Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Thoughts on a BLR in 223

Accuracy? Any other issues with them? Never owned a BLR..
Thanks.

Jim,
I owned a Browning BLR in 223 for a few years as my primary coyote calling rifle, but when the FIL fell in love with it, he got it.

The little Browning shot a load with 52 or 53 gr HP bullets much less than 1". It was a short, handy rifle. Never malfunctioned. They have a unique action with a gear system that essentially acts like a bolt action on lockup. The bottom of the newer ones carry better than the old ones with the protruding magazines, imo. Not sure that they made the old style in 223 anyhow.

Being a 99 fan, I was never happy with the hammer or the balance of the rifle. More than once the hammer caused me grief in a tight spot with action happening fast.

All that said, I did try a few more BLR's, 7-08 and 450 Marlin I remember, but came to the same conclusion. I was able to successfully harvest game with them, but always found them lacking after owning a 99. I eventually came to the conclusion that I am a died in the wool Savage man, and elected to try to find or build whatever 99's could fill my needs best. That's why all the rebarreling and restocking. Getting off track but I think you'll understand.

I've been struggling to fill the small rifle void with a 99, having tried few factory 22-250's. Currently have one at the gunsmith getting rebarreled to 22-250 that I hope will put this issue to rest.

Sure wish Savage would have made a 2/3 scale 99 for the 221/222/223 family.

Sorry to be so long winded. My advice is if you like Winchesters or Marlins with their hammers you'll probably like the Browning, if you can get used to the balance.

I want to like the Browning, but I do find them ill balanced.

I had one in 308, man it would group! but also just didnt like the way it balanced! about that time i also bought a 99!

Thanks guys. Exactly the type of information I was looking for.

Balance is key, so I will pass and use my 99s in 300 for my yote gun.

22HP your friend!

Has anyone had a chance to handle a Henry Long Ranger?
I am interested in them but haven't seen one in a shop.

Nope, but I would like to finger one as well.

On the 300 for coyotes, I nailed one at 335 yards with an 300 EG and a 4x Leupold. I aimed about a foot high and it went into the boiler.

That was almost 30 years ago.


I've killed about 1/2 dozen coyotes with a 300 Savage. It was more a target of opportunity type thing.

I have a BLR in 708. It is a straight grip. It has a short barrel. I put a VXR regular reticle on it. Took off the iron sights, had the trigger done by a smith outta PA. The magazines were acting funny with some reloads but not the others so one needs to pay attention to that aspect. Anyways 175 grain Speer grand slams 35.5 H 489 CCI 250 primers new Winchester brass.........1.3 inch three shot group, free hand, 28 degrees, slight wind, 70 paces, preformed flawless. I harvested a deer and an elk with it this year. I love my BLR, but the magazine may be its Achilles heel but at the same time a handy feature for the hunter who uses a motor vehicle, or has gun safety issues.

I guess that depends on locale, keeping the belly/tube etc full is no big deal in a motor vehicle here.

I hafta say the 450 Marlin was the best balancing BLR I had. Straight stock, camo furniture, short stainless barrel, alloy receiver. The receiver sure marked easy. Just normal use and it had marks all over it. Hated that finish.

The older models, the BLR and BLR 81 in both .223 and .243 were pretty popular with predator callers years back. I can understand it, short enough but not too stubby, light, accurate, flat sided and compact with a fast action made a pretty good calling rifle. I agree about the balance. I have a .308 BLR 81 steel frame, short action, straight grip stock and for me the thin 20" barrel is just a bit whippy feeling. With Weaver low bases and rings and a Leupold VX2 2x7 I don't have a great cheek weld on the stock. For me it's stocked great for iron sights but just a bit low for scope use. I hate to do it but I think I'll add a stick on comb raiser to the butt stock.