Tell me about Browing BLR's. I've never owned one or been around one. Mainly, I'm wondering about reliability issues or common problems....but would be interested in any input from BLR users. Thanks!

They are very common in this neck of the woods. I personally know folk that use them with no reports of problems other than it's best not to take them apart for cleaning. This job is best left to the pros.

The triggers are hard to use and the combs are quite low. The pre-81s are brutal to buy replacement mags for. I've seen them for for sale for up to $300 or more.

If I wanted one, I'd but the BLR81 with the all steel receiver and the flush mag.

Just don't take them apart and your life will be more pleasant I have owned 3 of them, they were crazy accurate. There is a gunsmith in PA that does really good work on their triggers.

Big Stick owns one(?) and he spray paints his gold and immerses it in Salmon streams. They must be good

Very good rifles. I have a '81 Lightweight in .308 and a pistol grip Lightweight in .358. They are both very reliable and accurate if you work the action fully. I have had the .308 fail to pick up the next round if I didn't work the action fully. My '81 Lightweight in in .308, Leupold FXII 2.5X in Talley QD mounts, and a sling tips the scales at a hair over 7 lbs. Spare magazines are expensive, however.

I have a BLR in 358. For awhile that was about all I liked using in the deer woods. It was quick on the second shot if needed and pointed really well for me..

Shoot, saying that I might need to break it out and make sure it's still zeroed. Let it taste some Fall.

I have also owned three... they were not accurate compared to bolt guns. Mine were 1 1/2" guns...
I like them and they are handy but not particularly accurate and crappy triggers and normal. Your results may vary.

Thanks guys.

Watched a couple of Hickok45's vids and he had a lot of misfires while using a .308. I'm not sure what was happening. Ejection/feeding looked great but no boom..... It happened often during the vids.

Is the BLR known for misfires or light primer strikes?

I think some of the the old Belgian steel BLRs had some issues with light primer strikes. But I'm not sure that's what's happening in Hickok's videos. I think he experienced the same thing I have and that's a failure to pick up the next round when cycling due to short stroking. I experienced that when the gun was new. Cycle, fire, cycle, eject, click. Look and there is no round in the chamber. I never experienced it on my pistol grip BLR maybe because it feels easier to cycle than the straight gripped '81 Lightweight. It only happened a couple times and never again. When the rifle was new, it seemed to me that the bolt opened hard and it as a little disconcerting to me so I think I was being a little too gentle. Anyways, it's been a good gun and I recommend it.

ive had two, Still have a 308.. wouldnt trade it at all. I love them mine shoots sub MOA and handles beautfully...as stated, dont take them apart. if you feel the need to do so have a buddy kick you in the nuts you will enjoy it more than trying to put BLR back together.

Hickok45 was using a new straight grip 81 LW in .308. It was feeding and extracting each time as it would eject an unfired round with a light primer strike.

I'd like to try one of the pistol grip stainless versions.

I have had them and know of people that had them and I have never heard of such a thing. It might have. been the ammo.

I had a FTF on a large black bear in Maine one spring. Turns out the dufous forgot to rack a round into the chamber .

If that's the case, I haven't experienced it. No light primer strikes. I do know some people has issued with the older Belgian made steel BLRs but the new ones seems to be very reliable.

As far as accuracy, my .308 is pretty close to an MOA gun, but the scope I have on it really isn't a long range scope. The .358 will hold about 1.5 inches, and likewise, has a low power scope. I'm perfectly fine with that sort of accuracy.

don't know about the new ones but was in a hunt camp in BC... in 1994 Watched some hick from upstate NY shoot 5 shots into a nickle sized group at 175 yards, with factory ammo outta one in 308...

I've had 3, 22-250,7mm-08, and a 358. All more than accurate enough. The 22-250 a certifiable MOA rifle!
there is enough information out there that taking them apart to clean & putting the back together isn't that
difficult! Have none of them now. I am what Mule Deer calls a "churner". :-)

It happens multiple times in the vids below.

I guess Miroku puts out a dud every million guns or so but I am betting it was ammo related.

Man, one of them with an 1-7 twist barrel in 22 Creed might be kinda cool too. I have always wanted one In 7-08 as well.

I watched those videos. Mine never misfired. When I got mine, cycling them just feels different than cycling a 94 or Marlin 336, and it's a bit disconcerting if you're used to traditional lever actions. . The BLR has a gear in it and the bolt slides back and forth very fast and kind of hits hard when it gets to the rear. I chalk my issues up to user error since it's never happened again. BTW, I use the same Federal Power Shok in mine. 150 gr soft point.

