jcwit
member
Agreed, similar to putting one on a custom Hawkin or Penn. Flinter.
Which 22lr Lever Action?
- Thread starter Storz
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Agreed, similar to putting one on a custom Hawkin or Penn. Flinter.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I'll rank them in order of quality.
1. Winchester 94/22. These are very well built rifles. All parts are milled from steel billet. No castings, stampings or plastic. It has been said that Winchester never made a dime on these guns because they were so well made yet so affordable. Problem is they're no longer made and tend to command speculator/collector premiums. Great rifles and worth every penny, my pair is not for sale.
2. Browning BL-22. Another very well made rifle. These are currently made by Miroku of Japan. Same factory that produces the modern Winchester 1892, 1895, 1894, 1886, 1885, etc.. They also have a very short lever throw and the trigger travels with it so no chance of pinching your trigger finger between the trigger and lever. I almost bought one two weeks ago. I believe the Grade I is around $500.
3. Marlin 39. Well made guns, not as nice as the other two. Later model guns have a safety and tend to be a little rough on the inside. All steel and solid little rifles. These can often be had for $400 used.
4. Henry is in distant 4th place and IMHO, not in the same league as the first three. Decent guns for the money, the receivers are made of a zinc based alloy we lovingly refer to as pot metal. Many plastic parts. They used to have plastic sights. The newer guns have metal sights but they are not steel. I've seen forend bands that looked like they had been plastic dipped. I've never been impressed with them and would prefer to pay more for a better rifle but some folks love them.
1. Winchester 94/22. These are very well built rifles. All parts are milled from steel billet. No castings, stampings or plastic. It has been said that Winchester never made a dime on these guns because they were so well made yet so affordable. Problem is they're no longer made and tend to command speculator/collector premiums. Great rifles and worth every penny, my pair is not for sale.
2. Browning BL-22. Another very well made rifle. These are currently made by Miroku of Japan. Same factory that produces the modern Winchester 1892, 1895, 1894, 1886, 1885, etc.. They also have a very short lever throw and the trigger travels with it so no chance of pinching your trigger finger between the trigger and lever. I almost bought one two weeks ago. I believe the Grade I is around $500.
3. Marlin 39. Well made guns, not as nice as the other two. Later model guns have a safety and tend to be a little rough on the inside. All steel and solid little rifles. These can often be had for $400 used.
4. Henry is in distant 4th place and IMHO, not in the same league as the first three. Decent guns for the money, the receivers are made of a zinc based alloy we lovingly refer to as pot metal. Many plastic parts. They used to have plastic sights. The newer guns have metal sights but they are not steel. I've seen forend bands that looked like they had been plastic dipped. I've never been impressed with them and would prefer to pay more for a better rifle but some folks love them.
nitesite
Member
There is no other choice but to get a Marlin 39A that was built before Remington bought out the Marlin production line.
Storz
Member
Are laminate stocks available for the Henrys?
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T.R.
Member
I've owned my Henry for over a year and it has never jammed. Shoots very accurate, too. This Henry is an engineered design by IRMA of Germany.
TR
TR
CraigC: Thanks for the good summary.
One small correction: The henry H001 and H001Y receivers are made of steel but have an alloy (branded Zamak, I think) cover. In addition, for extra $ there are some brass-plated covers and barrel bands out there somewhere.
I love my Winchester 9422 (once had two but gave my best one to my grandson on his first birthday) and it's, without doubt, the best. They have become quite pricey, however, and a good one will be somewhere North of $ 500.
My Bl22 is fun to shoot and well-made, but not as accurate (for me) as the 9422.
I had a 39a but it was too heavy for my taste and I traded it.
The Henry is a fine plinker and you can shoot it w/o worrying too much about hurting it or decreasing its value
. I can't shoot as well with mine, however, accuracy-wise, as with the 9422.
Have fun,
Will
One small correction: The henry H001 and H001Y receivers are made of steel but have an alloy (branded Zamak, I think) cover. In addition, for extra $ there are some brass-plated covers and barrel bands out there somewhere.
I love my Winchester 9422 (once had two but gave my best one to my grandson on his first birthday) and it's, without doubt, the best. They have become quite pricey, however, and a good one will be somewhere North of $ 500.
My Bl22 is fun to shoot and well-made, but not as accurate (for me) as the 9422.
