Brownings new BLR Lwt.

[Pinebark]

Is anyone hunting/shooting the BLR 81 Lwt. rifle and if so how do you like it. I have read that a few have been sick and needed to be returned to Browing for a cure. I like the looks and feel but do not wish to purchase one if it not up to par with my A-Bolts.

[Harry Snippe]

Is anyone hunting/shooting the BLR 81 Lwt. rifle and if so how do you like it. I have read that a few have been sick and needed to be returned to Browing for a cure. I like the looks and feel but do not wish to purchase one if it not up to par with my A-Bolts.

 
Hi Buddy
I had a problem with my BLR when I bought it . Browning was quick to repair the problem and I had it for the hunt . My rifle is in 358 W, which makes it a good lever action for up to 250 yards . I wanted it to be able to take a good sized bear , moose as well as deer . With a 250 gr. 35 cal. bullet I am sure some of the 400 LB plus bears we have are going to take notice.
Now that I have shot a few  box's of ammo and am working on reloads the more I like the rifle.The biggest problem now, my wife and father in law ask if they can hunt with it every day we go out. Got to buy at least one more.
 Just wish Browning would scrap the high gloss look. A hand rubbed oil finsh and a not so glossy barrel would just make the cake.
Read Gunblast .com/browningBLR358.htm   No word of a lie. this gun does what he said.
Harry ( Happy)

[NYH1]

I have read that a few have been sick and needed to be returned to Browing for a cure. I like the looks and feel but do not wish to purchase one if it not up to par with my A-Bolts.

I haven't heard about any problems with the BLR. Its like everything else, there is going to be one here and one there that have some sort of problem! I think a Browning is a Browning, their extremely high quality firearms. I don't buy Browning's because their made in Japan, and I have a pre'64 Winchester model 88 in 308 Win. that shoots one inch group and is simular the the Savage 99 and the BLR, but I like the model 88 even better! Browning does make a fine firearm! :grin:

[Harry Snippe]

I was under the understanding that Winchester and Browning were under the same ownership.
I can understand why one would buy products made in their own country , but are you aware of all the products that are out sourced. Is everything assembled and made in America. Guess again!
The big three car companies for instance have many parts that come from Mexico and Japan to name two. So guess you can not drive a GM or Ford and a dodge any more.
In my opinion as a canadian trading with other countries exporting and also importing does provide America with jobs too.

[armory414]

Winchester and Browning are owned by the same European conglomerate that owns FN-Herstal, Sig-Sauer, Blazer, and I believe Anschutz.  It got too expensive for Browning to make their guns in Japan, they are now made in Portugal.

[NYH1]

I was under the understanding that Winchester and Browning were under the same ownership.

Yes they are. The last I knew they were owned by a French company!

I can understand why one would buy products made in their own country , but are you aware of all the products that are out sourced. Is everything assembled and made in America. Guess again!

If you understand then why question it? I know a lot of things are out sourced, but I still try to support my own country!

The big three car companies for instance have many parts that come from Mexico and Japan to name two. So guess you can not drive a GM or Ford and a dodge any more.

I work for one of the "Big Three" auto companies, I know all about it! I know some of our parts are made "off shore", but most of our parts are made here in the U.S.A or even Canada! Its not the workers at the "Big Three" that buy the parts off shore. Every time they do that it puts more of out of work! In 1970 labor costs were 25% of the price of a vehicle, if the vehicle cost $5,000, labor was $1,250. In 2000 labor was 16% of the price of the vehicle! If a vehicle cost $30,000 labor cost's $4,800. These are vehicles made in the U.S.A and Canada! We are getting better!

In my opinion as a canadian trading with other countries exporting and also importing does provide America with jobs too.

Yeah, how???

Getting back to the Browning's. If they were still made in Belgium I would probably buy them. Sense their made in Japan for a fraction of the price that they can be made in the U.S.A or even Belgium for, why are they so expensive? Every time you buy a Browning your just lining the "fat cat's" at Browning's pocket's!  Their no better then a Remington. Being that most Remington's (model 332 over/under shotgun is imported from Russia ) are not only made in the U.S.A, but about 95% of them are made in Ilion, New York, me being New York Hunter, I'll buy my Remington's!

