Looks like my primary thicket gun is down with a bad scope, which I have to send back to the factory. The 20 inch BLR takedown rifle, maybe in 308 might find itself as a replacement for my Marlin 44 mag 1894 that has served me well. I hear the triggers suck on the BLR's but thats OK for the intended purpose, the barrel could be cleaned from the breach (the takedown is a wonderful idea) but are they reliable, shoot reasonable (2 inches at 100 would be fine) and can the lever cam out a stuck shell? I would put talley light weight rings on it if they make it for this gun and a low powered Zeiss conquest rifle scope I think. Wish they made it in take down with the pistol grip.

Hi Jimmy

I talk BLRs but then I'm not a "real lever gun" guy. I have a BLR 308, one of the stainless laminate ones. You are right, the trigger sucks but they can be improved by a gunsmith so that they only half-suck. Apparently www.neiljones.com is the place to go for BLR trigger jobs in the US, I'm in Australia though.

Mine shoots MOA with 125gn BTs, haven't worked a 150gn load yet.

They do make Talley light weights for it but make sure you get the correct model - on the Talley website they only list the old model rather than the 81. Just email Talley to confirm the part number you need.

I clean mine either with Wipeout, or from the breach using a muzzle guide.

Ian

I love the BLRs. I have owned a few, Most will shoot MOA some a little worse, but 2MOA should be a sure thing.

When I get up the $$ a .308BLR is on the short list

I have a 7mm-08, and a 358. love them both!

Sure they do - check the Browning catalog or website..or gunbroker.
Another BLR-friendly forum is leverguns dot com.

I have a 358 and it's closer to .75 MOA rifle with 200s and 225s. I don't have any idea how it would with factory ammo. It will flat put the skids on a deer.

Mine is a Belgium made BLR from '72 in .308, and it will do 1.5" with 180gr soft points. I don't think the trigger on mine is too bad, and its certainly better than the triggers on my 99's.

I'm down to a .223, a .257 and a .308 but still trying to sneak up on a .22-250 and .358.

a pistol grip on a .308 takedown is what I am interested in. I have quit chasing "different calibers" and am focusing on guns for specific applications. Short brush thicket deer and hogs, a BLR in 308 shooting plain old 150's using a 1.5X scope is what I am aiming for.

Bought a BLR PG TD in 308 Win a few weeks ago and plan on doing some shooting at the range with it once hunting season is done. Haven't decided if I'll put a Leupold 1x4 variable or a fixed power - likely will go with the variable as it's a shorter and lighter scope. The take down feature will be nice when I go caribou hunting in a couple years.

Where does the scope mount? Hopefully on the barrel so that zero is maintained when you reassemble the gun?

I've had a 308 BLR for a number of years (10+?), and I ((personally)) think it's one of the most accurate lever guns you're going to find. While I was living overseas, I was using it for competitive shoots (hey, it was the only thing I had!) and could hold my own against other folks that weren't investing $10k in glass and steel.

Yes, the trigger isn't the greatest, but if you keep it within the context of a lever gun, again, it's not that bad either. I haven't touched the trigger, but if I could get an aftermarket adjustable, I'd consider it. Since I'm not shooting more that 150-200 yards anymore, it's not a big deal for me.

As to the question about it clearing a stuck shell, the short answer is yes...but you won't like it. During one of my overseas shoots, I got a hold of some Pakistani ammo that either had too much laquer on it or something else, but every third shot just locked the breach up. If you can get the cam to turn a little, tapping the brass with a cleaning brush will help loosen it the rest of the way. Provided you keep the chamber clean (and you don't have to be manic about it), you should be fine, unless you're speed-shooting or using crap ammo like I did

Enjoy!

"I've had a 308 BLR for a number of years (10+?), and I ((personally)) think it's one of the most accurate lever guns you're going to find. "


Before the fray starts, I should clarify that I'm talking about off-the-shelf with no modifications at all.

Two choices for mounting the scope - the first is on the receiver and the second is using Brownings scout scope mount on the barrel.

