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sluggo 
.30/06 SpringField
Joined: 11 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 300
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 Topic: Browning BLR
Posted: 30 June 2003 at 04:45 |
Howdy Gents:
Say, I was sorta thinking of getting a Browning BLR for the upcoming season, just for something different, really. I'm thinking of the .300 Win Mag so I can use it for just about anything from elk on down. Not that I've ever had the opportunity to elk hunt, but you never know.
Couple of questions: What are your thoughts on the .300 Win Mag versus the .300 WSM? I am leaning toward the old cartridge as opposed to the new short magnum. Seems like there's more ammunition available and such.
Also, in 2003, Browning went back to the straight stock instead of the pistol grip type. Any thoughts on that? I would think the pistol grip type would be better for the recoil of a magnum cartridge, although the straight grip does look more traditional.
Anyway, y'all have a good Fourth of July.
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The problem with the rat race is, even if you win, you are still a rat.
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NH_Hunter
.416 Rigby
aka The Kid
Joined: 13 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3508
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Posted: 30 June 2003 at 05:34 |
Hey Sluggo, have you thought about the .358 Winchester? That can handle everything from elk down, and it can do it with less recoil. I would go with the .300 Win Mag because i think it is better than the wissum. It can handle the heavier bullets easier. The wizzum has such a short case that when you load up with anything higher than 180 grainers, You really start losing powder capacity. I think that all reloading equipment and factory ammo is cheaper with the winnie rather than the wizzum. It is the same thing, for me at least, between the .30-06 and the .308. The wizzum chambered BLR's are also lighter weight, which would boost recoil. I think they are 3/4 to a 1 lb lighter than the one chambered for the winnie. The WSM is wizzum and the Win Mag is the winnie, just so i dont get you guys confused. The BLR seems like a pretty nice rifle. I have never held one or shot one, so i cant tell you anything about that. This is my opinion, and i hope that it helps you with your purchase. It seems that either way your shoulder is going to get pounded, so i would go with the long action, heavier BLR.
NH_Hunter
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Leverguns make me smile
Proud Left Handed Shooter
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sluggo
.30/06 SpringField
Joined: 11 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 300
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Posted: 30 June 2003 at 08:40 |
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Well, NH, I thought about the .358 but I just got a .35 Whelen, so I think I'm covered on the big, slow .35 class. I was thinking of the .300 Win Mag since I don't have anything between the .30-'06 and the .338 Win Mag. Although for the BLR, I am still considering anything from the .308 on up. It's not as though I need another rifle, I think I just want a lever gun. I like that Browning rack and pinion system. I'd go for the Winchester Model 1895 in .30-'06, which is a rifle I really love, but you can't mount a scope on that rig. I plan to use this rifle as a hunting rifle, and at my age iron sights just aren't gonna get the job done.
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The problem with the rat race is, even if you win, you are still a rat.
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soggyshooter
.375 Holland & Holland Magnum
Joined: 11 June 2003
Location: Antigua And Barbuda
Status: Offline
Points: 886
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Posted: 30 June 2003 at 14:08 |
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Ahh go for the 300 WinMag. It's proven, ya can get ammo anywhere for it. Don't know if I would want it in a straight stocked BLR though. And I AM a lever gun fan. Were it me, I think I'd go with a bolt action, but thats me.
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There's a village in Kenya that's looking for their idiot...
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Spot shooter
Left BSB in Disgrace
Banned
Joined: 19 June 2003
Location: Bahrain
Status: Offline
Points: 0
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Posted: 30 June 2003 at 15:31 |
I've had both the 300 Win Mag, and now I have a 300WSM. With the BLR teh action comes back pretty far, you may not like the throw the Win Mag has. I like to cycle without takin the gun down, but even with the 06 (same length as the 300 Win) the darn bolt just got to close.
I'm still going with the 358.
Spot
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CB900F
Administrator
Honor, Integrity
Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: Eritrea
Status: Offline
Points: 8857
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Posted: 30 June 2003 at 15:39 |
Sluggo;
I believe that the thinking is that, for a woods gun, the straight stock comes to the shoulder quicker. For accuracy, the almost verticle pistol grip is the way to go. The more-or-less standard American pistol grip is a compromise.
I'm just noting the differences I see when looking at Win 94's & English shotguns vs target & benchrest guns.
900F
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Birth certificate!? He don't need no steenkink birth certificate!!
