Ok so how about a BLR 375 Ruger?

19 August 2009, 19:28

frank4570

Is that doable? I mean without spending a mint to get it done.
Or a browning pump in 375?
If I understand it correctly, Browning uses the same basic frame for the auto and the pump. They are available in 300 win mag.
And I recently saw a BLR available in 450 marlin.

I wonder which would be faster/smoother? The pump or the lever gun?

19 August 2009, 19:40

filmit

I'd love to see that come out. It would be a practical rifle. Pump or Lever. I'd also like to see it in 416 Ruger.

19 August 2009, 19:44

465H&H

It would be a great leopard or lion rifle in either caliber.

465H&H

19 August 2009, 19:45

frank4570

I just came across a pump for sale in 7mm mag. $750.

19 August 2009, 19:49

frank4570

Browning currently offers lever guns in the mag calibers like 300 win mag.

Damn, those things are no heavier than 7 lbs. That has to kick.

Darn, the pumps are only 7.5 lbs.

19 August 2009, 19:57

frank4570

Ok, so I get one in 300 win mag and punch that sucker out to 375 ruger, then load some ammo, right?

19 August 2009, 22:16

FOOBAR

In theory you could do that...just screw on a new barrel chambered for 375 R OR 416 R. As long as the COAL was kept to the same length as the 300 WM COAL then you shouldn't have any problem.

The only way to know for sure is to do it...or have a BLR expert look at it very hard to see if there would be any feeding problems with the larger dia bullets.

From a reality standpoint...I don't think many would want to handle the recoil levels produced in a light levergun/auto in those calibers...at least for N.A. game...but you never know.

I think it is a GREAT idea...I would really like to see Marlin come out with a receiver to handle COAL's in the 3.40-3.60" range, up to 50 cal bullets and pressures in the 60kPSI range so I could play too.

20 August 2009, 03:52

Pete A.

What about the 'no way hunting without controlled round feed' crowd? Holy cow what sacriledge?

Seems like a 458Win or a 375/338Win mag wildcat could work a bit better. Or maybe a 9.3x62 for bit reduce recoil?

Pete A.

20 August 2009, 03:57

Woodrow S

Thats why we have the Winchester 1895 in .405, load them with 350gr or 400gr bullets and you have all the lever thumping you need.

20 August 2009, 16:21

chuck375

If you do the conversion (BLR to 375 or 416 Ruger) I'd be sure and get one of the older models made in all steel, rather than the new lighter weight ones. They made the BLR in 7mm Mag and 300 Win Mag, so the action should be more than strong enough. I always thought they were well made, well thought out rifles.
Should be a great project. The removeable magazines are very cool for a lever acton DGR rifle too.

Chuck

20 August 2009, 16:50

airgun1

My friend has a BLR in 325 WSM and it is brutal on the shoulder!

20 August 2009, 18:06

Aglifter

Somehow, this seems like a Safarikid project -- he might be able to finally get enough recoil...

20 August 2009, 19:07

frank4570

I'm thinking I like the idea of a pump more than the lever gun. It is a little heavier.

Does anybody know if a pump or a lever gun is faster?

20 August 2009, 23:30

jeffeosso

I WOULD PREFER A PUMP.. BUT IN EITHER EVENT, CALL FRED ZEGLIN AND SEE IF HE WOULD DO THE WORK... Lots of guys wont touch a blr or bar or bpr ... sorry aabout the caps, typing 1 handed today

21 August 2009, 05:34

frank4570

quote:
Originally posted by jeffeosso:
I WOULD PREFER A PUMP.. BUT IN EITHER EVENT, CALL FRED ZEGLIN AND SEE IF HE WOULD DO THE WORK... Lots of guys wont touch a blr or bar or bpr ... sorry aabout the caps, typing 1 handed today

I sent him an e-mail. We shall see.

Thanks!

22 August 2009, 23:39

Kwan

Why not in a BAR,

I swa one a couple of years ago, in 458 Win, and I thought it was a superb backup rifle, the chap had the magazine extended to take 5 rounds if I remember correcly

23 August 2009, 03:22

Alberta Canuck

Well, the BAR has been done years ago in the .416 Taylor. It shot 400 gr. solids & SN bullets at 2,400 f.p.s. and slightly more. (Would have to look up that velocity again to verify it.) I suspect it could be done in .375 or .416 Ruger as well.

The major issue with the Taylor IIRC was getting the right size gas port and balancing the rest of the operating system with the right powders. That might or might not cause difficult to surmount issues with the Ruger cartridges.

I'm sure it could be made to work, but might not be very flexible about the loads one could run through it and still get "DG-reliable" functioning.

