Should I buy a lever rifle?

Yes, Yes and Yes buy a lever gun or two or three or ..........................
These are my Marlin 39's and a couple Winchester 9422's and a couple Marlin Levermatics
Yes, I know I have issues, just ask my wife

The first level gun I fired was a .348 Winchester when I was 13 (I think). It impressed me.

The last one I shot was .22 Henry with my Dad before he died.

Gotta get me one. Or another.

The Henry H001 is a nice lever action 22 for fun plinking. I got mine to handle the various CB and Quiet rounds rather than get a threaded 22 and suppressor. I also have a 336 in 30-30. If I’m honest these two guns have been the cause of more tinkering than any others.

Both were scoped, then I took the scopes off. Both needed work on the iron sights. I’m currently getting them tuned exactly how I want for the loads I shoot but they’ve turned into quite the project guns. Nothing raises eyebrows like showing up to the range with a hammer, punch, & file to adjust your sights. I do like the tinkering though. If you hand load a 30-30 is very versatile. I’ll probably end up with another scope on the Henry 22. It’s very accurate to the point I’m limiting it with the iron sights.

Yes. I own two Marlin .444's. Love the rifle, love the caliber! Also own two Marlin 39A "Golden Mounties"...because, well...they're Model 39's!

Rossi makes 2 models of 22lr levers. A traditional model with buckhorn sights and wood, and a modernized version with polymer stock and hi viz fiber optic sights

Yes. Pay the big bucks and get a Marlin 39A if you can afford it. You won't look back and you won't lose money.

I have/had a Marlin 39 and a Winchester 9422. The Marlin 39 I gave to a family member . The Winchester 9422 has been a Safe Queen. The .22RF I like best is a CZ M452-2E

I don't have a .22LR lever gun, just a .44 mag, but I wish I did.
They ARE INDEED fun as hell to shoot, and a .22 would be much less expensive than the .44 mag to do it with.

If you like shooting, a lever .22 is about as much fun as it gets. I saw this Marlin 39A in the LGS a few years ago I knew I couldn't leave the store without.

OP/TacticalSpeed:
Recently your idea had come to me.

Checking the prices of a 30-30 and ammo held me back. Decades ago somebody I had known (forgot who) owned a Marlin and the action plus shape were very appealing. Truly wish that the gun bug had bitten me back then.

Recently watching the Magnificent Seven for the fifth (?) time increased the rifles' attraction. Amazon Prime (tv) ??
And the Soundtrack is my favorite of all time, and possibly the movie as well.

Please wear headphones etc for the stereo music.

Quite an impression made on a seven year-old at a drive-in movie in 1962 or so............could never forget.

MedWheeler: What is this "band width" you mentioned?
The only type I understand is a band width a pretty female singer.

We have some members here who don't already own any lever-action rifles? What?

Old Dog said:

We have some members here who don't already own any lever-action rifles? What?

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Say what!? Maybe I should introduce the MLC here: "Mojave Lever Crew". We have a fair sized group of lever like minded folks on another forum.

MLC

The Henry Golden Boys are expensive for a 22, but man. That lever is something else.

Get the Henry I got the basic H0001 and it's a keeper ! I made a couple speed loaders for mine out of some stainless tubing I had .

C.R. said:

Get the Henry I got the basic H0001 and it's a keeper ! I made a couple speed loaders for mine out of some stainless tubing I had .

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Did you have issues with the sights? Mine were too high and I couldn’t bring them down to zero at 50 yards. I’m the only one with that issue I’ve heard of so far.

The answer is, yes you should. I've shot quite few, different models and calibers, but I've only owned two... a marlin in 357 Mag/38 Spl I had in high school, and a Rossi 92 in 357 Mag/38 Spl. I only have the Rossi now. This thread has reminded me that there's something wrong with this picture. I should have more lever guns. I can't advise on what to get in 22 cal. I've handled them, but never owned one in that caliber. All my 22s have been semi-autos...

Yes. The rifle i shoot the most is my Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum. It would also be my go to rifle in a home defense situation. If I ever needed a rifle for hiking or camping activities protection my first choice would be my Marlin 336 in 35 Remington.
Reloading is a slow process but the rest is all good.

DMW1116 said:

Did you have issues with the sights? Mine were too high and I couldn’t bring them down to zero at 50 yards. I’m the only one with that issue I’ve heard of so far.

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I put a scope on it right away I never messed with the stock sight on the .22. on my Henry .22 Mag. it shot to the left a bit had to play with that but the elevation was ok

Ok at least I’m not the only one that feels the H001 needs a scope. I have to finish zeroing the factory sights, then I plan to scope it. Henry sent a replacement front band with a higher post but I’m filing it down now. It was too high so I’m walking the bullets up to meet the sights.

See what Henry president Tony Impersto has to say:



LEVERS are America’s action. Love them!!

The answer to "Should I buy a ..." when it involves firearms is always "Yes"!

I'm only half-kidding. But I will say that experimentation and exploring to find what you like and dislike is how you get to a good position in your collection and hobby. Shooting is now deeply engrained into my thoughts after taking that first step and saying "yes". YMMV.

I have a pair of Henry 22’s, one youth model anxiously waiting for my grandson to grow into it (he’s 13 months!)

In the mean time, I bought myself one to practice with….



There are definitely a few more in my future…

I think with the current ammo situation a .22 lever rifle is a great way to have an enjoyable (and cheap) shooting session. My rate of fire is much slower and I'm not thinking "there goes fifty cents to a dollar" every time I pull the trigger. I am thinking of getting a Ruger Wrangler to use along with my 9422,I wish I had bought a Single Six decades ago when the prices used and new were reasonable.

Definitely buy a lever gun. Spare your self the agony of a Browning BL 22. I hated mine and couldn't wait to get rid of it. But, good fortune smiled on me and I replaced it with a Marlin 39A, really good one and I've been delighted ever since.