magazines for blr tell if it is pre 81 or not?

[kennisondan]

I am gathering that the mags that stick out the bottom of the 7mm mag blr I am looking at indicate it is an older model and the mags are harder to find... does that also mean the recvr is steel ?
what is a good price for one in good to excellent condition, no box no papers, a few small wood nicks here and there.. only one clip ?
I am thinking about one and want to put it into perspective.
dk

[pagris]

dk:  Given that you are looking at a BLR in 7mm magnum, it has to be a newer model with an alloy receiver.  BLRs with the longer action length were not produced until 1995 and were referred to as the BLR Lightning model.  Steel action models were made until 1995 and were only produced in a shorter length action (ie 308 length cartridges). 

Although the magazine in protruding slightly from the bottom of the action, the older models (pre 1981) had a slimmer receiver and the magazine protrudes about 2 inches from the bottom.

I have given between $450 and $530 for older BLRs (pre 1995) in good to very good condition but that was a few years ago. 

You can age the BLR here:

http://www.browning.com/services/dategun/detail.asp?id=22

pagris

1977 .358 BLR
1980 .358 BLR - original owner
1987 .243 '81 BLR
1991 7mm-08 '81 BLR

[Blackhawk44]

While they made the long action BLR's in both steel and lightweight, the magazines are the same, all having been of the BLR 81 series and are all currently available.  They only protrude about 3/8".  The pre-81, round bottom protruding magazines (about an inch) were all short actions.

[Hairtrigger]

I am not positive but I believe that the pre 81s say made in Belgium.
The BLR-81s say made in Japan or made in Belgium assembled in Portugal
Again, I am not positive but reasonably sure. I use the magazine and the fore arm as the way I can tell

[kennisondan]

Thanks.. was looking into one and am still undecided.. for the price... etc.
dk

[pagris]

Hairtrigger:  BLRs were only made in Belgium for the first year or two (1969-1970).  All BLRs made since 1971 have been made in Japan.

Blackhawk44:  BLRs with long actions were first introduced in 1995 and they, along with the short action models built from 1995 on, have always had the alloy receivers.  There has never been a long action BLR made with a steel receiver.