Does anyone know if a SA Lightweight BLR balances near the center like my Win 94? I went to buy a new Browning BAR and was surprised how muzzle heavy it was. I really dislike carrying rifles that balance like that and I cannot find a BLR to handle.
I won't say that the BLR balances just like a 94 Win but I'll say that my BLR in 358 Win is my go to rifle in the brush.
It's light and nimble in the hands and seems to come right up on target quickly for me. Very fast shooting as well.
You'll have to handle one to see for yourself. I like the looks of the pistol grip version but it was the traditional straight grip that felt best for me.
Dan
yea, I am thinking that it must be better than that BAR.
Thanks
I love the feel and balance of my .358 BLR. Very solid piece. Balances well for me, feels great in the hand. I did put a raised cheek pad (levergunleather.com),on it to get my eye inline with the scope to get a solid cheek weld, and that made a nice difference in the feel of shooting it. Worked well enough to put a 225 Nosler Partition through a bull moose at 220 yards 2 weeks ago. I used a fork stick for a rest, but it put the bullet exactly where I wanted it.
One of the best trades I ever made.
John
I have a lower powered variable on my BLR. A Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5x32. I use medium Ded Nutz mounts and don't have any issues with cheek weld. But scope and mount selection as well a one's physical build and shooting stance can make a difference there.
Dan
The BAR is muzzle heavy because it has that big steel gas block hanging on the barrel out there near the end of the forearm. I don't know about the alloy BLR rifles but my old steel frame short action BLR '81 with their light profile barrels and straight grip does balance about like the M94's or M336 lever guns.
The short action BLR (I have a Lightning pistol grip 243) balances at the magazine. My old Marlin 30 balanced about the same place _when empty_. Once the tubular magazine was loaded, the balance point shifted forward. The BLR's balance doesn't shift.
Makes sense with the BAR. Does not make it easy to carry for me.
Good point on the BLR not changing balance, because there is no tube. Right at the magazine is just where I would like it. I went to three stores this weekend. No one had a BLR.
Prob'ly doesn't help you, but Sportsman's Warehouse in Phoenix has a straight-grip one.
mine is straight grip .358, and I love the balance. I'd much rather carry it than anything else in the safe on a "walking hunt".
My "pregnant" '72 243 balances right at the magazine even though it drops below the bottom of the receiver. It still carries well when I don't use a sling & I have thought of trying to modify a later magazine to fit flush, but several people have said it won't work or tried it already so I will probably just let it go. It could easily be the one gun I would own if I had to own just one but It has never let me down. Keep it clean and lubed and you should not have to get into the mechanics of it. I like the fit and way it feels when shooting, some guns just work with you and this one does for me.
I won't say that the BLR balances just like a 94 Win but I'll say that my BLR in 358 Win is my go to rifle in the brush.
It's light and nimble in the hands and seems to come right up on target quickly for me. Very fast shooting as well.
You'll have to handle one to see for yourself. I like the looks of the pistol grip version but it was the traditional straight grip that felt best for me.
Dan
This mirrors my experience as well. The SA BLRs really fit me well and pointed like a dream, not muzzle heavy at all.
I just checked my long action pistol grip .270 Win BLR with Vortex 3-9x40 scope and it balances exactly in the middle of the magazine. I love the handling of this rifle.