Cold weather BLR problem

[Bigahh]

Guys, To make a long story short my BLR in 308 failed me on a 140 class Buck last Saturday. I fired all 4 shells i had in it, and all went click. Firing pin hit, but too small a dent to go off. I let the gun warm up later, and all 4 shells then fired. I set the gun outside for 3 hours, and the same thing happened. Can this be an OIL issue? I cleaned it the best I could without taking it apart. I do not want to attempt to take it completely apart, and do not think i should have to. I plan on contacting browning asking them for advice, but do any of you BLR guys have suggestions? It was 19 degrees, not bitter cold, but fairly cold none the less. By the way it worked out fine. He showed the next day when I had the Marlin 336 in my hands!

[COSteve]

Most likely you have a dirty, gummed up, or too oily firing pin channel. The colt weather increases the viscosity of the dirt, gunk, or oil inhibiting the free travel of the firing pin. Keep your firing pin channel clean and free of any lubrication!

[RKrodle]

Use some brake cleaner or carb cleaner and spray it down the firing pin hole flushing out the old oil and grease. Then use compressed air to blow it out. Repeat as much as you think is needed. I then spray some thin oil like Rem Oil into the firing pin hole then blow it out with air.

[Bigahh]

Steve and Ricky, I will give this a try. I use a cotton swab with Hoppe's 9 on it in the whole area, but not right in the Firing Pin Hole. I will try anything as i love the Gun. Thanks for the suggestions.

[kimwcook]

I think COSteve and Ricky hit the nail smack dab on the head.

[BigSky56]

all my guns are winterized by cleaning with gun scrubber blowing with air then using a aerosol with Teflon in it it sprays in wet then dries. oil will jell every time so will wet/liquid graphite. danny

[Hobie]

It is a maintainer issue not a firearms issue. IOW, you let yourself down on that. Don't let it get you down. Many of us have had that experience at some time or another.

[Huntermb]

In the winter the majority of my guns are oil free and I use dry graphite to lubricate it.

[86er]

I had a similar experience with a bolt gun getting light primer hits and a newer lever gun with the same problem. In both cases, a heavy dose of Gun Scrubber solved the problem. Good luck, and nice deer!

[Bruce]

I agree with the responses given so far, but there could be one more culprit. You could have the same problem with the mainspring and related tube/parts. Not likely - but a slim possibility. You have to remove the butt stock to get access to the mainspring tube. Do not try to dissassemble it (tube and parts), but you can clean and oil it in the same manner already stated. If you do remove the stock, I recommend you oil the inside of the stock with a good wood oil while you have it off. Same for the forearm.

Here is a link to the MGW site that shows a parts diagram for a standard BLR 81.

http://www.midwestgunworks.com/merchant ... Schm_1.jpg

[kimwcook]

Bigahh, don't let brake or carb cleaner get on your stock. I believe Browning uses an epoxy finish and the cleaner will make a mess of it. Even if it isn't epoxy, it'll tear it up.

[Bigahh]

Thanks Guys, I will try and get my Favorite rifle Wisconsin Weather Ready!

[BenT]

I had a customer tell me the same thing happens with his . Mine has never failed me. I told him to do the same thing as these gentlemen have said. Seeing many deer on your side of the state? Opening day wasn't bad not much after that.

[pwl44m]

I'm not a Gunsmith but it sounds sticky to Me.
You said " It was 19 degrees, not bitter cold " Buddy,that is bitter cold in My neck of the woods. Although We did have a 25 degree night 3 days ago. Hope U get it solved, Nothin worse than a Click on a Big Buck.

[Borregos]

all my guns are winterized by cleaning with gun scrubber blowing with air then using a aerosol with Teflon in it it sprays in wet then dries. oil will jell every time so will wet/liquid graphite. danny

I had exactly the same problem with a BLR new out of the box, so it had nothing to do with my maintenance or lack of!
Used the same solution as BigSky56's and never had a problem since

[CEMENTHEAD]

+ 1 on all of the above. Congrats on the venison!! Enjoy!!

Thanks, Tom

[farmer44mag]

I had a few misfires with mine when new- but in my case there wasnt even a hit on the primer most of the time. Havn't had any trouble for years now. For about 5 years now i have been lubing my firing pin holes with break free clp when putting them up for extended periods. have never had a problem with this gelling or gunking up- in fact it gets rid of all gunk on my guns. I don't use it on my glocks though as no lube is needed with them for corrosion purposes.