What is reasonable accuracy for a BLR??

bassassassin007

Hello All

I have been trying to work up a good hunting load for one of my Browning BLR's (an older Belgian one). With some recipes I can shoot in the .3s @ 50 yards (though most recipes are in the .6 to 1.+ range). I know the .3 is adequate for hunting but I want the best I can get. Should I settle for this or should I keep trying?

Dave

SCorvers

What caliber?

bassassassin007

It is a 308 Win.

Dave

iceracerx

A small pie plate sized group at 100 yards, offhand, is "adequate" for hunting. Sub MOA (Minute of Angle) is more theN "Adequate" for Target Shooting!

blackmesarifleco

I have to agree on the pie plate basics at 100 yards but I usually want better also - I would stick with the .6 which would be about 1.2 inches at a hundred which would be great for hunting. Im not sure I would agree with the sub MOA is more than adequate for target shooting - I have a factory ruger M77 in .243 that I can shoot multiple loads sub MOA and wouldn't even consider competing with it.

sandwarrior

bassassassin007,

Generally speaking, because it isn't always true, the lever action won't be as accurate as a bolt action. Due to the nature of making everything fit and all the function that goes on with a lever action there is just naturally a little more play in the works to make it all happen. That doesn't mean that getting excellent accuracy from a lever action is impossible, it just means that you ain't going to get, generally, the same accuracy as a bolt gun. If you are talking sub inch at 100 you are doing good with a lever action. Brownings are known for being this accurate because the base specs are very tight.

Personally, I would be very happy with those kind of groups with that rifle. I'm usually happy with any hunting rifle that will do that. I don't believe in the "pie-plate" theory either. I believe you put the rifle on a bench and get the same sight picture each time. And, shoot as tight of groups as you can work up. Once you figure out the best load for your rifle, then you take the rifle and begin practicing offhand with it. Then you know the rifle will easily shoot within one little tiny spot on the pie plate and the rest is you. Practice until you can come as close to what the rifle shoots as you can.

Mobuck

I checked the sights on a BLR .308 for one of my customers last fall and the groups were around 1 1/2" at 100 yards from a sandbagged rest with Federal 150's. Some other ammo might have improved this but that was what he wanted to use (cheapest). I'd say any attempt to improve your loads would be wasting time and $$.

silentstalker

In shooting my first reloads in my Lightning BLR I found they don't always fit, bolt may not fully close. Is it necessary to use a small base die for the BLR?

Colonel Plink

quote:Originally posted by silentstalker
In shooting my first reloads in my Lightning BLR I found they don't always fit, bolt may not fully close. Is it necessary to use a small base die for the BLR?


That's exactly what I ran into with loading for a BLR in .243 Win.
The answer, was , Yes. Get small-base dies.

Grunt2

I don't wish to offend...But my duty 45ACP will shoot 8-9" groups at 100 yards from the bench....I don't own any scoped rifle that won't shoot MOA or less at 100 yards..Why are you shooting groups at 50 yards? As far as "small base" dies go...I have never loaded for a rifle that required them in the past 35 years..

quote:Originally posted by iceracerx
A small pie plate sized group at 100 yards, offhand, is "adequate" for hunting. Sub MOA (Minute of Angle) is more theN "Adequate" for Target Shooting!