Price check Browning BLR

[Richard Simmons]

Ran across an estate auction with a Browning BLR in .308. Barrel is marked as Made in Belgium though the serial number puts it as a 1973 production rifle. IIRC Browning moved production to Japan in that year so perhaps this is one of the last ones before that move occurred. Either way it's chambered in .308 and is a dead mint gun with 100% wood and 99.9% finish (small little spec of bluing loss near the muzzle). To me it looks unfired. I in no way need the gun (then again this applies to most of the ones I have) but have always liked the way this model looks, love Belgian made firearms particularly Browning's and the ability to shoot spire point bullets other than the new polymer tips in a lever gun seems like a nice advantage. Thoughts on value, collectability, accuracy, function, etc. would be appreciated. TIA

[tank_monkey]

(stock pic of a used one, not the one that Richard Simmons is talking about)


This type? Interesting design. .308 is a great universal cartridge to have. I'd also love to hear if anyone knows how collectible these are. To be fair, I've never heard of anyone I know collecting BLRs. They're just not that well known.

[Schuetzenman]

I've shot one off of a bench using quality sandbags. Stock ammo seemed to give about 1.5 to 2.5 MOA. The rifle was scoped. It did kick pretty good as I recall and it was .308 chambered. I know nothing of the collectibility, they were never low cost weapons. I can see it being worth $700 easy if in really good condition.

[Richard Simmons]

Yep, that model. Here are some actual pics. It looks gorgeous!

[Richard Simmons]

Just a follow up on this. Didn't make the auction as I had family visiting from out of town but checked the auction states and this BLR went to a local bidder for right at $725 with buyers premium and tax. Little more than I wanted to spend so I guess it worked out.

[Schuetzenman]

No bargain there. Which is what I've always found at auctions. Some douche-bag looses their mind and way overbids just to "win".