[Kestrel]

What are the pros and cons to the Winchester and Marlin lever action .22 rifles?

Thanks,
Steve

[Jim K]

The Winchester is a pretty good rifle and is in the traditional style, but I don't think the Marlin can be beaten; it is just one of the greatest rifles ever made. Before someone mentions it, I will say that I can't recommend the Henry, even though many people are happy with them.

Jim

[B27]

The Winchesters are fine guns, but to me the 39A just feels more like an adult sized gun. The receiver design makes mounting any sort of optics easy, and they break down quickly into two pieces for stowing in smaller spaces if you need to.
Plus they hold 19 rounds in that long tube.
It's largely subjective, but I like the Marlins better.

http://www.fototime.com/6C4C47E7327A9AC/standard.jpg

[VictorLouis]

Either is a fine choice. If you're talking about buying a new one, the Winnie is very likely to be smoother out-of-the-box. I also also like the feel of the 94/22's wider, serrated trigger a little better that that of the Marlin.

The Legacy is a closer match to the 39A with the longer barrel and pistol-grip stock wrist. However, Marlin's Cowboy is more akin to the straight-stocked Winchester. IOW, each maker has your preference covered in that regard.

For optics, the Marlin is D&T'ed for a dedicated aftermarket mount. The Win. has the ubiquitous grooved upper designed for 3/8" clamp-on rings.

Disassembly is probably equal in speed and ease. However, the 39A's take-down screw remains with the lower half, and its bolt tends to stay in place until you purposely remove it. The screw for the 94/22 falls free, and so does the bolt if you're not careful with gravity's downward force.:)

[Wildalaska]

Marlin, hands down...had one since 1959

Wildwinlever22sarenotintherunningAlaska

[YodaVader]

I own a 39As and have handled a few Winchesters as well. Always amazed at how much smoother the Winchester action is compared to the Marlin. Even the actions on the Henrys I have handled are smoother. The trigger on the Marlin I bought was the worst of any rifle I have ever owned - an extremely stiff 7.5 pound trigger that made hitting anything smaller than a buffalo extremely difficult. Mine was possibly not the norm for 39 triggers?

I worked on the trigger and it is now very crisp and the weight very manageable. There is a solidness to the Marlin that gives one the impression that it will stand up to a lifetime of use. The rifle is capable of very good accuracy. Don't know how the Winchester would compare with the Marlin in accuracy. If I were to buy a lever action 22 today I would probably give more consideration to the Winchester - the shorter barrel version. Marlin has the 1897T which is nice and compact but the price is out of this world , but I like the size of the rifle.

Either rifle would seem to be a good choice for a 22 lever action.

[TNT]

Buy they Winchester or the Marlin. Run from the Henry. JMHO

[hksw]

The only problem I had with my Win 9422M was when I was shooting it at a fast rate one time. Since the trigger does not go with the lever when working the action, my trigger finger got caught between the bottom of the trigger and the trigger gaurd on the return stroke. The resulting pinch was enough to draw blood.

Other than, the gun has shot very well. Haven't seriously tried getting groups as it is more of a fun gun for me than a serious target rifle.

[fallingblock]

and has a very smooth action....The Marlin takes a while to wear in, but it will likely never wear out:D .

[Thunderstick]

My dad bought a 39A with his first paycheck from TWA back in 1952. It's a sweet gun I love to shoot. I shoulder that gun and it locks in place solid. Fifty-one years later it's still banging away.!

[stellarpod]

Very pleased with my 9422.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-9/365844/Win9422C.jpg

Can't comment on the Marlin 22's, as I've never owned one.

stellarpod

[clown714]

i have been really pleased with my henry:)

i have also shot both marlin and winny's.

from what i,have learned,you can't go wrong with any of them.

i tend to favor the straight pistol grip on levers,so the marlin loses.

YMMV

clown

[Dave Markowitz]

When I decided to get a lever action .22, I compared a Winchester 9422 XTR Classic, a Marlin 39, and a Browning BL22 side-by-side. Of the three, the Winchester felt the best and had the best workmanship, so I got it.

I'll put my 9422 up against any .22 bolt action sporter when it comes to accuracy.

[Skofnung]

My vote goes to the Marlin. Great guns. Find an older one if you can, they were made better than the production guns of today. JMO.

[cookie]

This is just a preference issue, but while the Winchester looks more traditional, I feel the Marlin is of better quality.

[E=MC^2]

Here's a few words from Jeff Cooper on the subject. I believe, though, that the following paragraph could be said about any of the lever rifles mentioned above. It's just that the Marlin 39 is always the model used in his writings. The other rifle covered in his writings is the Scout Rifle, of course.

"I have always thought that the best general-purpose 22 is the Marlin Model 39. Its lever-action is equally convenient for either hand. Its half-cock safety is convenient and reliable, and its trigger-action can be honed to complete satisfaction. In the 20-inch barrel, take-down version, it may be the best general-purpose 22. It should probably not be fitted with a telescope sight, since a good ghost-ring adapts well to the hard-top Marlin action and provides all the precision necessary to all but the optically handicapped."