factory service was way expensive. I’ll never buy another Browning product.

[358429]

I like my 308 blr. It has eaten a bunch of the lee 170 fn bullets powdercoated with out gaschecks loaded over 4227 or 3031.

[FergusonTO35]

I have an early 90's .308 and really like it. Only thing is, they have a really snug chamber by design and may require small base dies. If using factory ammo then no worries. One thing to remember, the BLR is light and is going to have some kick in .30'06 or any of the magnum rounds.

[pietro]

.

There's an alternative to the Browning BLR, the very similar (and less expensive ? ) Henry Long Ranger

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/the-long-ranger/

[Don McDowell]

The BLR is a great little hunting rifle
I do prefer the 81 steel receiver models
Never had any issues yet with reloading for them https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20211015/aff3cf9aca816f9928a1bda82f56e2e4.jpg


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[pworley1]

I have had a BLR for years with never an issue. It should work great.

[MT Gianni]

I have a pre 81 BLR in 308. I hired a local gunsmith to replace the firing pin when it broke, no problems and a 3 week turn around in September. I really enjoy mine and have owned a 358 which I replaced with a bolt.

[Nobade]

Considering one myself,,,,,,,Please explain “as long as you don’t take them apart”.

Looks like you got your answer already. If you haven't worked on them before they can be quite challenging to get put back together. After you do a few they're not too bad. The worst one I ever got was one another gunsmith couldn't get together so he started cutting on things. Sharp fellow.

[Cast10]

Looks like you got your answer already. If you haven't worked on them before they can be quite challenging to get put back together. After you do a few they're not too bad. The worst one I ever got was one another gunsmith couldn't get together so he started cutting on things. Sharp fellow.

I’m wanting a 358 Winchester. I hear good and not so good here. If you mess with things you don’t understand, you’re heading for trouble. In Anything! It sounds like its a sound and good shooting rifle.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I have several, the last one I bought soured me completely on Browning. A 325 Win with the Camo stock and Stainless Barrel, Aluminum Receiver. If the action is not wet with oil the action does not function, refuses to open empty or just fired. I returned the rifle to Browning, it was returned without the problem being addressed. I don't like to hunt with wet, oily rifles that may not work for the second shot without squirting lube into them. The triggers on the several I have I just terrible, stagey, gritty, creepy and 5 to 7.5 lbs. They are nightmares to disassemble and assemble so they work, doing a 'trigger job is is almost impossible though there is one individual who will work on the trigger for over $125. I have a Henry Long Ranger in .223, similar to the Browning but it has a very good factory trigger and some difference from the BLR's that are definite improvements. I have a Browning BLR in 223 also and much prefer the Henry Long Ranger. The Browning's have a high gloss mirror finish on wood and metal that really doesn't work hunting, the Henry's are a more of softer less reflective finish that deos not flash when light hits. The Henry Long Ranger is available in .243, .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. If you can find a Featherweight Savage 99 in 300 Savage, 308 Winchester, maybe a .243 with tang safety and rotary magazine, you will have an even better rifle, but for new and modern cartridges (pointy bullets) the U S A Made Henry Long Ranger is a better rifle than the Browning BLR for field use. Again I own both, but most of my deer antelope and elk are taken with Featherweight Savage 99's.

[Hogtamer]

I agree they’re great rifles, mine was .308 and my son finally got it. I don’t quite get not being able to work a bolt and thinking a lever would be much better.

[cwtebay]

I agree they’re great rifles, mine was .308 and my son finally got it. I don’t quite get not being able to work a bolt and thinking a lever would be much better.After years of hunting and shooting with older people and military disabled - I agree that a lever can be far easier to use than a bolt action.
Light semi autos are difficult to come by or cumbersome to some also - but a case could be made for them.

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[zymguy]

I had one open a couple weeks ago, here's some photos.290409290411290412

[FergusonTO35]

The BLR is a great little hunting rifle
I do prefer the 81 steel receiver models
Never had any issues yet with reloading for them https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20211015/aff3cf9aca816f9928a1bda82f56e2e4.jpg


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Agree totally, steel receiver is the way to go on these. Aluminum is just too lightweight in anything over .243 for my taste.

[Eddie Southgate]

I love mine . It was my dad's , bought in the early 80's . It's a .358 Winchester and as far as I know has never needed to be taken apart . If it does it will go to someone who is trained to handle any issues it might have .

[Norske]

My 358 BLR gets its rack cleaned with a toothbrush regularly. No problems yet, and it's very accurate. I used to live back-to-back with a gunsmith. He once used go and no-go gauges to reassemble a BLR rack and pinion in his spare time. It took a couple days trial and error, but it's possible.

[Bigslug]

.

There's an alternative to the Browning BLR, the very similar (and less expensive ? ) Henry Long Ranger

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/the-long-ranger/

Yeah. . .gonna have to give that one a look too. Initial research seems promising. Like that they kept the trigger off the lever. Hate that they only do it with a straight wrist stock with a ton of drop at the comb.

[reb henderson]

I have a BLR81 in 358 Winchester and love it. It would probably be the last centerfire I would part with if things went really south.

[cwtebay]

I just asked my father (his BLR is a 1968 purchase) about his rifle.
He has:
A) never disassembled it for cleaning
B) cleaned it thoroughly last roughly in 1998
C) has killed 8 out of the last 10 game animals he fired at first shot
D) has killed around 40 elk and enough deer and antelope that he can't recall
E) doesn't know why everyone makes such a big deal out of the action when I have read some of these posts to him.


He bought it because it was a lever gun in a more modern cartridge than his previous ca 1895 Winchester 30wcf. It has it's first and only scope on it - a 4x on it. It worked for him for sport and feeding his family.
I have owned a few, can't say it's my cuppa - but his has certainly gotten the job done in remarkable fashion.

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[Speedo66]

I had a 1971 model in .308, second year of production, and it was made in Belgium.

Great gun, took different magazines than subsequent models. Mags are either impossible to find or priced like emeralds. lol

Light, short, accurate, powerful, in other words, a great woods gun.

[JDL]

I had a first model with the protruding magazine in .358 Winchester. It was a very accurate rifle for cast bullet or the jacketed variety but, like a fool I sold it. Pretty stupid huh! Well, last year I got a Lightweight Stainless T/D also in .358 and while a nice rifle, I think the old model was far superior. I would certainly trade my current to my old one....in a heartbeat!

[wv109323]

I have the older Japanese pre-81 model in .308. It is a solid rifle that is accurate enough for any common hunting distances.
This model has the rare magazine. I saw one on on e-bay for $495.