The ones I've had were the pre 81.
Miroku and Belgian both.
High quality. Zero problems .
No, they're not a benchrest gun.
I've always regretted letting mine go, but
a big enough stack of money clouds one's
judgment

I'm unaware on an inherent reliability issue and in actuality,the platform is VERY fhuqking reliable(223,22-250,243,7-08 and 308's expressly). Hint.

I reckon I'm not "surprised",that Drooling Fhuqktards are in over their pointy heads,with disassembly of same. Hint. Fhuqking LAUGHING!





Triggers clean up easily. The 'pin strike is only OBVIOUSLY,very robust. They lock up tight and shoot exceptionally. Lose the barrel band,free float the fore end(seal same),drive Lapooey positive headspaced fals shoulders and squirt .625 BC's at 2600fps from a 20" spout. Hint.

EGW miffed the rail,but THE Chop is nothing new. A MK4 M3 6x weren't a horrid start,but a 6x MQ gets it well past the 1000yd line,by simply looking through the fhuqking thing. Shoots 162's under 3/4" in hasty Trio's and is plum handy for handing Dissenters their asses. Hint.





Due the hammer's mass and rigorous momentum,excessive headspace was certainly the culprit in the above videos,especially in 308. Rather than the datum indexing the chamber,the case is simply driven forward by the firing pin and all that ass,is for not. One of many reasons,that positive headspaced false shoulders are a constant in the larder. Hint.

What else can't you CLUELESS Fhuqks do? Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!.................

I own 4 BLRs. My first was a used Belgium made BLR in .308 Win. i purchased in the late 80s. I liked it so much I purchased 3 more since then, two steel receiver BLR 81s and a stainless BLR 81 Lightweight. They are my preference for Whitetail hunting here in Pa. and I have taken deer with every one of them. They range from sub MOA to 1 1/2" at 100 yards. The most accurate being the newer SS one. I have never had one problem with any of them. They are all short actions, very well balanced and a joy to carry. I saw the Hickok 45 videos, he admitted he was short stroking the lever which ejects the spent case and never picks up the next cartridge from the magazine, so he was closing the lever it on an empty chamber. They weren't technically misfires. It was the user's error not a fault of the rifle. My experience has been all positive, they are great dependable rifles.

Hickock had 2 boxes of 308 and the rest of the ammo was 7. 62x51 . I have not seen any issues firing yet but he is not comfortable working the lever(shot shucks an awful lot).

I fired an over pressured 358 cartridge in mine that distorted the head enough that the primer fell out. Before I realized all this, I grasped the lever and yanked on it with all I was worth. The blr is the only lever gun I've owned, where the extractor didn't slip off the case rim in such conditions.

The gearing handled that abuse and was no worse for wear.

Very finicky with head spacing, and very finicky to any gunk build up from old gun oil in the firing pin system.

Winter hunting in 30 below, I actually pulled the buttstock and soaked the entire action in gun degreaser, rather than taking it apart. This cleaned the 15 years of various gun oils and gunk out of the darn thing.

No misfires after that.

When’s the 22 CM coming home? A 250 would make a helluva donor I’d think.

I've fired Federal XM80 7.62 NATO out of mine with no issues. And when I first scoped it, I sighted in with Federal American Eagle 150 gr FMJ then refined it with Federal Power Shok 150 gr. I've stocked up on Federal Fusion 150 gr so I need to get it out and see how they do. I'm hoping I can just leave things as they are set for the Power Shoks. I've put some PMC Bronze 150 gr SP thru it while sighted in for Power Shoks and they hit about where the Power Shoks do. The BLR 81 Lightweight is a great gun. A pleasure to carry and perfect for a tree stand.

Recently picked one up earlier this year. Put a red dot sight on it and wish I would've tried one years earlier. I don't have much experience with it but the stock comb is low and I got an cheek riser and it helps line things up nicely. Mine is 450 Marlin cal and it's teamed up with my little Beretta 71 22lr.

I have always liked the Blr but have never owned one. I have worked on ton of them and rebarreled quite few. I have seen three or four with stripped gears and two which had cracked the rack on the lever. In all cases, these were neglected rifles; if not abused. I have seen a couple which would, every now and then, misfire (light strike). It was an intermittent trigger issue which nearly drove me crazy to diagnose. Both would fire thirty shots straight, then miss one. Then fire four, and miss one. Even when I was certain I had them fixed, I would not have wanted to bet my life on it.
In the end, it's like one poster said, even Miroku, now and then, produces a dud. Mostly, I think they are a pretty reliable rifle. I have seen some which were very accurate. That's all I've got. GD

I've had a few in 308. Both were reliable, accurate, and looked well made. They are a little tricky to get back together. Someone talked me out of one and I traded the other off during my broke college days to help fund a stainless synthetic bolt gun build.