I've opted to go with the receiver mount for now, but plan on trying out the scout scope mounting later on.

One published review on the take down version had the author disassembling the BLR and reassembling it with no significant difference in point of aim at 100 yards if I recall correctly. The scope was mounted on the receiver. I'd be more interested in accuracy retention at longer distances up to and including 300 yards. I'll see how it goes in the off season.

You see I must buy a .308 because I already have the dies, bullets and powder....I want a short barreled short range deer gun, light easy to handle, good second shot although I almost never have to shoot twice unless I hit a branch, I am also looking at a Ruger 77 in the short international. Looking for light and fast the 20 inch barrel makes more sense than the 18 however the trigger on the ruger is probably better and the ruger is probably stronger.

Looks like the regular non take down BLR in 308 might be the best bet regards scope mounting and consistency.

Jimmyp, the BLR is already a "short" gun so I see little advantage in the takedown feature. Ask yourself "How often do I actually "backpack" in?" Regarding your statement "and the ruger is probably stronger", since the BLR easily handles all factory pressures and then some, what strength advantage do you need?

The Browning one piece rings are Talleys. I didn't realize it when I ordered them but I got them from Browning in 4 days and they are stamped Talley on the side. Very nice light rings but not as much forward offset as the Leopold mounts. I couldn't get a Leopold 2.5-8 Vx-III or a 2-7 VxII far enough forward for my taste so I have a 4x Weaver that has a shorter eyebox on it now. I also had to remove the rear sight to clear any of the scopes due to the barrel taper. Wasn't happy about that. Didn't have to with the 358 but I did have to lower it. You shouldn't have to remove it with the 308.

The triggers do suck compared to a good bolt gun trigger but they are not that bad and slick up with use. The triggers are wide and that mitigates the heavy pull somewhat and have never been a problem off the bench or even noticed in the field.

I have a Ruger International in 308 and a BLR in 358. They both shoot 3 shot cloverleafs at 100 yds. They are both fast and fast handling but obviously quite different. A hard choice for deer hunting. I use a NECG peep on the Ruger or a fixed 4x Weaver scope. I have swapped them back and forth with no loss of zero. On the BLR I have Leopold mounts with a 2-7 Nikon Monarch. It is a decent scope and looks good on the rifle but I don't like the fast focus eyepiece. I just bought a PG BLR in 300 WSM that I might take elk hunting. I thought about the takedown model but couldn't justify the extra money and didn't want to have to worry about the lockup or a possible shift in zero and didn't want to use the scout setup. Haven't shot it yet but I expect more than enough accuracy.

I don't clean that often. If the groups start to open up I use the OTIS kit. I do use a boresnake between real cleanings.

I reload for the 358 and push either 225gr Sierra Gamekings or Nosler Partitions at 2450 fps chronographed. Not a light load. Fortunately they both shoot to the same POA. I use the Sierras on deer or 200 gr. Hornadys which shoot just as well and the Noslers for bigger game. They work on moose! I partial resize w/o touching the shoulder and have never had an issue with extraction with 6 or more loadings on the brass. I wouldn't worry about extraction or strength issues with a BLR. I wouldn't be putting surplus ammo through it either though. It deserves better.

I have a 243 that shoots around MOA all day, I would love to get a 358 some day... straight grip of course!

With the non takedown gun I guess you have to clean it from the muzzle and push stuff into the chamber. This I think is the only problem with the non takedown BLR. For me I only clean once a year but I want to clean from the breach end. So I would take it down, clean it, rezero it and put it away. The comments on the requirements for a short eye relief scope are well noted in that you could not mount a Leupold 2.5 x 8 far enough forward. I wonder if the Leupold 1.5 x 5 would work?

which is better an older steel receiver gun or one of the new aluminum receiver guns? How do they get the scope mount screws from not wearing out the aluminum receiver on the new gun anyway????

I have three of the steel M81's in .308 ,..358., ad one I converted to .35 Whelen. Accurate guns, Neil Jones did the triggers on the .308 & the Whelen.

