Browning BLR experiences

Tree Doc · Feb-10-2007, 01:28 PM

I'll avoid the pissin' match between calibers, I have a few of each so that solves that problem.

The BLR is a very nice rifle. I had one but it was chambered in .257 Roberts. As mentioned previously, because of the nature of the lever action with all the pressure points on the barrel, I found it very hard to really accurize this gun. I did a lot of load development and about as best as I could get was maybe 1" moa which is certainly fine for most hunting conditions but I always wanted better.

One thing you must consider is it's a magazine fed rifle. You are immediately limited in Cartridge Overall Length (OAL) because of that. In my case, when I did get a round built that would shoot real tight, it was too long to fit in the magazine. If you're going to shoot only factory rounds then that might be a moot point.

In short, if you're expecting better than moa accuracy or going for that potential 400 yard shot, you'de be better served by a bolt rifle. If a stylish brush gun is sufficient for shorter range shooting like out to 200 yds, the BLR would be fine.

Googin · Feb-10-2007, 01:29 PM

Now I'm just getting into this caliber thing but how does anyone claim the .308 is lacking with any significance over the 30-06.

The 30-06 can get factory loads w/ 220gr bullets. But specs on remington.com for their factory loads of 180gr bullets/loads show the .308 only gives up 100ft/lbs of energy and less than 100 ft/sec out to 400 yards. Plenty of killing power for anything except big bears and plenty of moose go down to the .308.

As for the potential accuracy of the lever, I'll post some groups from the gun after it's broken in.

Tree Doc · Feb-10-2007, 01:38 PM

Keep in mind those ballistic tables from the factories can be, for a lack of a better term, "flawed" or skewed in favor of their product and are always done in very controlled environment with test barrels.

That said, I have never loaded anything in my '06 that was heavier than 180 grains. I shoot the Nosler Partition in a 180 for Pigs. Almost every '06 I have had exposure to has always done well with a 165 grain bullet. My "go-to" .30-'06 is a Ruger M77 MkII with a Hogue CNC 'd full bed stock, trigger work, and a Leupold VX III 4.5-14x40LR and it will shoot the Federal Premium 165 Sierra Gameking bullet at 1/2" moa. I have duplicated the load with RL22 at 62.0 grains which is a compression load. The 180's don't shoot as tight but do an easy .75-1.0" moa. Bigger than that and accuracy starts to decline.

The .308 should push that 165-168gr bullet sufficiently but beyond that in weight, you need more case capacity like the '06. If you aren't shooting heavier and are working in that 150-165 range, you'll be fine.

**el Toro** · Feb-10-2007, 07:44 PM

The 30-06 shows its advantage in shooting hot 180gr loads. Look at the Hornady light magnum line for example. I have a 180gr btsp box right here and the ballistics are 2900 fps at the muzzle, 1.9" high at 100, 0 at 200, -7.5" at 300. and-21.5" at 400. I've killed a few truckloads of pigs with this, a few deer, and a bull elk at 328 yards (1 shot, 25 yd death sprint). Very, very effective.

While the difference on game is probably negligible if hit in the right spot, you just are'nt going to get ballistics like that out of a .308 and 180 gr bullets. So yes, the 30-06 does have a slight advantage, but not really enough to argue
over.

I would further state that if you are definitely sold on the lever gun, the short action of the .308 would probably make for a faster handling and cycling rifle. Definitely a neat gun, but more of a novelty. I have a Savage 99 in .300 savage that I use for the same purpose in theory, but with an '06 bolt gun, the lever spends most of its time in the safe.

If you really want to take 400yd shots and might be hunting larger game like elk, moose and bear, the '06 will give you more juice and a bolt gun will give you better accuracy for those longer pokes. Over all, a more well rounded choice.

EDIT: I stand somewhat corrected. Federal makes a 180 Nosler Partition in their "High Energy" loading that is very close to the balistics above. Only about 150 fps slower and only a couple-few inches difference in drop. That makes the .308 a close contender for a larger game round, IMO. This loading would be a fine choice for elk and moose, even if the -06 does have a slight edge.

Googin · Feb-10-2007, 08:39 PM

.308 it is for me. I'm going to learn some reloading, practice with this lever, and see if I want to peek back in here and talk some smack about my novelty gun.

I like a challlenge. Thanks for inputs everyone.

