Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Browning BLR what caliber?

Hi my oldest son, really wants a lever action rifle, so I'm buying him one for a high school graduation present. He was looking at the Marlin 308 express, but is gravitating to the Browning BLR on his own (which I'm happier with). The question now is caliber. He wants something heavier (he's been shooting a 30/30 and a 270). He's looking at the 45/70 and 358 WCF (which I suggested). He'll be hunting deer, elk and looking for a trophy black bear.

Thanks,
Chuck

.358 in that rifle, no question.

I have a 7mm-08, which comes with a 20-inch barrel. For elk and big bears, I would go .358 Win.

450 marlin

.358 hands down

325 wsm

Take a look at the .325WSM. Appears to do it all. Good luck.

George

358 Win.

Get him a Marlin in 444. BLR's are junk........

Ditto

I've had two BLR's. One was great and one wasn't. I understand there are after market steel gears to replace the ones in the mechanism. Maybe that would solve things? Mine that had problems would lock closed and needed to be dissasembled to work again. Three returns never fixed it.

if he reloads.. no doubt 358win

I have 3 BLR's, .358, .284 and .308. I never had a problem with any of them.

I would go with the .358.

Anyone know where to source the steel replacement gear?

The exact reason for my "junk" comment........

Neither.........I've got a nice Marlin straight grip model 1895 in 45-70 for sale in the Classifieds which would make him a great rifle for timber work.

MM

Bullschit- and I've owned both.

-jeff

I've owned a .358 BLR and it was a very cool rifle... but I ended up rebarreling a bolt rifle to .358 and sold the BLR... however, if you are a handloader, the .358 with it's 20" barrel is a real joy!

However, what I'm going to recommend is a BLR in .325 WSM, which is what I currently have. This is also a handloader's caliber, pretty much, though there's certainly factory ammo available. Anyway, my .325 shoots HOT loads well under 1.5" at 100 yards, and is very comfortable to shoot, and cycles the WSM cartridge as slick as can be; it's really a neat rifle. You get all the advantages of a lever gun, without giving up ANYTHING as far as range or reach.

2nd choice would be 300 WSM.

I feel strongly that the new pistol-grip version is the way to go. It handles better, and it handles recoil much better, and there's no barrel band like the straight stock has, so the barrel is free-floated. Having had both a straight stocked BLR and a pistol-grip BLR, in my opinion the pistol grip version is far superior.

Finally, the trigger is the achilles heel of the BLR. They suck. I finally found someone to work on mine, Neil Jones of Neil Jones Custom Products. He will send it back breaking clean at 3.5 pounds or so- a HUGE improvement. Highly recommended.

Finally finally, once he is sure he likes it... take some 0000 steel wool and de-gloss that stock!

-jeff

If you like rifles with plastic gears/bushings that break or jam, BLR's are great.....

Or if you like leverguns with awkward looks and balance, with glossy stocks and schitty triggers, they are also an excellent value......

2muchgun,

I shouldn't have phrased it like I did. BLR's are odd ducks, no doubt.

But i've owned two of them and they are NOT junk. Never had a problem of any kind, period. I can't say that about the 4 Marlins I've owned, for instance. I love my Marlins but they are not perfect.

So... you are not speaking "bullchit" and I shouldn't have said it that way- but in my humble opinion, BLR's are hardly "junk". Unless "junk" means accurate, reliable, powerful rifle!

-jeff