My son is looking to get one. For those who have/had them what kind of accuracy do you get out of them (specifically 7mm or 300 mag) they get mixed reviews online reguarding accuracy so I thought I would ask “Real world folks” also how is the trigger?
Shots would be under 300yds.

The biggest issue is the trigger. A good gunsmith can help them but they'll never be great. I've got a little 20" BLR in 257 roberts that shoots 1" with Hornady 117gr. They are plenty accurate but don't expect 0.5 MOA.

1-1.5 would be fine. The interweb is a great resource but I was getting hits where people were getting 3 and 4’’. I always suspect bad shooting and or wrong ammo in most of the reviews online. I’m not the type to want one hole accuracy out of a hunting rifle but wouldn’t own anything that grouped 4 inches. Thanks for your input.

I know want plays more than need for all of us but I can't imagine wanting a long range caliber in a rifle known for a bad trigger and mediocre accuracy. I might buy a lever in a different caliber but I don't see any use in burning the powder and having a heavier gun to shoot a deer at 75 yards.


I would try my best to talk him into a Savage 99 in either 300 savage or 308. Either that or if he wants a long range rifle,set him up with a good bolt action. You could buy a Savage long range and a decent scope for about the price of a BLR and the Savage will out shoot the BLR by a good bit.

If he just has to have a BLR,I would try to get a caliber that recoils less. Aren't the short action calibers built on a lighter action?

1-1.5 MOA with the trigger being pretty terrible. I love mine and plenty accurate for 250 yard gun in .358. If you want a 500 yard gun there is no replacement for a bolt gun

I love mine but I am realistic about what it is... a lever gun with more potential than a Marlin or Winchester because of what it is chambered in. A Savage 99 would work too but they don't make those anymore. Either way I would do .308 or 7-08 all day long and in the BLR a takedown model. That would make a great deer rifle for the Alabama woods.

Don't think I would buy one in 300 Win Mag. That would be better in a bolt gun.

I had one in 7-08 and regret selling it. Shot 1.5” but that could’ve been me. Killed several deer over 200 and one at 320 with it. I would not want a magnum caliber in it though. That thing had some recoil with 7-08. 300
Would put a hurtin on you.

Agreed Goat, where the BLR shines is lever calibers that are forced to shoot round nose due to tubular magazines. I would love to have a BLR in 358, but will live with my 336 35 Rem.

Yes it is more “want” than anything. He is 22yo so he is going to do what he wants anyway. He has several bolt guns but seems to always go back to a Marlin 30-30 that was my grandads. He is trying to get the best of both worlds (Longer range lever) It surprises me at his age he realizes he needs to shoot what he shoots well even if that means using an “old mans” gun.

I've bought a bunch that didn't work right for me. We all have to learn by doing it seems. He may get lucky and like it.

Does he carry the 30-30 because it is light and handy or because it fits him? I always liked the way they carried but the drop at the comb was always too much to fit me well. I really like light fast handling bolt actions now.

Fits him. He has about talked himself out of it. He shoots a bolt really well also. But a lever is natural to him.

Just for fun,I would like to try one of these. It's what a leer should be to me,short ,light ,fast and deadly within 200 yards,which covers 99% of the deer I've ever shot at anyway.
http://www.bighornarmory.com/catalog/big-horn-armory-products/model-89-carbine-2/

This is what I would like from big horn. The ballistics almost look too good to be true. I have a 45/70 guide gun that is my choice of lever gun.
http://www.bighornarmory.com/catalog/big-horn-armory-products/ar500-500-auto-max-16/

If he likes the way a Marlin carries he would like a BLR takedown. They carry about the same the difference being the topic of this discussion - you can have a real rifle caliber in the BLR.

I get it. I'm a lever gun guy myself. I've got custom rifles. Fancy scopes. All the expensive and "cool" stuff. Most days hunting I'll be carrying a BLR but I would just as soon have a Marlin or Winchester.

Your kid and I are not the only ones either a LOT of shooters and hunters love a lever gun. They are short and handy in a treestand, carry great walking and are plenty accurate for the distances you will encounter in the Alabama deer woods.

Everyone should own at least 1 in my opinion.

BLR I used shot minute-of-black-bear.

I’ve got one in 243. Love the gun but it’s only average accurate. Shoots 2” groups with all loads I’ve tried.

I had several hunters that shot them....almost all accept for 1 shot 7mm-08..the other feller shot 308. Every one of those guns would stakem inside a quarter at a 100. Had one guy that brought a blr chambered in 7mag and he never shot it as he had a nice 7mag kimber that was his go to..he said it would. Do about 2in at 100 yards an thats the best he ever got. Made me want a pistol grip in 7mm-08 bad..i like a blr.

My BLR .243 will group an inch or less @ 100 with me shooting it so it must be pretty accurate. If you aren't getting good groups something is probably wrong with your setup (optics, ammo, shooter) the gun is least probable cause

I know this is a couple of months old now, but I have a BLR in 308. Have shot it quite a bit, killed numerous hogs and several deer. Funny thing about groups with this gun is, it's not a group shooting gun. About 1 1/2" is the best group. However, if I shoot it one time, it's always a perfect bullseye shot. Shoot it again tomorrow and again a perfect bullseye, but shooting for groups they tend to open up after the very first shot. And as said in an earlier post, the best toting gun that has ever been made in my opinion.

I know this is a couple of months old now, but I have a BLR in 308. Have shot it quite a bit, killed numerous hogs and several deer. Funny thing about groups with this gun is, it's not a group shooting gun. About 1 1/2" is the best group. However, if I shoot it one time, it's always a perfect bullseye shot. Shoot it again tomorrow and again a perfect bullseye, but shooting for groups they tend to open up after the very first shot. And as said in an earlier post, the best toting gun that has ever been made in my opinion.

I have a BLR lightweight in .325 wsm, recoil is stout, but I’m 260 so that’s not a prob for me. At best mine shoots 1.5” with 200 grain accubond handloads, but I like the terminal performance of the 220 grain power max the most, and I can’t get them to do better than 2” , but that’s a dead animal.