Author Topic: An Enigma: the extremely high cost of used BLRs ???? (Read 2024 times)

mannyrock · « **on:** December 30, 2008, 04:54:30 AM »

Dear Guys,

I am sorry, but I just don't get it. :-)

Browning has been selling the BLRs for about 50 years. There has to be hundreds of thousands of them out there, maybe even a half a million of them.

So, you would think that the cost of a good used BLR would be fairly reasonable.

But, in searching the net, I consistently find the following: Cost of a brand new BLR is about $775. Cost of a very good used BLR (pre-81s, or post 81s, not FN) is about $725! In short, there is only about a $50 difference between a brand new one, and a used one!

What makes this even more surprising is that for the pre-81s, the spare magazines are almost impossible to find, and seem to run about $70.

What gives here??? I have never seen the cost of new and used gun to be so close in a standard hunting rifle.

What is also interesting is this: I have lived and deer hunted in Virginia and Tennesee for more than 35 years, and I have NEVER seen anyone hunting with a BLR! Not once. (Marlins and Winchesters rule the lever action roost here.) Who is using all of these rifle to hunt with? Are they fanatically popular west of the Mississippi?

Thanks for any thoughts, opinions, speculations.

Mannyrock

pagris · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2008, 10:24:14 AM »

Mannyrock: You bring up a couple of interesting points. I have owned a BLR since 1981 and now, due to a case of buying frenzy in the early 2000's, I now own four BLRs. I paid a little over $300 for my original new one in .358 and then, some twenty years later, paid between $450 and $525 for my three other used ones. And, like you, I have never seen another person shooting or hunting with one in those 27 years since I purchased my first one. In fact, there have been several times over the years where guys at the shooting range would admire my BLR, as if they had never seen one.

I also agree with you that older model BLRs (built before 1995) frequently seem over-priced. Part of this might be explained by the notion that many BLR fans (or would-be fans) have that the older models with steel receivers are just more desireable than the newer, alloy-receiver "Lightweight" models. Some others might prefer the non-folding hammer of the earlier models that permits the use of a hammmer extension, something you can't do with the newer models - I know I fall into that category.

Lastly, this price similarity between new and old can also be applied to other gun models - the pre-64 Model 70 and new Model 70s of a few years ago come to mind.

It would be interesting to know production quanities of BLRs over the years - perhaps not as many have been produced as we might guess. There certainly doesn't seem to be a lack of them for sale at Gunbroker, last time I checked.

One thing I know for sure - they sure are a sweet carry in the woods.

pagris

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

Blowtorch53 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 31, 2008, 04:02:18 AM »

Hey Manny,

I don't get it either. I have got a boatload of levers. Many Marlins that will shoot your eye out. Many Winchesters that do pretty well also. I have a Winchester 88 in .308 that is so beat up it looks like a serious car wreck and it shoots under 1" over and over with factory ammo.

Being a lever nut, I had to have a BLR. I bought a "new" model .358 and I can't get it to shoot for crap. The trigger is terrible and no gunsmith in Houston will touch it. Then I found an old model 7MM - 08 with a cheap scope at at pawn shop one day when I was killing time. Got it for $450 as I remember about a year ago. Same thing. Not a shooter. Put on a good scope. No help. I bought a like new .308 for about $600 on one of the internet sites but I haven't shot it yet.

My humble opinion of the BLR is that I have not shot one yet (only two) that have any kind of decent trigger pull or accuracy and they are way over priced as you said. I am an old guy and have been shooting all my life and I'm not hardly an amateur when it come to these things. The 7MM -08 is a nice, handy little rifle with a straight grip and I would love to take it hunting for our Texas deer. I just don't trust it to shoot in the same place every time and I'm kinda like you, I just don't get it. For the price of a used BLR (in most cases) you can buy two Marlins. I haven't found a Marlin that won't shoot yet. But then...I could be wrong!

BT53

mannyrock · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2008, 04:33:39 AM »

Hey Blowtorch,

I don't want to insult any BLR fans on this board, but my IMPRESSION is this:

BLRs are beautiful to look at and hold, and they come in hi-power cartridges, and they cost alot. The triggers are not very good, and they are hell to take apart. I think that the guys who buy these are upper-end folks, who really like a beautiful rifle on the wall, and maybe only take it out to hunt once or twice a year, primarily for deer or elk, and they simply do not shoot it very much. They love OWNING the rifle. Because these rifles are not USED very much, most of the ones I have seen are in very good condition (98% or better).

Marlins are a different story. They are more utilitarian looking, are built like a rock, have a good trigger, are easy to disassemble, and are a joy to shoot. They are also very reasonably priced. Guys who own them shoot them alot, and hunt with them alot. At my gun club, it is not unusual to see a guy at the bench in the middle of the summer, shooting 3 or 4 boxes of ammo thru his Marlin, while sitting, standing, and kneeling, just for the sheer joy of shooting it. No adjustments to the scope, no tinkering with the sights, . . . just shooting. It is also very common for guys who own a Marlin to keep it for 30 years or more, and kill 30 deer or more with it. I am sure that there are a few people who have done this with a BLR, but compared to Marlin, this would be rare. And, because Marlins are used alot, the ones for sale in used condition range all over the map, from 80% condition to 98% condition.

