Last year, I called a Utah gunsmith who was referred to me by a tech at Browning, and he told me to forget about using a magnum bolt in a short action job, for a wildcat. He said they used to do conversions, but on the newer ones it took them an entire shop day, just to get one back together correctly. No change in the drawings, but someone in Japan got a little too creative.

And this is a well known shop who've had been doing things like this for years, with all models of the BLR's. So, Caveat Emptor!

Do you have any additional information on this? They make WSM BLRs, so there's the magnum bolt head in a short action. Get a take-down model and all you do is re-bore, or take the barrel extension off the barrel and re-barrel (then put the extension back on, obviously). I think I'm missing something here... ?

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"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." --Gerald Ford

Heard & seen a lot of complaints?

"A friend of mine had one"

More "range reports" from people who have never held a BLR in their hands.

Like a lot of "stuff" you hear & see this sounds like a lot of BS.
I actually own 2 BLRs (both Miroku "gold trigger models) ......1 in .308 Win & 1 in 450 Marlin.

I have owned other BLRs over the years and have fired a lot of ammo down range with them and never had a FTF problem with any of them.

The triggers aren't the best but the guns always go bang.

Sure wish people would confine their comments to things they actually have hands-on experience with & not perpetuate rumors.

I've owned several BLRs in my life and currently own 2 take-down models.
Never heard of any of the problems you're "friend" has had.

The BLRs infamously bad trigger is the Achilles Heel that keeps it from being considered a great gun. All I ever got from Browning was a patronizing brush-off when I raised the issue by phone or letter.
The BLRs I owned and own have never failed to fire.
Buy one and base your opinion on "hands-on" experience rather than hearsay.