Bb

The best reason for owning one to me would be one of the takedowns. I’ve lived with crappy triggers before, so could make do. Someone looking to own one would be wise to get a current one and pick up a couple or three extra magazines.

Writer Brian Pearce has said good things about them a time or two, even did a dedicated piece on them. He uses them himself, and is not one to suffer crap.

They are pretty oogly, but ain’t alone there. Some have reported that the chambers often require small-base sizing dies, and sometimes even those may not be enough to make the cases fit.

I can't even remember the last time I saw a new one for sale on the rack.

All in stock as of this post:

https://ammoandarmsstore.com/shop-b.../?_bc_fsnf=1&brand=55&in_stock=1

I have 3, a .243, .270 wcf and a .450 Marlin.
The .270 & .450 are takedowns and prefer the takedown.
Takedowns offer advantages, including the ability to clean them well.I find they have to stay quite clean to work best
I have long eye relief scopes on the takedowns and interestingly can bore sight them. Because I am horseback most of the time I carry them in a deep , army style saddlebags when taken down.
The .270 is my primary sheep rifle and purchased the .450 as my carry rifle for more up close stuff.,
I use the .243 to keep me sharp at turkey shoots, summer positional shooting.
Factory triggers can be improved, should be done by a professional though.
These are lever operating , turn bolt rifles , and give me many advantages for myself.
They cycle quick and flawlessly. They will take full power handloads but probably should be backed of on a bit and I resize cases more carefully than any of the bolt action rifles. Hope this is helpful

Got my first one in 1981, the first model with protruding magazine, chambered in .358. About 95% of my shooting was with cast bullets and never had a moment's trouble with it for over 30 years but, like a fool I sold it.
Last year I ran across a Lightweight Stainless takedown in .358 and brought it home. With a 200 grain Sierra the average of 4 groups is 1.09", which is good enough for my hunting style and everything was hunky dory. But.....I mostly shoot cast bullets and have found they are more accurate with the bullet engaging the rifling. I was getting intermittent misfires and determined that, while the action appeared locked and the trigger would release the hammer, the round may or may not fire. The older rifle didn't have this problem. It was an easy fix to just seat the bullet deeper so that problem went away. Maybe it will make meat this fall.

I read about misfires with the BLR on a different forum. People claimed that the plant packed the bolt with a waxy grease, which can slow the firing pin. Once the grease was removed, it cured the misfire issues.

I have no idea how accurate those claims are, or if that was the problem with the rifle Hickock was shooting.

I ordered a BLR, which should be arriving at my FFL later today.

I’ve had a 358 for 17 years and never had an issue with misfires. It’s sub MOA with JB’s 200 TSX Tac load.

I have two, both 1980’s steel frame straight stocks, a .308 and a .284W, no problems. The triggers are not great but you can learn to shoot them.

I have a Belgium made BLR in 308 and a Miroku made 81 BLR in 284 Winchester. Both are reliable and accurate enough for me, shooting between an inch and an inch and a half groups. Both would probably shoot better if someone else was doing the shooting. I've never had any problems with reliability in either of them.

I have a 30-06, Lighting model. I have only used open sights.

Had a chance at a 257 Robert’s years ago and passed. I was into the 300 win mag crowd then.

I've owned one for a long time before giving it to my father, never an issue. As someone stated, it was probably ammo related.

Had exactly the same problem with a BLR Lightning in 270 Win! Wrote to Browning and got no response at all. Sent it to a gunsmith and couldn't find the fault. Maybe the floating part of the firing pin was a mite too short - don't know. Was using factory Winchester Super X 270 Win 130gr Powerpoint. Some went bang others not? Too unreliable and it was sold at substantial loss to a dealer. Accuracy was pretty good otherwise.

I have one in .243 circa 1971. Accurate and dependable even with a heavy trigger. My BIL has one in .308 that he inherited that had a pretty pitted barrel but still shoots accurately and he has killed a few deer with.

I've had 3.

1. Pre 81 - pot belly 358 Win
1. Pre 81 - pot belly 243
1. 81 Flush belly - 243

The 243s were for my boys.

Not Nary A Single Solitary Problem

I miss the 358 W for Woods hunting.


Jerry

Jerry,
My BLR is going to see some serious use this year.

Had one in .358 and killed a few deer with it. It was a 2 moa shooter on a good day, mostly vertical stringing. Had the rack and pinion jamb up once and the trigger freeze up twice. Sold it and upgraded to a Savavge 99 in the same caliber. Just my experience, sample of one.

Wish I had one in 358win but I think I'll make one of my Savage 99' 308's into a 358

Good Luck

Good Shooting


Jerry

Thanks