Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Browning BLR '81 & Miroku MLR barrels...the same?

For any BLR '81 or MLR afficianados out there !

I have a new BLR factory barrel in .358 Win I picked up years ago (about 1996..for a future project!) and was wondering if the Miroku MLR's had the same thread 'n pitch....

The reason being....do I search only for a 'shot out' Browning BLR '81 to receive my barrel or would a Miroku do..

I know the earlier Browning BLR's used to be made by Miroku ...but did the later US manufactured Brownings still use the same specs & barrel thread ?

(Steel receivers of course !! none of this Browning 'Lightning' dinky aluminium receiver stuff !!!)

Browning BLR's to my knowledge have always been produced in 2 places Japan and Belgium.

Oldelkhunter,

Looks like you're right about the BLR's....Belgium then Japan (by Miroku)..... I 'Googled' the question and it seems the current Browning 'Lightweights' and 'Lightnings' are still made by good old Miroku ....so no US production at all !

So I think we've answered the question... as both the old Miroku MLR's and Browning '81 BLR's were made by Miroku I imagine the barrels will be threaded the same...the only differences are probably cosmetic.....

I've been researching the same subject. I'm not positive, but I think that the first Japanese BLRs, pre model 81, were not made by Miroku, but by Howa. Miroku started with the 81 series.

I have a pre 81 design 'MLR' .308 rifle - no mention of Browning anywhere on it. Miroku were allowed to produce and sell these for export to certain markets. We (down in New Zealand) also have Miroku 'M-bolts' - same as a A-bolt but with a different shaped bolt shroud.

ozzie,
Down here the BLR and MLR were co-imported by two different distributors. essentially the same rifle, the MLR was just a cheaper version. At the time, Fuller eventually got both lines and promptly stopped the MLR. I'd be very surprised if threads are different.
Cheers...
Con

I got a steel MLR with old style mag in .243 it also has a spare mag and steel Burris one piece mount. Barrel is 9/10 or better would like a .358 you still got OZZIE?