I had a 39a but it was too heavy for my taste and I traded it.
The Henry is a fine plinker and you can shoot it w/o worrying too much about hurting it or decreasing its value
. I can't shoot as well with mine, however, accuracy-wise, as with the 9422.Have fun,
Will
CaliCoastie
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psyfly, not sure where you are getting that the recievers are steel, i have emailed the company and they told me it was a zinc based reciever.
My vote is for a pre saftey marlin 39a, but see what fits best for you. good luck.
My vote is for a pre saftey marlin 39a, but see what fits best for you. good luck.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Better check again! The inner receiver is ZAMAK (a zinc based alloy lovingly referred to as pot metal) and I believe the outer cover is spray painted aluminum.
jcwit
member
True, and its also the same material that Smith & Wesson uses to make their 22A semi auto pistol. Wonder just where we can pigeon hole the 22A. Maybe someone needs to research the material that 10/22's, Marlin 60's and many other rifle and pistols are made of.
With the above said, the Henry is a good little rifle easily affordable to the masses, and made right here in the U.S.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Are we lumping pot metal and aluminum together??? I'm talking about zinc and you're talking about aluminum. Big difference between the two. All those guns are NOT leverguns. They are not an American icon. Some folks don't care, many do and I am one of them. Henry owners don't even seem to like folks simply pointing out what their guns are made of.
LTR50flint
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- Dec 25, 2012
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Best 22 lever gun
Winchester 9422XTR – still have two of them fit, finish, smooth action, no plastic, bought 1 new in 1994 and the other used in 2010.
I also picked up a Henry Golden Boy a few years ago when I started SASS, barrel bands and forearm seemed loose after 5000 rounds, tightened up, not the Winchester, but not worried so much when it is in gun cart at shoots or out in the field, as the price of the Winchester are going up as collector vice shooters.
Winchester 9422XTR – still have two of them fit, finish, smooth action, no plastic, bought 1 new in 1994 and the other used in 2010.
I also picked up a Henry Golden Boy a few years ago when I started SASS, barrel bands and forearm seemed loose after 5000 rounds, tightened up, not the Winchester, but not worried so much when it is in gun cart at shoots or out in the field, as the price of the Winchester are going up as collector vice shooters.
jcwit
member
A lever action .22 rimfire an American icon? Now thats a stretch. A Winchester center fire 94, now that would meet the criteria for an icon.
Not me, I frankly could care less what it made of, its an easily affordable handi little carbine, that is a fact in a nut shell at least IMO. Its also accurate for whats its made for, is it bench rest accurate, NO, is it hunting/plinking accurate, YUP.
BTW out of my collection of several hundred firearms the least accurate and most troublesome that I ever owned was a Marlin 39 Mountie I purchased new back in the mid 60's. Only good thing that came out of that fiasco was I traded it for a 450 Honda street bike in the 70's.
So I take it that there are no .22LR lever guns out there that you can feed/ top it off from the side? I hope that makes sense, the feature I am talking about.
I've always wanted a lever gun (maybe one in .22 and one in .357), but I like the idea of just being able to top off the tube by adding one more in the side loader. It sounds like that feature is not available on .22 versions? :-(
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
All traditional levers. Be it the Winchester models of 1860, 1866, 1873, 1876, 1886, 1892, 1894, 1895, the modern Marlins which are based on the 1891, 1897, 1894 and 1893, the Colt Burgess, etc., etc.. You mean you don't think there's anything historic about the Marlin 39 which is the modern version of the original 1891 and 1897??? You don't think the Winchester 71 is part of that history because it fires a more modern cartridge??? Please.
Like I said, some don't care, many do. All I provide is the information, the individual is free to make their own choice.
The Ruger 96/22 uses 10/22 rotary magazines.
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jcwit
member
Craig, as with other posts, you have your views, and I have mine. Never the two shall meet.
Nope a .22 rimfire lever is no more an american icon to other earlier levers than a Winchester model 52 is an icon to a Winchester 69. But if you wish to think they are close to the same I suppose thats OK.
Nope a .22 rimfire lever is no more an american icon to other earlier levers than a Winchester model 52 is an icon to a Winchester 69. But if you wish to think they are close to the same I suppose thats OK.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The levergun is an American icon, period. It is an entirely American design and in no other place does it hold such a place in the hearts of shooters and non-shooters alike. John Wayne carried a levergun and leverguns are at least as iconic as The Duke. Your opinion may differ but I really don't care.