So, maybe the reason for the very high price of used BLRs is that most of them are in 98% condition or better, and there are alot of upper-end folks out there who like buying and owning and collecting them (just like high quality side-by-side shotguns), and this keeps the price up.

Just my thoughts. Glad to hear others.

Mannyrock

p15camborne · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2008, 05:31:19 PM »

Mannyrock: Wow! And I was going to put my steel receiver BLR .243 up for sale for $575. Ouch!

I do hunt deer with it in Tennessee, but only on my land. So you won't see me. It is more accurate than the two Marlin .30-30's I've had, but I had the BLR trigger worked on. I just got a Ruger Hawkeye .243 so I figure to let the BLR go.

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2008, 06:58:45 PM »

A year ago I purchased a steel receiver BLR 81 in 223 from a local big box store looking like new but used for $329
Deals are out there

jcn59 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2008, 07:41:32 PM »

I bought a .358 steel receiver 81 ten years ago for 450. It's quite accurate. I had a similar one in .257 that I found by adjusting the screw on the end of the forend, I could get it to shoot in the 1.25 to 2" range. Experiment with yours if it doesn't shoot well.

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2009, 08:01:44 AM »

Most I know of are simply "in use". My first BLR (bought used in 1974) is in use every season, indicated by about half the bluing remaining. My .223 and .257 have been in steady use since bought new in the 80's. You will also find more BLR's that shoot nice tight groups than those that do not. Minor tinkering (usually forearm) has taken care of mine and several friends BLR's.

Hank08 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 01, 2009, 08:54:52 AM »

Manny, Everyone that I know of here in Utah that uses the BLR are cowboys or ranchers who hunt on horseback and want a gun to go in a saddle scabard, they mostly use 7mags with iron sights. BLR is about the only lever made in mag calibers.
Most of these guns have never been on a wall but live in a scabard and look like crap
but they kill a lot of coyotes, deer, Elk and anything else that needs killing. Course that;s just here and your probably right about some other places.
H08

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2009, 02:56:49 AM »

i think some of this comes from the mistique of the belguim browning. the over unders and even the mauser based bolt guns that were made in belguim were some fine guns. They comand a price over the jap made ones. THis kind of carried over to the blr. Also if you ask any of my dads chronys they think a browning is a much higher end gun then a rem or ruger when if fact there not and that misconception goes along way toward keeping the resale high on even the newer ones. In my opinion the newer ones are a better gun and certainly better looking without that ugly mag hanging down. But say it was made in belgum and all the so called gun experts come a running. My dad has hunted for years with a jap 308 and its been an excellent gun. Ive never owned one but if i lucked into one of those cant pass for the price deals on a 257 or a 358 id own it in a heartbeat.

Syncerus · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2009, 03:34:09 AM »

The short-action blr is an easy rifle to like for ergonomic reasons. The resale is high because people like them.

Hank08 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2009, 06:41:44 AM »

You folks who shoot the BLRs, treat them gentle when you rack the lever, I just welded up the front tooth and recut it, on the bottom of a bolt of a 22-250, that was torn off when the lever reached it's limit. Might be a rare case but it's worth keeping in mind.
H08

Blowtorch53 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2009, 07:46:40 AM »

Guys,

I cleaned up my gun inventory this weekend and oiled, and stored all my scattered treasures in the proper safes and I noticed a couple of things:

1. Not being that expertly familiar with the BLR, my straight stock 7mm-08 has an exposed screw/bolt on the tip of the forend. It also has a sling swivel attached to the gun under this bolt. This rifle is a great looking compact little rifle but it is not at all accurate and it is one of the reasons I have a negative feeling about the BLR. Could this swivel attachment be the cause of the "patterns" vs. "groups" problem? My other two BLR's have pistol grip stocks and there is no exposed bolt at the tip of the forearm. Do you have to take off the forearm to find this bolt and try different tensioning methods? The more I read stuff about this bolt from you BLR experts, the more I suspect the swivel mounting. The forearm bolt is tight but it could be putting some uneven stress on the barrel. What do you think?

2. I have a like new (looks completely original) LTWT BLR short action .308 that I will never use. I have never shot it. The only spot on the gun is a very slight muzzle wear in the bluing and the crown is perfect. I think it was stored in a safe muzzle down because it does not appear to have been shot very much. I would probably trade it for something if I could figure out what new toy I wanted. I have a dealer here in Houston who receives guns I buy on the internet for me and handles the paper work. I guess a trade could be done through him. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Blowtorch

pagris · « **Reply #13 on:** January 05, 2009, 10:47:24 AM »

Blowtorch: The Forearm Bolt on pre-1995 BLRs screws into a Forearm Tube that runs through a lengthwise hole in the forearm (beneath the barrel channel) and is screwed (and pinned) into the front of the receiver. In theory, tightening or loosening the forearm bolt should not exert any difference in pressure to the barrel. I haven't played with forearm bolt pressure, as I haven't had any significant accuracy issues with my BLRs that I couldn't blame on the triggers (or my shooting skills!)