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sluggo
.30/06 SpringField
Joined: 11 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 300
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Posted: 01 July 2003 at 06:44 |
Soggy: I have a whole herd of bolt guns so I just want something different, but still practical for hunting whatever I might want to or get the chance at. I figure I'd always have enough gun having a .300 Win Mag. There was an article in this month's American Rifleman, and the editor (I think) used a Ruger No. 1 in .300 Win Mag in Africa for plains game.
Spot: I'll keep that in mind if I get the BLR. Can't say gettin' the bolt in the old eye would be a good thing.
CB: I think I'll try to find one of last year's BLR's with the pistol grip. I've never had a shotgun or rifle with the straight stock, oops, except for the Springfield 1903. But it's a low serial number Rock Island so I have avoided shooting it.
Y'all have a good holiday.
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The problem with the rat race is, even if you win, you are still a rat.
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Lawdog
.30/06 SpringField
Joined: 14 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 278
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Posted: 01 July 2003 at 08:59 |
sluggo,
My brother-in-law uses a .300 Win. Mag. and his wife now uses a .300 WSM. Both rifle are Win. M70's, both have 24" barrels with the same rate of twist. I got to try both of them last year at the range and the only real difference we could find is the WSM doesn't, for some reason, group bullets over the 180 grain weight very well. As soon as we went to 200 grain bullets the groups opened, A LOT. I do not know the reason for this but I've heard others say the same thing. Anyone got any ideas why this happens? Lawdog
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sluggo
.30/06 SpringField
Joined: 11 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 300
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Posted: 01 July 2003 at 09:06 |
Lawdog:
That's good to know. I am leaning toward the Win Mag. I can see using this rifle for hog/boar and elk hunting in which case I would use the heavier bullets. I don't know if I want to jump on the short magnum bandwagon anyway.
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The problem with the rat race is, even if you win, you are still a rat.
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sluggo
.30/06 SpringField
Joined: 11 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 300
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Posted: 02 July 2003 at 07:10 |
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Well, dadgummit, I looked at an actual BLR in .300 Win Mag and I did not like the balance of the rifle one bit. Then I looked at the BLR in .308 and boy howdy what a nice handling rig that was. The straight stock is the ticket for me, and I guess I'll now have to seriously consider the .308. I guess that cartridge has taken a bit of game over the years, eh?
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The problem with the rat race is, even if you win, you are still a rat.
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North Logan
.416 Rigby
aka The Legendary Lawman
Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 1728
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Posted: 02 July 2003 at 07:38 |
Sluggo - I'm coming in here late, but having owned a couple of BLR's previously in .308 Win, my vote would be for one in .308 or 7mm-08 if you want a handy, lever rifle in a cartridge with some punch [as opposed to the .30-30, for example].
As for the bigger boomers, I'm not convinced the BLR should've been introduced in the fullsize 7mm or .300 Mags cartridges [or even the long action .30-06, etc]. The actions are just too long and you end up with a rifle that doesn't balance well, IMHO. Maybe better for the WSM's, but then with that straight stock it'll beat ya good, I think.
I wouldn't hesitate to get another BLR in .308, though!
Regards, Marcus.
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  "COLTS & PONY CARS"...
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sluggo
.30/06 SpringField
Joined: 11 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 300
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Posted: 02 July 2003 at 08:59 |
Hey Marcus! I agree, that .308 BLR just felt right. It was a lot like the Remington Classic I recently found (in .35 Whelen). I picked it up and that was that, it just fit. Granted, I shouldered the .300 Win Mag without any ammo in it (which would change the balance) but I didn' care for the balance.
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The problem with the rat race is, even if you win, you are still a rat.
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NH_Hunter
.416 Rigby
aka The Kid
Joined: 13 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3508
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Posted: 02 July 2003 at 12:47 |
I guess lever actions just werent made for magnum cartridges. Who woulda thunk it?
NH_Hunter
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Leverguns make me smile
Proud Left Handed Shooter
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North Logan
.416 Rigby
aka The Legendary Lawman
Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 1728
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Posted: 02 July 2003 at 14:43 |
 NH_Hunter wrote:
I guess lever actions just werent made for magnum cartridges. Who woulda thunk it?
NH_Hunter
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NH - Naw, I think they've demonstrated it can be done, but why? Kinda like those over-size single action revolvers in things like .45-70... kinda wierd but not very practical.
Marcus.
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"COLTS & PONY CARS"...
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Spot shooter
Left BSB in Disgrace
Banned
Joined: 19 June 2003
Location: Bahrain
Status: Offline
Points: 0
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Posted: 02 July 2003 at 15:41 |
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Browning BLR