Browning BLR lightweight tracker

[TheEngineer]

Custom Clamp-On Threaded Adapter - Witt Machine

CHECK BARREL CONCENTRICITY BEFORE INSTALLATION OF ANY SUPPRESSOR, NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGE Milled from solid 416 stainless steel bar stock to exactly fit your barrel, available in nearly any caliber and with either 1/2-28 or 5/8-24 threads. Finish options include tumbled stainless (matte) as well...

wittmachine.net

You can get a clamp on adaptor for them, I've seen people use these specifically for the BLR

 

[maxmax75]

That's what i have already - want to move on from this solution then sell the adapter.

 

[LJT]

So for the BLR is there anyone who knows how to muzzle thread them in the UK. Have shown a couple of gunsmiths but they either aren't confident about unscrewing the barrel or say it won't fit in their lathe..

Peter Sarony of Armalon used to do a lot of work on BLRs but I think he is in the process of retiring as he is well into his eighties now. He did a really nice variant in .223 with a heavy fluted barrel, decoupled forend and modified to use Ruger Mini 14 magazines.

 

[maxmax75]

Yes i asked Peter Sarony and it's a shame he's not taking in any more work. Didn't give any tips either. Might have to go back to my witt machine clamp-on adapter at this rate.

 

[maxmax75]

Right, the final BLR setup after 3 self-important gunsmiths thought they could thread the barrel but then couldn't - one utter freak (n irish but lives in somerset) even lost his temper! but that's another story. Back to the Witt Machine adapter, scope and 11 ounce tungsten archery weight after re-thread to tidy up longer shots, use front mounted mod for suppression, and take the whole lot off for running boar. Hopefully a one stop shop now.

 

[Scipio]

Right, the final BLR setup after 3 self-important gunsmiths thought they could thread the barrel but then couldn't - one utter freak (n irish but lives in somerset) even lost his temper! but that's another story. Back to the Witt Machine adapter, scope and 11 ounce tungsten archery weight after re-thread to tidy up longer shots, use front mounted mod for suppression, and take the whole lot off for running boar. Hopefully a one stop shop now.

hello mate, that looks handy for running boar indeed - but why couldnt the gunsmiths thread the barrel?

 

[maxmax75]

Turns out their lathes "weren't big enough" or too worried about damaging barrel and re-establishing head space when unscrewing from receiver insert.

 

[Smellydog]

Huh, a gunsmith that can't make a gauge first!!
Keep away!

 

[Scipio]

Turns out their lathes "weren't big enough" or too worried about damaging barrel and re-establishing head space when unscrewing from receiver insert.

Huh, a gunsmith that can't make a gauge first!!
Keep away!

but does the blr have some sort of unusal barrel vs most other hunting rifles? If not why wouldnt a gunsmith, who offers these kind of services, have machines "big enough" to work on a blr?
And yep, although i a far from an expert on gunsmiths, it sounds weird about the head space argument, i agree. At least if it is a gun smith who also offer rebarrels, and riflebuilds and such. Why wouldnt they be able to reestablish the correct head space in the blr, if necessary?

 

[Rafter]

Often a gunsmith will hold thread a barrel without pulling it from the action, and the BLR with it's rectangular offset form is inconvenient to hold in a lathe the size found in most gunsmiths workshop.
Additionally, Browning have a reputation for hard to remove barrels - and few people will have a suitable action wrench for a slab sided action. Easier to say no and move on with something simple.

 

[Scipio]

Often a gunsmith will hold thread a barrel without pulling it from the action, and the BLR with it's rectangular offset form is inconvenient to hold in a lathe the size found in most gunsmiths workshop.
Additionally, Browning have a reputation for hard to remove barrels - and few people will have a suitable action wrench for a slab sided action. Easier to say no and move on with something simple.

i see, thank you for the insight. A somewhat lazy approach by the gunsmith(s) though, if they do have the tools, but just cant be bothered. And the ones who maybe have the tools but not the confidence in their own skill to do the work, is as Smellydog said maybe smiths that one should consider carefully, about using.
If they dont have the tools necessary, fair enough.

 

[maxmax75]

Assuming you remove the stock the receiver would cause a bit of centrifugal instability depending how fast it needs to spin. Have seen pics of barrel unscrewed so it can def be done - i would use a marker pen to keep tabs on headslace/alignment. Another possibility is to trim down the adapter and weld it on, then use reflex mod. If feeling v brave then could try v strong adhesive live jb-weld, but I sure wouldn't want to take the first shot.

 

[Muir]

Often a gunsmith will hold thread a barrel without pulling it from the action, and the BLR with it's rectangular offset form is inconvenient to hold in a lathe the size found in most gunsmiths workshop.
Additionally, Browning have a reputation for hard to remove barrels - and few people will have a suitable action wrench for a slab sided action. Easier to say no and move on with something simple.

Huh? I have threaded and chambered many barrels between centers. I have pulled barrels from P-14s and that was the toughest action I've ever pulled. What makes the Browning different from other lever actions? -Muir

 

[MilesW]

Huh? I have threaded and chambered many barrels between centers. I have pulled barrels from P-14s and that was the toughest action I've ever pulled. What makes the Browning different from other lever actions? -Muir

Very, very few gunsmiths will even work on a BLR. Even fewer will remove a barrel. I think a fair bit has to do with the "legend of the difficult BLR", which may well be a bit overblown but does have some basis in fact as they do have some idiosyncrasies. Those that do work on them are very tight lipped. There is value in "the knowledge"

 

[Rafter]

Huh? I have threaded and chambered many barrels between centers. I have pulled barrels from P-14s and that was the toughest action I've ever pulled. What makes the Browning different from other lever actions? -Muir

Browning barrels are well torqued in, and grabbing a flat sided receiver with high gloss bluing or the newer polished aluminum versions so as to not mar it is a risk.

Add to that the rack and pinion system - which is a bear to reassemble when you aren't familiar with it, and most people will go and do something simpler, like spin up a barrel between centres after pulling it using a bolt removal tool they already have.

Most clients would be unhappy paying for a smith to tool up for what will probably be a one off for the smith.

 

[Muir]

Browning barrels are well torqued in, and grabbing a flat sided receiver with high gloss bluing or the newer polished aluminum versions so as to not mar it is a risk.

Add to that the rack and pinion system - which is a bear to reassemble when you aren't familiar with it, and most people will go and do something simpler, like spin up a barrel between centres after pulling it using a bolt removal tool they already have.

Most clients would be unhappy paying for a smith to tool up for what will probably be a one off for the smith.

Ok.-Muir