Author Topic: Problem with a new BLR light weight (Read 870 times)

Harry Snippe · « **on:** August 01, 2004, 10:24:42 AM »

My new BLR 358W has a problem and was sent back to Browning. When ever the lever is opened other than a quick slam the bolt does not cock the lever all the way and the hammer hits the bottom gear. Then when it does this , it will also jam open and you can not close the action .
Mine is one of three that I know of that has this problem.
The question . Are you aware of any more New BLR levers that do this? If so they should have a recall to address the problem .

I bought this rifle to do some bear hunting . I wanted a light rifle capable of a second fast shot with the power of the 348W and not the recoil of the 45/70 Marlin.
What would happen if I need a second shot and the bear is coming? Well , you need a rifle that will never jam, and be able to quickly place a good shot.

If you have one of the "NEW BLR's", let us know how yours shoots.

Maybe I need to keep the guide gun after -all.

marlin shooter · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2004, 11:05:43 AM »

Harry
I have a new BLR in .358 that I havn't fired yet but seems to function fine when I cycle the action. I checked 5 rifles at the dealer and all functioned fine. Did yours develop after firing or do this right out of the box? I want to buy one in 7-08 but want to hear what happens with yours. Good luck.

hawkin50 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2004, 12:20:15 PM »

Hello Harry.I think your wonderful browning is out of time.the action Im talking about.If you can aquire a gun kinks 3 book from Bronells it will tell you how to fix it,but seeing as it is a new gun I would send the ophan back and ask them to fix and fix right.Yes sir the old win 88 is lookin better every day.lol.Probeby a Monday or a Friday gun,or a sacky or a rice break.lol.Send her backand get her working right and you still have time before hunting season.My thoughts.Hawkin50.

Harry Snippe · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2004, 02:03:13 PM »

Quote from: marlin shooter

Harry
I have a new BLR in .358 that I havn't fired yet but seems to function fine when I cycle the action. I checked 5 rifles at the dealer and all functioned fine. Did yours develop after firing or do this right out of the box? I want to buy one in 7-08 but want to hear what happens with yours. Good luck.

I did not notice it out of the box ,and fired two box's of factory rounds though it . It seemed to do it once in awhile Then I put it away and waited a month to get dies for it. I might have quickly cycled the action , I do not remember
I loaded two box's of lead, Then I noticed I had a problem , because it did it all the time.

I would like to hear from other Browning owners, since I heard that Browning arms are not always easy to deal with , and also I was thinking about a second rifle.
I would hope that Browning makes the repair required and I can report such on the forums

Hawkin 50
I hope Quality Control would not ship lever action rifles out like this. I could see the odd one missed , lets see if there is a problem. The japanese are supposed to put out a good product.

Yes the older rifles seem to get the nod here too. Got a Swedish mauser model 38 from 1943, and a 1954 336 /35 Marlin. that I would never part with.The 6.5x55 is a shooter and so is the ballard rifled 35 remington.
Now I got two new Marlins that have there problems and now this BLR that I bought since I was ticked with Marlin.

Thanks to Winchester my 94 AE winchesters were great right out of the box.

hawkin50 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2004, 03:14:48 PM »

Harry,Hawkin here.I think if I were you I would check the new dies and the ajustment on them and check with calipiers and see if everything is tickidy do.If every thing seems ok,then I would make up a dummy round and put it in the clip and cycle it and see if the pinion gear is traveling far enough to cock the hammer then maybe you can see what going on and have a better idea of what the problem is or what causeing the problem.There is a way to time the cycle on the browning blr81s.Gun kinks 3 book from brownells shows and tells you how.Sounds to me like the gear is not moveing the bolt back far enough to cock the hammmer.Later hawkin.

Harry Snippe · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2004, 07:35:43 PM »

It is not the Ammo. Mine or the factory that makes no difference . It matters not if the rifle is empty or loaded .
You need to work the action hard to get it to cock the hammer on the last click.
Since this is a new rifle I think Browning should make the repair.
And that is were the rifle went. The other person I talked to on the Shooters Forum sent his 308 BLR back too. Then I know of another in 300WSM that does the same. To me then there has to be more of "THEM" with the same problem.
I can Bear hunt in two weeks here North of North Bay,and I am short a rifle.

Some where in the Fall is going to be the turn around time.
Ever buy a new car/truck and notice something wrong with the engine. The dealer tells you it needs to go back and you can have it back come fall.
Would you be happy with the plant that shipped the thing ? :x
No. Well I would like to know if there is a quality control problem here.
I question I have since I know of three others with the same problem out of the box, Is this going to be a common problem with the rifle or only with the odd one?
That is why I am asking all of you Browning BLR Light weight owners , Does your Alloy BLR cock all the way with out having to slam the action open?

Happy

ragdude · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2004, 05:46:34 PM »

I have a used (looks like new) blr 308 on hold at local shop, that I have spent quite a bit of time going over and cycling and there appears to be no problems. Of course since it is second hand maybe that problem was already fixed :?

Harry Snippe · « **Reply #7 on:** August 16, 2004, 02:14:01 AM »

Quote from: ragdude

I have a used (looks like new) blr 308 on hold at local shop, that I have spent quite a bit of time going over and cycling and there appears to be no problems. Of course since it is second hand maybe that problem was already fixed :?

Well one of the lads that sent his rifle to Browning about the same time as I , just got his rifle back and will post how he made out after a trip to the range . This was about a three week turn around.
In Canada I would expect at least another two to three weeks longer for shipping and permits.
Lets hope that this problem is quickly solved.

Harry Snippe · « **Reply #8 on:** September 15, 2004, 08:46:44 AM »

Well folks I just got the Browning BLR back and it seems to be as slick as a whisle now.
Other than being ticked a new rifle had to be shipped back like a few others I knew of with the same problem, I am happy Browning were quick to resolve the problem and returned the rifle repaired as quick as possible.
The Scope was removed during the repair , so now it justa matter of dialing it back in and I still can use it on the bear hunt, which was the reason for the purchase . It is quick for snap shot and I still have some range with the 358W.

So over all I would buy another Browning BLR.
Happy

leverfan · « **Reply #9 on:** September 15, 2004, 07:29:32 PM »

I'm glad to hear things worked out for you. The last time I sent a rifle to Browning for repair, I had the same basic experience. The work was done much faster than I expected, and it was done correctly. They also payed for shipping. Customer service is not a forgotten art at Browning.