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I recently picked up a used BLR in 358. I have fell in love with the rifle. Anyway I have been loading for it and I have found a load that clover leafs at 100 yards. The load is a grain to a grain in a half off of the max load (depending where you read). The primers look good, the brass looks good. But when extracting the case from the chamber I have to give it a little extra push to get it out. It’s hard to explain. Once it starts it comes out with ease. Maybe it feels worse than it really is trying to extract the case while trying to with the rifle still sitting in the shooting rest and me trying to extract the case using a finger or two on the lever. I had 3 shots left over the other day and I loaded them up and shot them off hand and deliberately tried to aim and shoot the rounds as fast as possible and everything seemed fine. Is it normal to feel/have to give the lever a little extra push to get the case free from the chamber? I haven’t shot a lever action (besides rimfires) since I was a kid. I think I am being paranoid. Before I go finding a new load I’d like someone with more BLR experience to chime in.

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You may just be feeling the drag of the bolt unlocking before it physically pulls the case out of the chamber. I haven’t cycled mine in awhile but I think what you’re describing is normal.


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I have used several from the old Belgium made rifles to the '81's. They don't have the caming power of a bolt action and the same for extraction. I always dropped down a grain or two from the rifles max and it really helped with extraction.

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That’s what I was thinking fellas. I believe what I am feeling is equivalent to what I’d be feeling lifting a bolt on a bolt gun. With a lever it’s not going to cam over as easily. This coming week the temperature is going to get up into the 50’s. I’m going to take it back out and fire it offhand a bit and pay more attention to it. Last time out it was in the 20’s and my hands being so cold wasn’t helping me any as well. Thanks for the replies.

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Degrease the chamber and the cases. Maybe it will help. Mine is an 81 and hasn't had problems with dragging. I haven't shot my 308 yet. But the 358 Win. is a 243 that was rebored by JES. Maybe his chamber is slicker. I always thought of the BLR as a bolt gun driven by gears. Maybe find a 'smith specializing in BLRs and have him clean and lube the action. I cleaned mine in an ultrasound machine then dried and sparingly relubed. I have the instructions to take it down and reassemble it. But I chickened out on total disassembly. If you find someone who's specializing in them let us know. It may generate a lot of business for him. Be Well, Rustyzipper.


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I took the rifle back out and while sitting on the sand bags using a finger or two to work the lever it was hard to extract. Mainly because I’d have to hold the rifle with one hand and try to keep it from moving. But shooting off hand and working the lever with a fistful of fingers it extracts perfectly fine. I took it hunting the other day and fired it and again it cycled perfectly.

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I never had the extraction issue that you are having with your blr but I've broke the action gears twice. Mine was .308 win. I could only get 3 reloads out of a case and they looked like they would separate. I was using a fairly light load and partial sizing. It wasn't a fault of the resizing die because I never had that problem with other .308's.

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Rock Chucker, for bench use try cocking the hammer first before working the lever. Most of the initial resistance is cocking the hammer.

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Originally Posted by saskfox
I never had the extraction issue that you are having with your blr but I've broke the action gears twice. Mine was .308 win. I could only get 3 reloads out of a case and they looked like they would separate. I was using a fairly light load and partial sizing. It wasn't a fault of the resizing die because I never had that problem with other .308's.


I wasn’t really having a problem. It was just user error. I have never heard of the action gears breaking. I do not like the sound of that at all!

Originally Posted by cbennett
Rock Chucker, for bench use try cocking the hammer first before working the lever. Most of the initial resistance is cocking the hammer.


That’s a very good idea. My problem is I was racking the lever like a girl, lol. If I just rack the slide I’ve learned everything is fine.

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That is impressive accuracy with a BLR. I have a BLR takedown in .308 that is a challenge to shoot 3” groups with.

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Saskfox how did you ever break gears in the BLR? Be Well, Rustyzipper.


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About 15 years ago there was a [bleep]-show thread here about BLR gears. Folks saying if you racked the BLR too hard it would strip the gears....folks saying the gears were made of plastic....all sorts of half-truths and lies. First of all, the gears aren't plastic, but there is a delrin or plastic bushing in there somewhere - the plastic was supposedly used because it's more "slippery", allowing for smoother function. I'm not sure about the stripped gears due to aggressive racking.

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Rockchucker83,

Why don't you load up a few rounds at say 1 grain below where you are and shoot those and see if it feels the same.


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