Anyone have a "newer" Browning BLR w/ the aluminum

Triggernosis · Post by **Triggernosis** » Thu May 01, 2008 3:57 pm

If you do, what's your opinion on the aluminum vs. the steel version?
I don't mind at all an aluminum receiver as far as strength/utility, etc. - I'm more worried about how well the finish will hold up over time. I mean, a well-worn blued steel finish doesn't bother me as it shows character, but a scratched aluminum finish looks cheesy to me.

What are y'all's thoughts?

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Thu May 01, 2008 4:19 pm

The receiver takes zero stress. The bolt locks into the barrel, not the receiver.

Magazines are getting scarce for the steel ones.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Thu May 01, 2008 4:47 pm

JMO, but a steel receiver can easily be refurbished/refinished, while dings in aluminum/alloy tend to be forever, and cheesy.

RKrodle · Post by **RKrodle** » Thu May 01, 2008 5:06 pm

I have one of the aluminum receivers and have not managed to scratch or ding it yet. As far as refinishing it I would think just about any plating shop could do it.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Thu May 01, 2008 5:56 pm

Alloy/aluminum is anodized ILO plated, IIRC - but dings will still show, plated or anodized - as neither process fills in surface defects.
I, for one, wouldn't want one milled or filed down to smooth out dings.

Steel's not usually gonna get gouged as deeply, being harder.

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Thu May 01, 2008 7:43 pm

Trigger, some of our members prefer the steel receivers and say they feel different in the hand. I have an aluminum one, and have not held and cycled a steel one, so I cannot say. I think the steel receiver crowd sort of prefer them for traditions sake myself, but they are men of class and have a right to their opinion. However, Tycer is correct regarding strength. I believe Browning has improved the forearm mounting on the new Brownings compared to the older steel ones. If I understand Mic McPherson's emails, the old design used a hanger for the forearm that could create a "tuning fork" and unwanted barrel vibrations. This design flaw has been corrected it seems. Anyone that has a newer BLR with the aluminum reciever will tell you they are extremely accurate, including our own Doc Hudson (where you been, Doc?). I can vouch for the accuracy of mine too. I do find the action of the BLR's to be a bit "clunky" and a Win 1895 is smoother if your looking for a levergun that can shoot pointed bullets, but the BLR's are very accurate. Hope this helps.

-Tutt

Post by **Old Savage** » Thu May 01, 2008 8:28 pm

I have a .243 Steel and it is very accurate - I have shot 1/4" at 100 yds. I handled Cowboy's and it is balanced better and is less prettied up and better suited for the field without concern. I would rather carry his than mine.

Lastmohecken · Post by **Lastmohecken** » Thu May 01, 2008 9:02 pm

I prefer the steel ones, due to handling preferences, but only in the short action. I have had 4 different steel BLRs, and still own 3 of them, and my brother in law has 2 steel BLR's, and I have several friends who also have at least one. We have not had one yet that didn't shoot good groups.

I recently purchased a 22/250 in a steel framed BLR, which should make a great walking coyote gun.

scr83jp · Post by **scr83jp** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:00 pm

I'll never buy or own any weapon with an aluminum frame or receiver because I had a Mossberg 9200 Semi auto shotgun that had a 3" chamber grenade while firing my 2 3/4"Win AA reloads.These were the same shells I fired weekly in my all steel Rem 870 trap & my custom built Win Mod 12 trap w/o any problems. I was not injured but I could squeeze the ruptured aluminum receiver together with my thumb & forefinger.Every time the bolt cycled turnings of aluminum would appear.Mossberg replaced it & when I checked the new one it had aluminum turnings in the action & made new ones every time I cycled the bolt,I took the new one to the store where I bought the first one & turned it in on an all steel Rem 11-87.That was my first and last mossberg!

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Thu May 01, 2008 11:30 pm

SCR, while I understand your frustration, Browning makes a far better gun than Mossberg, and it is probably not even a fair comparison. Aluminum alloys can be very strong with the right mixtures of metals.

-Tutt

Pisgah · Post by **Pisgah** » Fri May 02, 2008 6:49 am

scr83jp wrote:I'll never buy or own any weapon with an aluminum frame or receiver because I had a Mossberg 9200 Semi auto shotgun that had a 3" chamber grenade while firing my 2 3/4"Win AA reloads.These were the same shells I fired weekly in my all steel Rem 870 trap & my custom built Win Mod 12 trap w/o any problems. I was not injured but I could squeeze the ruptured aluminum receiver together with my thumb & forefinger.Every time the bolt cycled turnings of aluminum would appear.Mossberg replaced it & when I checked the new one it had aluminum turnings in the action & made new ones every time I cycled the bolt,I took the new one to the store where I bought the first one & turned it in on an all steel Rem 11-87.That was my first and last mossberg!

With the Mossberg, as with the BLR, the lockup is 100% steel-to-steel. In other words, no matter what happened the receiver had nothing to do with it. It takes none of the pressure.

Triggernosis · Post by **Triggernosis** » Sat May 03, 2008 6:38 pm

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen.

Please note that in my initial post that I said that I had no concern over aluminum's strength....no issue at all.
I am purely interested in how well the aluminum receiver handles wear and tear, finish-wise.

blackhawk44 · Post by **blackhawk44** » Tue May 06, 2008 6:53 pm

While I own three steel framed BLR's I have also handled and fired two aluminum frames. The balance is a bit different with the aluminum being a bit more muzzle heavy. The most apparent difference seems to be in cycle of the bolt and lever. The fluted bolt of the lightweights is not as smooth and seems to release with a somewhat sudden, jerky movement. Admittedly, I have not handled one that had been cycled enough to see if they smooth out with use or maybe a little jewelers rouge.

The magazines that are scarce are the scalloped actioned, potbellied pre-81 magazines. The magazines for all BLR 81's are the same, whether for steel or aluminum framed guns.