I did a bit of cleaning in my workshop today. (I think I vacuumed up enough #6, #8 & #9 shot from the carpet to make a shotshell or two.) While cleaning, I found some parts laying around that had been in their packaging for some years. I decided to put them to use before they disappeared again.

 

Back in the late 80's, I picked up a Browning BLR in a specific caliber I'd been looking for since its introduction some years earlier. My friend found this one for me, like-new and never hunted with, so I picked it up from a shop in Bergen Cty. as soon as I could. I put it away and never touched or used it until a few years ago. I may have shot it once or twice years ago to zero it but never really toyed with it much. The past few summers I began working up various reloads for it, and found out it's a fun shooter and accurate too. So today while I was cleaning my cluttered workshop I found that package of rear-sight parts I'd ordered from Browning.The receipt was dated 1996. When I got the rifle, it was missing the rear sight blade, windage screws and elevation screw, so I ordered them from Browning and put them away and I guess forgot about it. I hunted and used other rifles then and this sort of just sat around and collected dust. So today while I added the rear sight parts, I decided to remove the 4X Bushnell Banner scope it sold with and replace it with a 1.5 x 5 Leupold VXIII that sat on my .444 Marlin for many years. Hopefully I'll be off to the range to re-zero it with the new scopes soon. This scope is just right for this short, light rifle. Next item to add will be some sling swivel studs and I just may take this hunting someday. This BLR is chambered in a classic round; the 257 Roberts.

Pretty gun. Nice score. I hope you enjoy it!!

 

C

Sweet. I've been thinking about getting one of those. The Brownings really are top notch.

The BLR is a well-made firearm. The wood, metal finish inside, polish on exterior, and bluing are all well done. I'm not a big fan of its trigger or the gloss-finish on the wood but it will suffice. I've always been partial to my Marlin as my go-to lever gun because of its simplicity, but when I hunted deer in PA years ago I took a liking to my friend's Belgium BLR .308 and decided one day I'd have to get one. Belgium's are somewhat tough to find now and magazines are even harder to procure. I'd like another BLR-81 in .358 Winchester. Someday.