Do you need to use small base dies when loading for a Browning BLR? If you do can you use them to load for a bolt action? Thanks Jim

Probably not jim. Unless your rifles chamber is on the tight side. Can use for bolt guns. No need to though. It will work your cases more than needed. Safe to do. Likley not as accurate.

Cheezywan

Brian Pearce has suggested small base dies for BLR (like me) reloaders, but unless you are having chambering problems they probably aren't necessary.

I'd try some standard FL dies first, Jim. Most Brownings are tight-chambered, but unless it's one of the very tightest, regular dies ought to work fine. Size a case and ty it as is in the rifle. If it enters easily and the gun locks up with little to no extra effort (compared to when cycled empty) then you should be fine. Any difficulty in closing with fully loaded rounds would then be due to some factor other than the case body sizing. Case length, neck thickness and/or headspace issues would be at the top of the suspect list.

You get a little more camming action with the lever gun than with a pump or semi-auto, so as stated, unless really tight chambered, you probably can get away with properly dimensioned brass that have been FL sized with regular dies. Basically, the SD dies bring the case back to factory dimensions, which is why factory stuff will chamber in any rifle. Pretty hard on brass life, though.

Reloading for five BLR's over the last 34 years, I have never had to resort to SB dies. Smoking the case shoulders and careful full length sizing have been more than adequate. I have found SB dies to be stressful on both your brass and your press without any truly worthwile benefits. Another trick for BLR loaders has been to lean toward the slower powders for caliber. The longer rise to pressure peak seems to keep the brass from gripping the chamber so fimly, allowing easier extraction. Some faster powders can exhibit hard extraction far before reaching full velocity potential. This is another reason every handloader should own a chronograph. Even a cheapy, base model will teach you volumes.