http://people.redhat.com/zaitcev/gun/model81_parts.pdf

Blowtorch53 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 05, 2009, 11:38:26 AM »

Pagris,

Thanks for the info. My .7mm-08 is an 81 BLR so I guess it's not the one everyone mentions about adjusting the tension on the forearm screw for accuracy. The other two are marked BLR LTWT and the screw is not exposed but is under the forearm wood. I have shot one of the LTWT models in .358 Win. and it is not very accurate either. Is this (the LTWT model) the one everyone mentions adjusting the tension or are am I just all screwed up? I guess knowledge of the workings of this rifle is not my bag. Both the 7mm-08 and the .358 have terrible triggers. I can shoot pretty good with many rifles and I'm not exactly an amateur with rifles, handguns, or reloading. I just hate to give up on such a handy little package (the 7mm) in such a good caliber because I can't tune it. It's like giving up on a cute little lady you met because you found out she can't cook!

BT

Bigeasy · « **Reply #15 on:** January 11, 2009, 06:44:33 AM »

I own a pre-81 .358 BLR that has killed more big game then any other rifle I own. The trigger pull is not bad, certainly in line with the average Marlin or Winchester. It groups between 1 and 2 inches at 100 yards, depending on load. There are very real advantages with this rifle compared to more "traditional" lever actions.

Better fit and finish, smoother, shorter stroke action, trigger that travels with the lever (an important factor when wearing gloves), box magazine that allows high ballistic coefficient pointed bullets, and a strong, front locking rotary bolt, which allows high intensity calibers, and less case stretch then traditional rear locking actions. Being magazine fed, I have found reliability is at least as good, if not better then more complicated, ammo sensitive tube fed guns. As far as magazines, at least on the pre-81 guns, all are interchangeable as all the chamberings are based on the .308 case.

The above is not to say the traditional toggle action Winchesters and Marlins are not fine weapons, because they are, and I own quite a few. This is just to point out some of the differences in this rifle that justify it's higher price. I have seen quite a few of these rifles in the hands of hunters in PA and Maine, where I do most of my deer hunting.

Larry

Ahshucks · « **Reply #16 on:** February 04, 2009, 05:53:36 AM »

Haven't seen any of the BLRs in the woods around central Wisconsin. Mostly are all autos and bolts in these parts. A hunter in our party carries a lever action, so I purchased a BLR in 308 to reduce all the weight I was carrying.

What a difference! I often carry it through the drives like a pistol one handed. Light, quick, fast and mine fortunately is accurate. And my shoulders aren't sagging to my hips at the end of the deer season.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #17 on:** February 04, 2009, 06:27:53 AM »

I own an older model, don't know when it was made, in a 308. It is as accurate as my Ruger 77 .308. It has a steel reciever, and it can be fitted with a hammer extension. It is light, accurate, fast, and has a detachable magazine for easy unloading. Mags are expensive, don't know why. I have seen some older models at gun shows in the $500 range, mostly .308's and .358's. 50% of all BLR's manufactured were .308's from what I read or heard somewhere. I wouldn't mind having one in the .325 WSM. It has ballistics similar to the .338 WM, and uses 8mm bullets. I like the short action for light easy handling. Heard of someone taking the long mag action and making a 458 WM by just rebarreling it. Someone else was going to make a .416 Taylor. I wouldn't mind having a .416 Taylor either. I just wish they were as easy to take apart to clean as a Marlin.

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 06, 2009, 11:09:10 AM »

Take apart for cleaning? Why? A bag of rags and a can of non-clorinated brake cleaner has taken care of BLR action cleaning forever, and I hunt dusty country.

levrluvr · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2009, 12:24:58 PM »

Quote from: Dixie Dude on February 04, 2009, 06:27:53 AM

Heard of someone taking the long mag action and making a 458 WM by just rebarreling it. Someone else was going to make a .416 Taylor. I wouldn't mind having a .416 Taylor either.

So rebarrelling one to 9.3x62 wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility?

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #20 on:** February 07, 2009, 02:24:39 PM »

From what I have seen, there are only a few bolt head sizes. Caliber would just have to fit the magazine and barrel screws into the receiver. The 376 HH mag was shortened and necked down to 7mm mag, 300 wm, 338wm, and 8mm Remington mag and shortened and necked up to the .416 Taylor and 458 WM and Lott. The 8mm parent case is basically on the base the same size as the 30-06 and it's descendants .308 and its descendants, and I think the 9.3 calibers are just lengthened 8mm cases. So you would have to get the reciever and bolt to fit the base of whatever you were going for, and get someone to make a barrel for it.

oldelkhunter · « **Reply #21 on:** February 09, 2009, 10:33:37 AM »

My extent of involvement with the BLR has been (3) .308 wins Belgium made,Japan made steel reciever, Japan made aluminum reciever (1) Jap made aluminum receiver 358 win with a schnabel foreend.

I never fired the 358 because I traded something it for something I really wanted. The other three all shot extremely well, even though they had so and so triggers. Overall they are a very good rifle but I just have lost a lot of interest in them. I find them all the time priced reasonably or I wouldn't have bought any of them but that may be a regional thing.