Hello Folks,
Last night I got a brand new Browning BLR in 358 Winchester. I cocked it and checked the trigger pull (nice!), and worked the action with the hammer back a few times. Then I propped it up where I could admire it while my wife and I watched TV.
Today when I got home from work I went straight to the BLR and worked the action. What a mess! It felt terrible. I immediately recognized that the hammer was not being pushed to cock, and the hammer was rubbing on the teeth on the bottom of the bolt. I checked several times, bringing the bolt back to where the cam/lump was directly on top of the hammer, and it was not engaging the sear. I could use my fingertip to push very lightly on the hammer, and I would hear a click as the sear engaged. No amount of coaxing would get the action to operate correctly.
My questions are:
1. Are BLRs known to be susceptible to timing issues like this one? I've heard rumors that they are, but never believed Browning would put a flawed design on the market.
2. If I can get my money back, should I avoid the BLR and get a different rifle?
Thanks for your help.
Take care, Tom
P.s., I've never even chambered a round in this rifle.