Most folks, particularly levergun fanciers, draw a distinct line between modern and traditional levers. The Marlin 39, Winchester 94/22, Browning BL-22 (mostly) and the Henry fall into the traditional category. Modern being guns like the Ruger 96/22, even though it borrows heavily from the Savage 99. The aluminum receiver of the Ruger 10/22 and 96/22 doesn't bother me. Nor does the aluminum receiver of an AR-15 or lightweight BLR. They're not traditional leverguns. The point being that to me and a lot of other shooters who hold the traditional levergun sacred, they should be steel and walnut or brass in the case of the 1860 and 1866. Just as sixguns should have walnut, maple, rosewood, stag, ivory or micarta stocks instead of plastic or rubber. If none of that matters to you, then the Henry is your baby. If it does, you have other choices as well. Personally, I don't care for guns which are made as cheaply as possible out of the cheapest materials possible. Judging by the pictures I've seen of your "collection", I see that you do not have such prejudices. If you're happy with Heritage and Henry, more power and pot metal to you.
Most folks, particularly levergun fanciers, draw a distinct line between modern and traditional levers. The Marlin 39, Winchester 94/22, Browning BL-22 (mostly) and the Henry fall into the traditional category. Modern being guns like the Ruger 96/22, even though it borrows heavily from the Savage 99. The aluminum receiver of the Ruger 10/22 and 96/22 doesn't bother me. Nor does the aluminum receiver of an AR-15 or lightweight BLR. They're not traditional leverguns. The point being that to me and a lot of other shooters who hold the traditional levergun sacred, they should be steel and walnut or brass in the case of the 1860 and 1866. Just as sixguns should have walnut, maple, rosewood, stag, ivory or micarta stocks instead of plastic or rubber. If none of that matters to you, then the Henry is your baby. If it does, you have other choices as well. Personally, I don't care for guns which are made as cheaply as possible out of the cheapest materials possible. Judging by the pictures I've seen of your "collection", I see that you do not have such prejudices. If you're happy with Heritage and Henry, more power and pot metal to you.
ForumSurfer
Member
The Henry is a great shooter. Yep there's plastic on there and that receiver is cheap metal. Good luck wearing it out, and even if you do...Henry will make it right. Say what you will about Henry's, but they'll put a smile on kids' faces every time.
That being said, the 39A is hands down a better quality item. But with the Henry, you get a great shooter at an affordable price.
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That being said, the 39A is hands down a better quality item. But with the Henry, you get a great shooter at an affordable price.
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jcwit
member
Never posted a picture of any of my collection on this forum or any other forum. Nor am I going to. Its out of my computor capilities. Call me dumb if you wish, just don't call me stupid.
Why do you need to add snide & snarky remarks?
76shuvlinoff
Member
I have a 56 and a 79 39A, as far as I'm concerned it doesn't get much better but I'm a bit ignorant and have never fondled a Henry. I do know I would never put a can on one of them, I have a hard enough time looking at the 79 when I put the scope on it. I might be convinced to try suppressing my $90 Marlin 60 (yes it would still have the tube interference going on) or a 10/22 but I wouldn't hack up a 39A.
Different strokes.
.
Different strokes.
.
76shuvlinoff
Member
Not sure if there are any out there with the side loading gate. I don't think the .22 rimfire cartridge can take the side pressure of gate loading.
By the way, IMHO a .357 lever carbine is about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on. Marlin 1894c here.
CaliCoastie
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Early Marlin 1892[not 100% sure on the model), made back in the 1890's are the only ones i know of (there might be two models 1891/1892] but due to difficulty loading it was changed.
Winchester 94-22.
ESPECIALLY if you can find one of the commemorative ones. I had a Boy Scouts of America one. I've to this day never handled a .22 that was so superb.
A buddy of mine recently got a 94-22 XT(or something like that?)... very nice gun.
The action is tight, and rigid. Feels a whole different ball game than the typical model 94.
ESPECIALLY if you can find one of the commemorative ones. I had a Boy Scouts of America one. I've to this day never handled a .22 that was so superb.
A buddy of mine recently got a 94-22 XT(or something like that?)... very nice gun.
The action is tight, and rigid. Feels a whole different ball game than the typical model 94.
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