If I'm going to buy something I try to find something that is made in the U.S.A or even Canada first, then I look at things made in Europe! A lot of Europeans make wages close or even better then the U.S.A and Canada!

I guess the most important part about this whole thing is that I simply said I don't buy Browning's because their made in Japan. I never told anyone else not to buy them! I even said they are "fine firearms. If you have a problem with my feeling on this, its just that....your problem! :grin:

[NYH1]

 It got too expensive for Browning to make their guns in Japan, they are now made in Portugal.

armory414, I haven't heard that yet! Every Browning they have at Gander Mountain (and there is a lot of them) has "made in Japan" stamped on the barrel! It doesn't surprise me that their going to start making them in Portugal ! Winchester will be next!

[Pinebark]

Guys, did not want to start World War III but it looks like I have. Just wanted feedback as I have seen a few posts where there were some kinks in the 81 LWT. I may not be the best rifle guru in the USA but I have owned a lot of rifles and shot a lot I did not own. The most consitent accuracy I have found in rifles (hunting type) as been the Browning A-Bolts. I have had  2 Remingtons that shot good and 1 Winchester. I have had a lot of both plus other brands over the years. One that I will never spend a dime on is SAKO. Had 2 that just would not shoot. So, made in Japan or not, the A-Bolt shoots better than most. As I have aged I find that my fondness for the lever gun has grown and I seem to be in a regress mode and was thinking of buying one. I started my deer and hog hunting with a lever and maybe think I may want to finish out my hunting career with levers. I shoot a 45-70 Marlin GS at the moment and seldom reach for my A-Bolts anymone. So, if there is anyone with any additional feedback I love to here from you.

[Harry Snippe]

I too went from the bolt actions into the levers  Had a remington 660 that would light match sticks and then moved up to a ruger 3006 . Then After bought a Sako  in 308 . It Also was a fine rifle.
I later got into cowboy shooting and found a fondness for the lever starting with a winchester 94 in 44 Mag. I then came across a 336/35 RC  both of which proved to be fine guns. Then moved to a 1985 G in 45/70 which had problems . It had the Marlin Speed bump and was slightly over bore . I sold that rifle since I could not get it to group under three inches at 100 yards. I since bought a Browning BLR in 358wy to replace it and I am very happy with this rifle also.
I still have the Ruger 3006 and a small ring Mauser in 6.5x55 in the model 38. This little Swede is a jewel also.
I never had the chance to try one of the A bolts,but read about the short throw bolt which would help in the woods we live in up here.
As afar as the 81 BLR goes , it is just the ticket for mixed farms and heavy bush  that we incounter here in central Ontario Canada.

Now it would be interesting to me if some of the shooters could report on how their BLR shoots  say in 300WSM and maybe the 3006.
My 358 w BLR light weight is shooting around an inch and I have yet to taylor a hand load for it. Read Gunblast.com/browningBLR358.htm.
I can not argue with the man

Happy

[Pinebark]

Thanks for the input Mr. Harry. I am going to look into the 81 Lwt. and the caliber that I am thinking about is the 308 win. or maybe the 7mm-08. I do not see 358 win. ammo stocked in my part of Texas very often and I do not handload. But just maybe I will give my dealer a call and find out if its hard to get here.

[Leverdude]

I'v got a BLR 81 in 7mm08 & have been nothing but happy with it.
It'll shoot under an inch with its favorite load & just over an inch with just about everything else I'v put thru it.  Never had it fail on a deer yet & it still comes to deer camp every year even tho I'v been using my 1895G as a primary hunting tool the past few years.
I didnt much like the high gloss finish on the wood & had it redone with a nice satin oil finish.
The fit & finish on these guns is IMO outstanding. I dont care where they make them as long as Browning doesn't get lax on the specs. Cant say why they cost like they do but I'd bet they would be a few hundred more at least to get them made here to the same quality standards.
Never heard nuthing about Portugal before but I hope its true. I'll buy a gun made in Japan but would rather if it was made in Europe.