As far as takedown, you can replace the stock through bolt with an Allen Socket screw, punch a hole through the recoil pad to access it and use a T handle to remove the stock from the receiver for traveling. Doesn't help if you want to clean form the breech though.

anyone want to comment on the durability of the aluminum receiver regards scope mounting screws?

Not a problem as far as I can see. The scope mounts are screwed into a metal insert in the aluminum. For all reading I do here I have never heard of a problem with the aluminum receiver.

We've had this ol' steel receiver, Belgian Browning .308 kicking around the family for 25 years or so. It's done a fine job for several of us, on pretty much anything we've pointed it at. Easy to handle, plenty accurate enough for the task. Dad bought it for wild hogs on the California coast. It's been pressed into service for all sorts of critters. My oldest son shoots it mostly these days.

I think they're good guns - interesting twist on the lever design. The .308 is a good cartridge, but an elk-hunting buddy of mine had his re-bored to .358 Win.

Regards, Guy

I have 3 and am very happy. I recently purchased a new 308 with the agreement that it be a 4.5# trigger or the store would send it back to the company. It came over 6#'s, Sent it back- came back 5.5#'s, Sent it back and the store included a note that I would not be happy with anything over 4.5#'s. Finally - It came 4.5#'s on the button and it is a fine trigger.
It was a minor pain but well worth it. Mine like the Fed Fusion ammo and I have heard others comment that the round works well in BLR's. The features that work for me- The clip is fast and handy. Rifle points quickly and carries well. A medium to long range rifle in a brush gun package.

I have a steel Belgian in .308 similiar to GuyM's above pic. I had mine matte blued, took the shiny finish off the wood and added a decellerator pad. It shoots 1 to 1.25 inch groups and is very handy in the woods. Mine wears a 2.5X Leupold in low rings. I had two different ones in .358 Win but had problems with both of them extracting cases from factory ammo and got rid of them. Triggers are okay but difficult to tune. Better handling in tight cover than my Savage 99's or Win 88 due to shorter length. Mine doesn't get much use after I found a Marlin 336 ER in .356 Win which is even shorter and quicker handling than any of the others mentioned.

For what it's worth, I have a 71 Belgium made in .308. fantastic field gun, feeels like a real gun compared to the 336's. Wont double up on paper holes but close enough to drop my share of game.

My dad has two BLR's bought 30 years ago. One in .308 and .358. They have been great rifles and shoot in the 1.5 MOA range or better.

I've had two. Both accurate. One 243, one 7mm-08. The 7mm-08 would lock up at times. Both were very accurate. Almost shot my toe off letting the hammer down, under a scope, on a loaded chamber, with glove mitts on. Bought something with a safety. Totally my bad, but it's cold where I hunt, and the game comes in close.

I have an old steel receiver, straight stock BLR in .308 Win. It wears a 2x7 Lupy and has had hundreds of rounds through it. Including reduced load, cast lead, hand loads for fun. With 150 grain hand loads it still shoots 1 inch groups.
Last spring I found a Light weight aluminum receiver BLR with pistol grip in 358 Win. in a local pawn shop.A Ft Riley Solder
traded it off. It showed some use but I couldn't turn it down. I noticed that it had a funny looking barrel band type front sight with a "Long" ramp on it. The ramp sight looked to be tilted to the right. I removed the front sight only to find that under that long ramp were four (4) holes drilled.All but one appeared to be way off center. Obviously the work of a shade tree gunsmith.
More than a little PO'ed and seeing no good way to fix the holes, I cut two (2) inches off the barrel. That eliminated all the holes and left it with an 18 inch barrel. I put a 1x4 Lupy on it
and went to the range. With 200 grain Speer soft point round nose loads that make 2,450 FPM in my 24 inch Encore custom .358 barrel I still got 2,230 FPM from the 18 inch BLR. It shoot
2 inch groups all day !
This last fall I took one nice PA White tail and TWO Kansas white tails with that rifle and load. One at 148 yards. Can't wait to try it on Hogs next month.
IMHO... BLRs are a great rifle in any caliber.

Rabbitdog

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