browning bpr question

[cheezehead]

hi, i just traded my a-bolt syn. 7mm08 boss to my brother for a 308win bpr. the gun has only a couple of boxes of shells through it, and is perfect. the wood has just awesome grain, the best i've had. he traded because he was worried about wrecking the wood. i love the gun, but now i'm starting to feel the same way. it's not like i'm hard on my guns, i have beaters for the rough stuff. would you hunt the gun, and dang the looks, or would you make it a safe queen? what's this gun really worth? how hard are they to come by? thanks!

[.308 Win.]

Cheezehead,

  I have never had one in my hands nor on a dealer's shelf.  I'd put it in the safe and leave it there.  But, if you want to hunt with it and are concerned about the wood, then there is a type of tape without the adhesive that sticks to itself, kind of like an ace bandage.  The stuff's camouflage so it might help there, too.  I was thinking about buying a Rem. 7600 until I talked to my gunsmith who hates them and a dealer I know personally who says, "I won't trade for one.  They're junk.  If somebody wants me to order one, I will but I'll tell them I'm not responsible for it if the thing doesn't work."  I'd say the Browning is much better made by virtue of being a Browning but if it were me and since I've never actually seen or held one, I'd say they're pretty collectible. She'd be a "safe queen" if she were mine.     

[NHNATIVE]

308 win, do you happen to know what guns your gunsmith would work on, or what gun your dealer would trade for or that isn't "junk"r? Everybody's entitled to their opinion, even when they're wrong. Cheesehead, if it shoots strait, has a good trigger and fit me, I'd shoot it.

[Dave in WV]

cheezehead, it's made for hunting plain and simple. I'd use it. Maybe not in bad weather if you're worried about the wood but i'd hunt with it. I had a Rem 760 I hunted in all kinds of weather. It still looks good. My son has it now. He's been asked if I used it before he got it.

Not looking for a fight but 7600's are junk compared to what?  IMHO if a 7600 is junk so is a 870. Are Remingtons made as well as they used to be? Prolly not.

[trooper509]

If I were you I'd hunt with it. Tape up the butt stock like the other guy said or buy one of those slip on camo covers with the velcro fasteners. The forearm would be a little
tougher because it has to move when you pump it. But I think you could tape it up also. As far as that gun being a collectors gun, I don't know. They're only worth something
when you sell it. If you want to wait around for it to be worth a lot of money, thats up to you. It could be a long time. I would rather enjoy it now while you can. Take good care
of it, protect the stock the best you can and don't shoot the heck out of it , and it will still be worth something later on. It will be just as rare of a gun if you shoot it. Just the
condition of it might be a little lower. Enjoy.

[Will_C]

They are hard to find. If you were to put it away, I'm sure that one day they would have collector value. I would not be scared to hunt with it, though. So what if you reduce the value by a few hundred dollars, if you get use out of the rifle?
IMHO, they were the best pump action rifle created, but they sold for more money than the Remington. 

Will

[cheezehead]

well, i decided to hunt with it. i'm not a collector, other than for sentimental reasons, i'm a hunter. i have a stock sleeve that i'll put on it, and i won't do any deer drives, or rock climbing with it:) it's definitely a gun to be proud of. thanks for all the comments.

[Mike103]

Life is too short hunt with it. MIKE.

[Mike103]

Cheezehead,

  I have never had one in my hands nor on a dealer's shelf.  I'd put it in the safe and leave it there.  But, if you want to hunt with it and are concerned about the wood, then there is a type of tape without the adhesive that sticks to itself, kind of like an ace bandage.  The stuff's camouflage so it might help there, too.  I was thinking about buying a Rem. 7600 until I talked to my gunsmith who hates them and a dealer I know personally who says, "I won't trade for one.  They're junk.  If somebody wants me to order one, I will but I'll tell them I'm not responsible for it if the thing doesn't work."  I'd say the Browning is much better made by virtue of being a Browning but if it were me and since I've never actually seen or held one, I'd say they're pretty collectible. She'd be a "safe queen" if she were mine.     

"They're junk"      Thems fight words on this board!

[NYHunter]

Hunt with it ...  that's what it's for.  The concern can apply to most things.  If you bought a new car would you keep it in the garage?
Enjoy it and don't worry.