Browning BLR Takedown barrel

[BjornF16]

I’ve got a .358 Win BLR Lightweight ’81 Stainless Takedown.

Does anyone make aftermarket barrels for these?

I’ve searched the www but found nothing.

BLR Lightweight ‘81 Stainless Takedown - Browning

Lever-action rifle with heavy-duty rack and pinion design. Quickly breaks down in two pieces. Grey laminate forearm and stock with straight grip. Precision matte stainless steel barrel and lightweight aluminum receiver with satin nickel finish. Detachable box magazine.

www.browning.com

 

[Shraggs]

Maybe call bachelder in traverse city mi, ask for Carson. He’s one of a few blr smiths and does a lot of barrels in general. He may make one or help you network.

I went with the pistol grip years ago just cause it felt better, but the take down version in a mid bore is a go anywhere for about anything and always with you rig I wished I would have also gotten.

Why a new barrel?

 

[BjornF16]

Maybe call bachelder in traverse city mi, ask for Carson. He’s one of a few blr smiths and does a lot of barrels in general. He may make one or help you network.

I went with the pistol grip years ago just cause it felt better, but the take down version in a mid bore is a go anywhere for about anything and always with you rig I wished I would have also gotten.

Why a new barrel?

I'm thinking it would be nice to have a suppressed 338 Federal. Choices seem to be pretty limited right now for 358Win. Buffalo Bore does not shoot well in my BLR...at all.

 

[Shraggs]

Yes.

My 358 hand loads 200 GR Hammer at 2700 fps…

Factory hornady 200 shots .5” low for practice!

Talking with rugged now to see if the Alaskan 360 ti has enough clearance.

If not my success on this project I would be in a 338 fed in this platform.

 

[BjornF16]

Yes.

My 358 hand loads 200 GR Hammer at 2700 fps…

Factory hornady 200 shots .5” low for practice!

Talking with rugged now to see if the Alaskan 360 ti has enough clearance.

If not my success on this project I would be in a 338 fed in this platform.

Let me know what they tell you regarding Alaskan 360 Ti...the AB Raptor 8 in .375 could be an option.

What was your load for 200 Hammers?

I messed with 200 SH's last year and never picked up the project again.

 

[Shraggs]

It’s the 200 hammer small hole. It’s changed names now so damn confusing. I settled on this after the 225 hammer and partions and several powders.

John barsness was very helpful with this project, based on his article years ago, and was willing to talk live.

At your risk assessment. 51.2 TAC, very compressed. 2.817 overall. Jam length is 2.837. Hornady brass, cci large rifle. Zero signs of pressure.

With new brass, I dropped to 50.7 2670-80 fps for overall length. Past 2.818 binds in the magazine. Once fired I’ll go back to 51.2. Hornady brass. Have a bunch of starline new but less capacity. So I switched to the hornady.

.382 bc probably optimistic, I trued on speed at 545 yards at 2660.

2 kills one short and one moderate, was unable to get a 400 yard kill to test the legitimacy of reliable opening at 1800 fps.

Not tmk’s by any means but easily on par with any premium Bullet, exceeding a Barnes by a mile. No offense to Barnes fans. 35s do make very big holes.

 

[BjornF16]

CJ Bachelder says they are no longer re-barreling the BLR Take-down

 

[Shraggs]

Damn sorry bjorn

 

[Shraggs]

Well, the 358 is a remarkable killer with a few bullets. Just got to handload. A very big bore with moderate recoil.

I’m no expert but as limited bullets choices exist it seemed the slightly superior to 338 federal. But that’s just my historical emotions!

Either stoked hot is capable to quarter mile on most gritters.

 

[Arniet]

You can buy takedown barrels from gunparts corp and Midwest gun works. I bought two and both headspaced on my Blr. After a rebore I have a 338 win mag and a 375 wildcat is with Jesse for a reborn in Oregon.

 

[BjornF16]

You can buy takedown barrels from gunparts corp and Midwest gun works. I bought two and both headspaced on my Blr. After a rebore I have a 338 win mag and a 375 wildcat is with Jesse for a reborn in Oregon.

I've looked at MGW...I only saw regular threaded BLR barrels.

I'll check Gunparts Corp

Maybe @LRI_Chad can help?

 

[Shraggs]

Lri can thread a blr. I talked to them Friday. Without dissembling the bolt and trigger. Just the furniture. They have a cnc that moves rifle is stationary

 

[BjornF16]

Don’t understand what is so hard with the BLR take-down barrels…

Anyways, that leaves a few suppressor options for 358W:
1. Alaskan 360 Ti (if the say it can be done)
2. AB Raptor 8/10 .375
3. SiCo 46M

 

[Arniet]

I've looked at MGW...I only saw regular threaded BLR barrels.

I'll check Gunparts Corp

Maybe @LRI_Chad can help?

I just double checked, MGW does have the barrels in stock. When you search you will find them under the lighting/lightweight BLR's. All takedowns are lightwieghts, or aluminum framed. The 81 tab will just give the threaded barrels. Good luck with the headspace, I am beginning to think that the takedown rifles are similar to ARs, in that almost all bolts work with almost all barrels.

 

[BjornF16]

I just double checked, MGW does have the barrels in stock. When you search you will find them under the lighting/lightweight BLR's. All takedowns are lightwieghts, or aluminum framed. The 81 tab will just give the threaded barrels. Good luck with the headspace, I am beginning to think that the takedown rifles are similar to ARs, in that almost all bolts work with almost all barrels.

Doh!

I just ordered a couple of barrels...I missed this because I was using iPad/iPhone and not computer.

Thanks @Arniet !

 

[Shraggs]

If I could give a shout out to Paul Kik, owner of North American Ammunition.

As I’m new to hand loading, and just figuring out my chamber length in a blr was daunting he figured all that out and loaded different bullets and powers till I hit my goal. I did all my shooting, but he offers complete custom loads.

 

[Shraggs]

So are you going to go to 338 fed?

 

[BjornF16]

So are you going to go to 338 fed?

I'm contemplating which barrel would be a good candidate for reboring to 338 Fed...and if it can even be done with these take-off barrels

 

[Shraggs]

If not hope you don’t give up on that 358. Killer imo.

 

[BjornF16]

If not hope you don’t give up on that 358. Killer imo.

No, it's a keeper. I'll continue developing that 200 "Shock" Hammer load to see what kind of velocities, ES, and accuracy I get