First, there are plenty of used BLRs around I could buy for a donor action. Is there any reason I should stay from a used action?

If I get a used action, are there any I should avoid or any I should work extra hard to acquire?

Next, my smith, the guy I will be working with, is an accuracy zealot. I am too, so that mostly isn't a problem. He normally cuts his chambers to tight that a factory round won't chamber in them. The cases have to be neck turned to fit.
I know he recently had a customer bring back a rifle to be re-cut because he wanted to be able to use factory ammo. I'm thinking I will just let him do his thing and neck turn my brass in order to squeeze out the most accuracy possible. Then if I later decide to use factory ammo(if 416 ruger is still available) then I will just get him to rechamber it then. Any problem with this way of thinking?
Thanks.

Tight chambers in hunting rifles are dangerous and ill advised, and accomplish nothing. You want something reliable in a hunting rifle; confronting a charging lion is not quite the same as shooting in a bench rest match. I see big problems with his thinking and no benefits at all in a lever action, even one with front locking lugs. The slight benefit you might achieve in accuracy will only cause more problems than it is worth.
Used BLRS are unlikely to have been shot enough to be a problem; overall condition will tell and you are going to re-barrel it anyway.

quote:

Tight chambers in hunting rifles are dangerous and ill advised, and accomplish nothing. You want something reliable in a hunting rifle; confronting a charging lion is not quite the same as shooting in a bench rest match. I see big problems with his thinking and no benefits at all in a lever action, even one with front locking lugs. The slight benefit you might achieve in accuracy will only cause more problems than it is worth.Used BLRS are unlikely to have been shot enough to be a problem; overall condition will tell and you are going to re-barrel it anyway.

Yep what dpcd said.

Had a blr81 it taked more force to close the bolt with reloaded ammo, you lose some force with the lever compared to a turnbolt system.
Look for a old with a steel action for a rebarrel.

Is there anyway to tell if the older one is steel or not? Maybe a model number or something?

Edit: I found it, provided this is accurate.

From another site. "All Browning BLR Rifles produced between 1981 and 1994 are correctly referred to as The Browning BLR Rifle Model 81 and could be purchased in either long or short action. All BLR Rifles produced from 1995 through the present are correctly referred to as The Browning BLR Light (Alloy receiver) or Lightning Model (Steel receiver)."

A magnet will tell you which is steel...

quote:

Originally posted by frank4570:
Is there anyway to tell if the older one is steel or not? Maybe a model number or something?

Edit: I found it, provided this is accurate.

From another site. "All Browning BLR Rifles produced between 1981 and 1994 are correctly referred to as The Browning BLR Rifle Model 81 and could be purchased in either long or short action. All BLR Rifles produced from 1995 through the present are correctly referred to as The Browning BLR Light (Alloy receiver) or Lightning Model (Steel receiver)."

I believe you will be looking for a fairly rare rifle for a donor. If I remember correctly, the long action was introduced around 1990 or 91. That only gives you a few years of the steel receiver, if that is what you want.

As far as a smith, entirely your call, but have been in the shop at WWG and was suitably impressed with the facilities and product.

Good luck and keep us updated.

BTW, still love those rifles. First gun I ever bought was a BLR in 243 with the extended mag (an anomaly, or so I am told). Still a joy to carry and very accurate.

I got lucky.
Last night I stumbled into a 96 7mm mag lightening for a very good price. I'm going to make the shipping arrangements today.
If this deal goes through I will be working on my build very soon.

Does it have the locking lugs in the barrel or the action?

My first centerfire rifle was A BLR Model 81 (steel) in .308. I still have it, shoots into an inch with factory ammo (I did have Neil Jones do a trigger job on it). A go-to gun for me.

I liked it so much a few year later I was at the Kittery Trading post and bought a barely used M81 in 30.06 and sent it of to Cliff Labounty who turned it into a .35 Whelen for me and bobbed the barrel back to 22" from the original 24". I scoped and shot it once with one brand of ammo. I got 2 inches out of it (Neil Jones trigger again) and probably could have gotten smaller groups if I tried different ammo but for me the gun handled like a railroad tie and I lost interest.

I sold it last year to a strapping young man from our military who promptly took it down to Texas and bagged some exotics with it. He's very happy with it but he's a bigger guy than I am.

I bought a M81 in .358 Win. to compensate. In the steel receiver models I find the long actions are unwieldy, the shorts are about right.

Oh, and I believe at some point the main lever gear that operates the action was switched over to nylon. Might want to think about that with dangerous game.

I sure like my Browning BLR 81 in 358.I took a doe last year at a little over 200 yards and she dropped like a rock.In fact everything I have shot with it falls like a rock.No chasing deer.
I have tried to help my trigger problem by turning the screw in the lever and it's much better but still a little scratchy.

quote:

Originally posted by Nordic2:
Does it have the locking lugs in the barrel or the action?

The lugs are in the action.

Good.