23 August 2009, 07:07

frank4570

The specific reason I don't want to go that route is the gas system has to be balanced to a specific load in order to be reliable. And then it is still only as reliable as a semi-auto.
With the pump, all loads work just fine.
And I have plans of shooting a lot of light loads.

quote:
Originally posted by Kwan:
Why not in a BAR,

I swa one a couple of years ago, in 458 Win, and I thought it was a superb backup rifle, the chap had the magazine extended to take 5 rounds if I remember correcly

23 August 2009, 07:37

Shinzo

One advantage that strikes me with the BPR (didn't know there was such a thing till this thread

) over the BLR is that the BPR may be easier to put an extended mag onto, I'm picking that such a thing might interfere with the lever stroke on a BLR, another consideration in a DG rifle is that of camming power in the case of sticky extraction/dirty cases. Which would be best, BPR or BLR?
Steve

23 August 2009, 07:57

boom stick

quote:
Originally posted by Aglifter:
Somehow, this seems like a Safarikid project -- he might be able to finally get enough recoil...

7.5 lb gun, 400 @ 2400 fps 71 lbs of recoil and 25 fps
Not bad at all.

23 August 2009, 07:59

frank4570

I do know that the browining system is actually a bolt system.It rotates and locks in as it moves forward. But I would have to guess the leverage is no where near what a bolt has.
Better not to run them in the redline, maybe.

23 August 2009, 08:26

Tapper2

I have a BLR in 450 Marlin. It's the take down model. It will give you about all the recoil you want. It is a fast gun. The lever stroke is a little long due to the lock up system, but it is still faster than a bolt. Has anyone thought about the fact that both pump and semi-auto guns are illegal in most African country's?
Pump guns are not acceptable in S.A. It would be a great back-up gun for Bear, though.

23 August 2009, 08:38

frank4570

Not legal???
Aw crap. No, I didn't think of it.
Not that I had any plans of going to Africa. But that would mean that I *couldn't* go to Africa with this gun at all.
Are lever guns considered the same as pump and semi-auto?

24 August 2009, 07:50

Tapper2

quote:
Originally posted by frank4570:
Not legal???
Aw crap. No, I didn't think of it.
Not that I had any plans of going to Africa. But that would mean that I *couldn't* go to Africa with this gun at all.
Are lever guns considered the same as pump and semi-auto?

Typical of the rules in African countries, they associate semi-auto and pumps as "articals of war", I guess. To my knowlodge, lever guns are legal everywhere. I guess they never heard of cowboys and Indians.

I know many buffalo have been shot with hand loaded 45-70's. A year or so ago Guns & Ammo had an story about a hunt for Buff using a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 loaded with cast linotype bullets. It performed almost too well as the first shot went through both shoulders on the Bull and also killed an unseen cow on the other side. As the bull was running away the hunter levered two more shots at him. The PH said he had never seen anyone get off three shots that fast. As a stopping rifle I would think it would be great because of the speed and volume of follow-up shots. It just isn't very "African".

Tom

25 August 2009, 03:04

frank4570

Thanks. Time for a bit more research.

quote:
Originally posted by Tapper2:
quote:
Originally posted by frank4570:
Not legal???
Aw crap. No, I didn't think of it.
Not that I had any plans of going to Africa. But that would mean that I *couldn't* go to Africa with this gun at all.
Are lever guns considered the same as pump and semi-auto?

Typical of the rules in African countries, they associate semi-auto and pumps as "articals of war", I guess. To my knowlodge, lever guns are legal everywhere. I guess they never heard of cowboys and Indians.

I know many buffalo have been shot with hand loaded 45-70's. A year or so ago Guns & Ammo had an story about a hunt for Buff using a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 loaded with cast linotype bullets. It performed almost too well as the first shot went through both shoulders on the Bull and also killed an unseen cow on the other side. As the bull was running away the hunter levered two more shots at him. The PH said he had never seen anyone get off three shots that fast. As a stopping rifle I would think it would be great because of the speed and volume of follow-up shots. It just isn't very "African".

Tom

25 August 2009, 06:31

Paolo9,5x73

quote:
Originally posted by frank4570:
Is that doable? I mean without spending a mint to get it done.
Or a browning pump in 375?
If I understand it correctly, Browning uses the same basic frame for the auto and the pump. They are available in 300 win mag.
And I recently saw a BLR available in 450 marlin.

I wonder which would be faster/smoother? The pump or the lever gun?

Merkel is marketing something that looks like Benelli or Browning semi-auto in 9.3x62. It scales at about 7lbs and even has running game rear sight. Gas-operated gun is better then pump or lever gun yes?

25 August 2009, 07:01

Buliwyf

No. It is a mint. Buy the 450 Marlin and call it good.

25 August 2009, 20:40

scarabeus

Well, a freind of mine, a MD, has a custom BLR in .416 Taylor. He shot several cape buffalo with it and claims that it is nice to shoot. Seems that doc is a bit masochistic, considering that this is one of his smaller caliber guns and he stands a mere 5ft 6" and barely weighs more than 140lbs.....

26 August 2009, 02:42

frank4570

Well, like Buliwyf suggested. I guess the .450 marlin is the most "powerful" of what is offered.

Although I already have a 458 win mag, and I was hoping to get into something with a bit more range. Something like the .375. Especaily since they are now producing ballistic tips in .375.

26 August 2009, 04:18

frank4570

Never mind. I have been doing some reading. Although the short action seems fine, the long action BLR seems to be hated by anyone who has ever owned one.
Apparently they handle like a 6ft piece of pipe.