Rubberhook2 · Feb-11-2007, 09:32 AM

Perhaps I was a little short-sided on the .308 cartridge. The comment aboout sniper rifles really brought that home. When you compare the cartidges side by side, without studying the ballistics, it is easy to assume the .270 is the superior round especially for long range shooting.

It all boils down to confidence...confidence to be able to make the shot at almost any range. When I'm in the field rifle hunting I always go to the .270 (for everything but elk, which I use my 7MM) and it has always served me well. I shoot the Federal 180 grain high energy round out of the .308 but never developed the confidence that it could handle a 300+ yard shot without significant bullet drop. Obviously you can't develop confidence in something if you don't try it...

Quick, somebody call the paramedics. I need to have my foot surgically removed from my mouth...

chevypickle23 · Feb-11-2007, 08:37 PM

Hey I wasn't busting your chops only saying the 308 is a round you can have a lot of faith in. Having hunted with a 270 numerous times I just like anyone else with trigger time loves the round. Rant over.

Rubberhook2 · Feb-11-2007, 09:15 PM

No worries Chuck, no offense taken. If anything you opened my eyes that I need to be a little more open minded. If the round is good enough for a sniper that in itself says alot...

speedgoat · Feb-12-2007, 02:30 AM

Don't get me wrong here or bust my balls too much for what I'm gonna say, but I still think that for an overall hunting round the .30-06 is superior to the .308, especially with heavier bullets at longer ranges.

The big advantage the .30-06 has over the .308 is case capacity. The SAAMI specs for the .308 are 2.015" for length for the brass. For a .30-06 that same spec is 2.494". That's close to 1/2" greater length for the .30-06 and that just makes more room for more powder to drive the same size bullet. The problem with loading the .308 with heavier bullets is that the longer/heavier bullets displace the room in the case that would otherwise be filled with powder to propel that bullet. Less powder results in degraded down range performance with a heavier bullet.

This difference in capacity can translate into 10-12 grains of powder less for the the .308 vs. the .30-06; again different bullets weights and powder types will change that number but I think you can see my point here.

The .308 is a less powerful version of the .30-06. There's really no disputing that. They both shoot the same caliber and weight bullets, with the exception being that the .30-06 can shoot heavier bullets than the .308 and still achieve acceptable ballistic results. With similar size bullets in each caliber, the .30-06 will beat the .308 all day long.

The .308 is a fine and proven round, as has been demonstrated by the military for decades. But the needs of a military round differ from the needs of a hunting round where the foremost criterion is putting the animal down as quickly and as painlessly as possible.

If I were to buy one rifle to hunt anything from whitetails to moose, and everything in between, it would be a .30-06. There's a reason it's endured as long as it has.

Kurt · Feb-12-2007, 08:38 AM

Welllllllllllll

If you roll your own a .300 Win mag will go from 110 grainers to .220 grain.

Course the 30 CAL .308 220 GR RN will flat knock you on your ass

If I had to pick one round it would be the 06. Cheap ammo, almost ANY gun shop carries 06 ammo whether you are hunting abroad or in the states. Something to think about.

Sluester · Feb-12-2007, 09:20 AM

Gun nerds!

Never heard of a 270 or 7MM unit I came out here 20 somehting yrs ago.
Grew up shooting a 30-30 winchester, no scope, lever action. Longest shots back east were about 100 yds.I never shot at a deer over 60yds, 308-30.06 were popular back there. Lots of trees/brush to shoot around. If you were in an area where there were long shots, they usually restricted you to shooting shotguns. You have to be comfortable with the gun your shooting, no matter what caliber it is.

How did our forefathers ever make it?

chevypickle23 · Feb-12-2007, 11:13 AM

Okay bigger case in reality doesn't really mean shit. A 300 wsm mag burns powder more efficiently then a 300 win mag same as the 308 and the 30/06. Yes the 30/06 can push a bigger bullet but how many 30/06 can shoot a 1/2 minute to a 1000 yds. I can think of none of personnal experience but I know and have shot 1/2 minute groups at a 1000 yds with a 308. I don't even hunt with a 308 as my go to gun I have a 300 win mag a 243 a 22/250, 223 and a 408 cheytac that anything under 1,400 yds I can feel good about killing with one clean shot. 30/06 is a great round not taking anything away from it I have 2 I was debating the 308 not being a good round. Like Tim said just make sure your confident with whatever rifle and round you use. Thats it. Sorry to keep adding to this thread, I wouldn't go with a lever gun for a hunting rig unless in brush. Too many good rigs out there for all around purpose.