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Author Topic: Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.  (Read 2123 times)

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Offline NYH1

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« on: September 27, 2005, 07:34:07 AM »
I'm really thinking of getting a Browning BLR in 358 Win. I have a pre-'64 Winchester model 88 in 308 Win. and I absolutely love it. I wouldn't mind a model 88 in 358 Win. but I'm not going to pay the price their getting for a used rifle when I can buy a new rifle for 1/2 or even 1/3 the price. I was at Gander Mountain this past weekend and was looking at a BLR in 358 Win. that had the "strait grip" stock. It felt pretty go but I would much rather have the "pistol grip" stock which they didn't have. Both the strait grip and pistol grip stock rifles have the same length of pull, drop at comb and drop at heel so I'm pretty sure the pistol grip will feel even better!

I've always been a "buy American kind of guy" and I still am (these are manufactured in Japan), but nobody else makes anything like this anymore. A lever action rifle with a box feed magazine so you can use pointed bullet! From what I've heard these BLR's are extremely accurate rifles. My model 88 will shoot right around an inch at 100 yards so I know "some" lever action rifles are capable of bolt action accuracy.

The BLR in 358 Win. weighs 6 1/2 lbs. This rifle with a Leupold VX-II 2-7x28mm Ultralight Scope will weight about the same as my Marlin 336CS in 35 Rem. without a scope, thats another reason I like this rifle so much!

I'll be using this rifle for deer, black bear and maybe wild boar hunting. I want to start reloading pretty soon so ammo cost and availability won't be and issue. I was going to get a 350 Rem. Mag. or a 35 Whelen, but I think they'll be more gun then I need!

What do you guys/gals think???  :D
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Offline Prince of Wales

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2005, 09:17:45 AM »
Hey Gunny I have never used a 358 Win though I wish I had one. A friend of mine here in Alaska has one and absolutely loves it. He fels that its about 90% of what a 35 Whalen is but in a compact rifle (BLR).
 One thing though and I could be wrong but I think the BLR is among that group of Brownings manufactured in Japan. I wouldn`t let that botherme though. I have a B-78 that was made there and its still the best quality rifle I own.
 The 358 should be ideal for all the game you have mentioned. POW
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Offline pastorp

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2005, 09:17:47 AM »
NYHunter, I've had several BLR's over the years in 308 and 358. They are my favorite hunting gun. I have not shot one of the current production ones. I do still own a BLR 81 in 358.

I also owned a Win 88 in 308 and liked it very much but not as much as the BLR. If you really want the Win 88 in 358 I would say buy one as they are not getting any cheeper. When you factor the cost over the life of the rifle it really isn't that much. And your kids will sell it at a profit someday.

I want a BLR in 243 so I can rebarrel it to 260(my current favorite deer round). Regards, Byron  :D
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Byron

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Offline Ganjiro

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2005, 11:21:20 PM »
Probably the .358 is the most popular chambering in the excellent BLR with members of www.leverguns.com Ask the same question there and i'm sure you'll get all kinds of positive feedback.  
Here's an excellent review article:
http://www.gunblast.com/Browning-BLR358.htm
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Offline NYH1

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2005, 07:32:34 AM »
Ganjiro, thanks, I took your advice and joined www.leverguns.com I'm waiting for my registration to be completed.
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Offline Savage .250

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2005, 07:50:48 AM »
A BLR in.358 would be nice. I`ve never shot/ owned one  but if the
  opportunity to pick up one suddenly appeared i`d  sure give it a hard look.
   I think i`d try the Gun-Show route. Try and get a used one at a good price as it wouldn`t be my first choice in the woods. Just be nice to have another lever in the closet.

 " The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."
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" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

Offline animal

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2005, 03:29:35 AM »
I'm still undecided between BLR in .308 vs 358 for a 200 yd rifle or maybe a 336 in 444. If Marlin or Savage made the 358 it would be easy to decide. I should probably be satisfied w just the ole 336 30-30 as my brush/thicket rifle. Isn't it just terrible having to make such decisions?
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Offline NYH1

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2005, 06:42:20 AM »
I should have also mentioned that I've been thinking about having my Marlin 336 in 35 Rem. rechambered to 356 Win. I called SSK Industries yesterday and talk to them about doing this. The lady that answered the phone was great. She said they do this from time to time and its not a big deal. It'll cost $100 to $130. I asked if it was safe and she said if it wasn't safe they wouldn't and couldn't do it, for obvious reasons! I've never had SSK Industries do any work for me but everything I've ever heard about them has been good, plus their one of Grabeard Outdoor's sponsors!

I don't know what I'm going to do yet!
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Offline animal

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2005, 07:47:34 AM »
Wow, so how close is the 356  to the 358 in performance?
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Animal

Offline NYH1

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2005, 05:57:53 PM »
Quote from: animal
Wow, so how close is the 356  to the 358 in performance?
Here is Winchester's factory loads for both of them!
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Offline pastorp

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2005, 06:32:12 PM »
animal, The 356 is a rimed cartridge the 358 rimless. Other than that they are the same cartridge case. You use the same dies to reload either round.

The BLR will of course take higher pressures than the Marlin so there is a performance difference because the 356 must be loaded to lower pressure to accommodate the weaker marlin 336 rifle.

You can also load pointed bullets for the BLR.

Regards, Byron  :D
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Byron

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Offline NYH1

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2005, 05:59:35 AM »
Yeah, what pastorp said! :-D
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Offline animal

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #12 on: October 03, 2005, 02:28:49 AM »
Pastorp,

So do you prefer the 358 or 308 for deer within 200 yards in the woods?
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Animal

Offline Harry Snippe

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Thoughts on the Browning BLR in 358 Win.
« Reply #13 on: October 03, 2005, 06:17:10 PM »
Quote from: animal
Pastorp,

So do you prefer the 358 or 308 for deer within 200 yards in the woods?



Don't get too many 200 yard shots in the woods these days.
During the deer hunt we are encountering more bears than before, and for this reason I rather have the heavier rock . 250 gr opposed to a 180 gr. Recoil in the BLR compares about the same

Here in Central Ontairo Canada, the 358 W has a following. Used guns are few as hunters tend to hang on to them . Used rifles therefore command a good price.
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