Browning BL-92 (.357)

[Meeteetse]

Need a little help please. I have a Browning BL-92 (.357) that I bought when they first were available. It has been in my gun vault ever since. I sort of forgot about it because it was not legal for big game in Wyoming, so it always took a back seat to bigger caliber lever guns. It has had exactly "one" round fired through it. I guess it would be classified as 98%.

I have no idea where to look, but I would like to know what it is worth. Can anyone help?
Depending on its value I may put it to work now that I have moved to Texas and it is a legal caliber.
Thanks
Dave

[Jay Bird]

What do you think it's worth? Do you want a quick sale? I'd say $600 to $1100. $900 for a fair price. Try, http://www.gunbroker.com

[Hobie]

If you have the box, $900 fer sure. I'd like to think $700-800 ('cause I should have bought one 4 years ago) but you know, you might well get $1000 if you can find the right buyer at the right time.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Cubrock and I were recently watching one up on Gunbroker. It was NIB and went for a final $1336 I believe.

Ah, here's the link ... BL-92 on Gunbroker.

[Pete44ru]

Did we mention, that .357 B-92's are on the rare side ?

They're worth about 75% - 100% (Yes, 2X) more than a .44 B-92 in like condition.

[Hobie]

Dand, $1336, oh am I kicking myself in the backside now...

[Meeteetse]

Thanks guys, now I have a real dilemma, to shoot or not to shoot. I have always thought of my guns as tools, but there comes a time when collector price may change that.

Yes, Hobie, I do have the box and a less than honest person could call this rifle NIB because it has never really been shot. The factory put more rounds through it than I have since my round count is exactly "one". With a GunBroker price of $1300+ it is very tempting to sell it and buy a shooter, so this will take some soul searching.

Decisions, Decisions. . . . . . .Dave

[pharmseller]

Sell it and buy a Marlin for $399.

Q

[Arminius]

Did we mention, that .357 B-92's are on the rare side ?

They're worth about 75% - 100% (Yes, 2X) more than a .44 B-92 in like condition.

Why???

Why is the less capable and equally accurate .357 TWICE the price of a .44?

I have a nearly new ( less than 30 rounds fired and extremely cared for ) .44 Mag B 92. Bought it used.

It shoots fine, and the action, while still stiff, is glass smooth. Even the trigger is fine as is! NO comparison to a Rossi 92!

I use other LA´s, and just have that one for fondling ...



Hermann

P.S.: its just for my information, I don´t intend to sell at any price!

[Tumbleweeds]

Supply and demand, Hermann.

The .357 was less popular than the .44, so they made fewer of them, which means there are fewer for the collectors to bid for. For exactly the same reason, the Ruger Redhawk .357 brings collector price. Not many shooters want a 4-lb .357, so few were made.

[Pete44ru]

[Why???]
[Why is the less capable and equally accurate .357 TWICE the price of a .44?]

As posted above, that has zip to do, with value.

They're more valuable for the same reason a pre-64 Model 70 in .22 Hornet or 9x57 is more valuable than the same gun in .30-06.

[Bullet Bob]

Shoot that puppy. I shoot mine, and further devalued it by having a Lyman 66 sight put on. It is a great gun; fun, slick, and accurate. I can almost guarantee you'll love it.

If you sell it, all you'll have is money - where's the fun in that?

[Old Ironsights]

Sell it and buy a slicked-up stainless 92 from Steve Young.

It will make a better beater/fun gun and you can use the extra $$$ to buy all the ammo/reloading components you are going to NEED.

[big bear]

Unless you have DIRE need for money, shoot it, clean it, enjoy it. When you get tired of it 2, 5, 10 years from now it will be worth even more. If you sell it,you'll never get another one again...

[TNBigBore]

I would not sell it with the intentions of buying a "shooter" B92 357. You could wait for a couple of years and still never find one. I had a similar delima myself recently with a B92 44 that was not new, but still had the box etc. I found that I rarely shot it for fear of scratching or denting it so I sold it. Then what did I do a few days later, but buy the next B92 that I saw. That is how much I missed the rifle even after a week. My advice would be to hold onto your rifle if you can afford to do so. These are the best modern 92 clones you can buy.

[pharmseller]

I bought this one late last year for $700




Very smooth, accurate, and in great shape. I got what I considered a very good deal.

Q

[Meeteetse]

Just to be clear, it was never my intention to sell my BL-92. It is too pretty and if the value is high, it can continue to reside in my safe as it has for nearly 20 years. If, however the value is higher but still reasonable I plan to shoot it. I have always thought of guns as tools. Some tools are just better looking than others.

Now I am curious how well it will shoot. If you guys own a BL-92, what loads work the best in your gun? How well does the gun handle .38 special loads? I've been told the Browning doesn't function well with .38's. My only experience is with a friends BL-92 and it was a little picky. I can't imagine using .38's, but it would be nice to know if the sub-loads will work.

Thanks for your comments.
Dave

[Andrew]

Sell it and buy a slicked-up stainless 92 from Steve Young.

It will make a better beater/fun gun and you can use the extra $$$ to buy all the ammo/reloading components you are going to NEED.

I agree with your recomendation, but, I like to limit my use of the term "beater" to firearms in the 2-digit value range.

[woods-walker]

I use Remington JSP 158 gr. and Hornady 180 XTP's with "Lil" Gun and 2400 with excellent results in my Browning 92's. I have Marlin 1894C .357's as well and though the actions are different they both shoot these loads well. Both rifles are great tools to have along for a long walk.

I would shoot your new rifle. You only get so many chances in life to experience a "fresh" start with something brand new. The education is worth it.