Anyone shooting the "newer" Browning BLR's?

Triggernosis · Post by **Triggernosis** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:21 am

The "newer" ones meaning the latest ones with the aluminum receiver.
Interested in hearing your experiences, as I've got an itch for one in .243 or 7mm-08.

Jayhawker · Post by **Jayhawker** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:32 am

I have a straight grip model in 358 and think highly of it. It's light and responsive in the hand. The first load I tried using the Speer 220 grain bullet went into just under 1.5", so I stopped load development right there. I don't remember the powder charge offhand. The bolt locks up into the barrel, so the alum alloy receiver merely acts as a guide for the bolt and a housing for the gear assembly.

I haven't carried it afield a lot, so I don't know how easily damaged the finish is on the receiver, which is a concern I often hear raised about it. Since it's an alloy, cold blue won't restore the finish. I guess I'll worry about it if and when it happens. I'm think about picking up a take down model now, just can't decide which chambering.

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:48 am

I love mine.

Details here:
http://www.gunblast.com/Browning-BLR358.htm

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:09 pm

Been eyeballing a nice used one, 358 scoped,@ $650 That a decent price?

nralover · Post by **nralover** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:17 pm

Ben_Rumson wrote:Been eyeballing a nice used one, 358 scoped,@ $650 That a decent price?

650.00 used seems a little steep to me, but i could be mistaken. My in laws have a couple of them in .308 Win and they are plenty accurate and handy. I prefer a tube fed levergun, but that is just me...

Triggernosis · Post by **Triggernosis** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:40 pm

Jeff,
How well has the finish held up on your receiver.

I'm not necessarily concerned about the aluminum receiver holding up, but an anodized finish does concern me.

edsguns · Post by **edsguns** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:46 pm

I've owned 5 or 6 BLRs including a 7mm08, but it was a steel receiver gun. I currently own 2 newer aluminum receiver guns a .450 Marlin straight grip and a .325WSM with pistol grip stock. I used the .325 a good bit this year and enjoyed it's balance, feel and carry. It has a 22" barrel where the 7/08 will have a 20. I think I would buy another in .308 or 7/08 in a pistol grip configuration, myself, given a choice. Those calibers should be very nice, and handy in either straight or pistol grip and even though I am a Marlin fan as well and own a few of them too, I'd buy the BLR .308 before the Marlin Express. Simply my opinion tho. The BLR is a very nice rifle, and I doubt u'd regret the decision to buy one.

Triggernosis · Post by **Triggernosis** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:51 pm

.358, .325, .450! Doggone, guys, y'all shoot some kickers, don't you?
I'm recoil and muzzle-blast-sensitive, so I'm gonna stick with the small calibers.

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen.

edsguns · Post by **edsguns** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:22 pm

Triggernosis wrote:.358, .325, .450! Doggone, guys, y'all shoot some kickers, don't you?
I'm recoil and muzzle-blast-sensitive, so I'm gonna stick with the small calibers.

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen.

Heck yeah, They like to knock the chew clear out of my cheek at times...!!!!

crawdaddyjim · Post by **crawdaddyjim** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:29 pm

If the recoil is knocking out your chew then you aint got enough in there to begin with.