Browning BLR question - What is a "Lightning"BLR?

[shooter]

My buddy just got a BLR gifted to him for graduating tech school in the Air Force. I have zero experience with them, but was asked to help outfit it with a scope and help him get it sighted in. This is his only rifle, so he knows next to nothing about the gun and I haven't seen it yet. In looking at scope mounts today at Bass Pro I only found them labeled for a Lightning BLR. In doing a little research I found that is the latest version of the gun, if I'm not mistaken. Is there a difference in the older BLR's and the Lightning as far as the mount he will need for the gun? For those of you that have them, what kind of mounts do you have on yours, one piece or two piece? I'm about to check out Midway USA to see what more options are, but I don't get the experienced opinions of you fine folks over on MIdway so I thought I'd ask here first.

He's bringing the gun over on Thursday, so I'm trying to get everything lined out before then so we can go pick up the mount and rings and I can install them for him. He leaves at the end of the month and wants everything done before then. He's being stationed in Wyoming and wants to do a lot of hunting while out there.

[Lastmohecken]

You may want to see the gun. What caliber is it? It will probably make difference if it is a long action or short action if you go with a one piece base. regarding 2pc bases I doubt if it makes a difference.

I only own the older steel framed short action models, and don't have a Lightening to look at for comparision. I believe I have a Leupold one piece base on mine.

[shooter]

Sorry I left out that detail. It's a .308. I'll have to see the gun, but from looking at pictures, it looks as though the newer models might have a more rounded top of the receiver and the older ones are flat.

[Tycer]

The BLR is a steel framed lever action with a box magazine that extends below the bottom of the receiver. The locking lugs of the bolt are of the rotating kind and the lugs lock into machined lugs that are part of the receiver. Scope mounts are unique to this gun.

The BLR 81 is a steel framed Lever action with a flush mount magazine. The locking lugs of the bolt lock into the barrel, not the receiver. Scope mounts for the BLR 81 fit all BLR 81s and Lightnings EXCEPT the Long Action (yours is not) which uses the same mounts as the BAR.

The Lightning BLR (aluminum receiver) came on the scene in 1996 and the Lightweight Model 81 came on the scene in 2003. The Lightning started out with a pistol gripped stock w/ a rounded knob and had a flat knob w/grip cap variation. The BLR 81 Lightweight started the trend back to a straight stock and lately we have options of either the straight stock or pistol gripped models including a takedown version which began in 2007. The last 2 models had the nose of the hammer that pivoted adding a safety feature.

http://shootingwithhobie.blogspot.com/2 ... lr-by.html

[MZ5]

Lightning BLR means aluminum receiver, at least initially. Currently, '81 BLR (or is it BLR '81?) Merely means straight-grip stock, vs the pistol grip which is simply called BLR. Again currently, ALL BLRs are aluminum receivers, and all have a bolt head that looks and locks up almost identically to an AR-15 (larger, actually, so I guess that means it's like an AR-10).

Also, FWIW, the aluminum BLRs with the AR-style lockup (which I _believe_ is all aluminum receiver BLRs regardless of age, but I'm not absolutely sure) don't actually lock the bolt head to the barrel, they lock to a barrel extension, again just like an AR.

My 1999 pistol grip BLR is a "Lightning BLR." I am aware of no significant difference between it and a current-production gun. The forend shape is slightly different, but that's about it.

I bought my gun second-hand with Browning-branded Leupold-style 2-piece bases on it. I replaced them with a set of 2-piece Conetrols. I _believe_ that one can use any 2-piece bases labeled for "Lightning" BLRs on any aluminum-framed model, but again I'm afraid I cannot be positive.