.22 LR lever action as first gun.

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Positivity

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Hello. I am a young gun enthusiast, and fairly soon (within a year, assuming things go as planned) I will be a gun owner as well. Right now my pops plans on buying me a .22 LR lever action. I have shot guns before (A semi auto tube mag .22, and a break action 12 gauge), but never have I used a lever action, or even so much as seen one outside of TV and YouTube.

It seems simple, but I was hoping to consult you guys who actually have fired lever actions before. Do you guys had any suggestions? Is it a good choice? Any information I should know? Keep in mind that I have shot before, so I am not completely inexperienced with firearms.
 
I think you'll love it. I have a Browning BL-22 that I've had for over 20 years and only thing I have had to do was replace a spring in it just recently. I cant tell you how many thousands of rounds this rifle has shot.

As with any firearm, just take care of it and it will last a lifetime.
 
I Like your User Name!

I think you will enjoy a Lever Gun very much!

I am an avid Lever Gun owner, lots of .22's and up into Winchester and Marlin .30-.30

Here are a few choices, none of which are bad!

Henry - $250 ish
Marlin - $350 ish (39A) wonderful Lever gun
Ithaca -$200 ish
Winchester - $500 ish
Browning - $500 ish

I think the Henry would be a great starter for you. I am a Marlin Fanatic, but they can be pricey! An Ithaca is a good choice also, but you will have to look in gun stores to find one of them most likely.

Here is a neat Youtube on Levers, you may have already seen? But anyway, good luck and happy shooting.

http://youtu.be/lHY9o2EIpxE
 
Lever actions are a lot of fun to shoot. Many of them are more than decently accurate. 1" groups at 50 yards are a reasonable expectation.

Probably my favorite plinking gun is a Marlin 357 lever action.
 
As a matter of fact, Tomcat, the Henry rifle happens to be the specific one my Dad was planning on buying! Great minds think alike, I guess? Thank you for the compliment on my username as well. I got it with a random word generator.
 
I have two lever action .22's. I think you made an excellent choice, I really like mine. Lever actions are great for learning to shoot iron sights, they come up to eye very naturally, they're easy to cary if you're walking in the woods. Most will accept peep sights if want them later. The Marlin 39 is built like a tank and has been around for a long time. They're the most expensive, but they're simple and parts are pretty easy to find so a good used one is a reasonable thing to consider. I gave my wife a Browning BL22, it's smaller than the Marlin and lighter, mine is very accurate. Although I haven't shot the Henry rifles I was impressed with how smooth the action was on the one I handled. They seem to get pretty good marks from those that have them and they will be the least expensive.

Stay safe.
 
Very well stated Furncliff!

I love those little Browning BL22. They have been hanging at about $500.00 in these parts. Love Browning wood....Beeeeaaaaauuuuttttttiiiiiifffffffuuuuuul!

@Denton ......... I used to Hunt Boar and Whitetail Deer with My Marlin .357 and .44 Mag Lever! (As welll as my .30 -.30's) I just love carrying a Lever action in the woods.

And @ Positivity ... there is a feeling a Lever Gun gives one, that no other rifle gets close too. I have always seen that you either love them or hate them.

The Smart people Love them :D
 
I love lever actions and love all 3 of mine.
My first .22 was a semi-auto but since I love levers I added to it.
My Henry H001 cost $250 and is as smooth as silk. It is all US made and is walnut. I have other .22s but it is the first one I grab. It would be a great first gun, I know it made a great fifth gun.
I hope to get the Marlin 39 but they are too pricy new and so one gets rid of them once they have them so I cant find a used one.
My first lever was a gently used Marlin .30-30 with scope. I like their action better than the Winchester. It is fun to shoot and handles wonderfully but 20 bullets cost $15 while I can get 550 bullets in .22 for $15.
My third is a Red Ryder BB gun. Had I bought it first I might have stopped there. Classic look, strong action, and I can shoot in the yard.
I dont think you can go wrong with any lever action.
 
@tomcat
I always have liked the design of the rifle. It feels very... American. After all, it was invented here, built here, and for the most part used almost exclusively here.
 
@TurkeyOak

I have a quick question about one thing in your post. You mentioned that you got a marlin with a scope. Did you use the scope, and if so does the cycling of the lever throw off your aim?
 
I think the Henry is an excellent choice and a great value. I have the Frontier Model and love it. They also have the best customer service in the business. Phone calls and emails are usually answered very quickly - by the President of the company! Lifetime warranty and if you ever have any issues he will make it right.
 
The Browning & Marlin are $500-700. The Henry is $250.
If you can get a Marlin or Browning go for it. They are great. But dont think the Henry is cheap because it costs half as much. It is a fine rifle, a a great price. I love mine. It shoots any brick ammo fine.
 
@Hoppes

By the president of the company!? Wow!
Hopefully I won't have any trouble that would require customer service, but if I do it's good to know that they are that dedicated.
 
@TurkeyOak

What do you think about the Henry golden boy? From what I've heard it's a souped up normal Henry. It also falls in about the same price range as marlin and browning.
 
I like the clean looks of the Winchester with straight stock & iron sights. However when I picked up my Marlin with the pistol grip and scope it just felt right. Since it is a .30-30 I'm not shooting fast but picking my shots. I never had a problem with re-acquisition. And the scope helps my older eyes.
The Henry has the classic look, straight stock, iron sights, walnut. I wont scope it. It looks are classic.
I've taught myself to keep the Henry on the shoulder and on sight and just use use my fingers to work the lever. This allows my to fire almost as fast as my semi-auto. And, since its tube holds 17 bullets vs 10 in my Mossberg Plinkster mag, I can lay down a lot of lead quick.
 
I'm not sure about the Golden Boy, it was out of my price range. It may be more cosmetic, brass side plates and brass rings like the original Henrys and Winchesters.
I looked at their hex barrel Trapper that was $100 more but I liked the balance and sights of the less expensive one.
 
Okay. Thank you for telling me. I was just worried that I would have to completely reacquire the target evey time I cycle a round. Firing even near as close as a semi auto sounds great! Especially since it is so much less prone to jams than a semi. Really, thank you so much for all of your advice and information.
 
By the way, it's nice to see someone wanting to start with a wood lever instead of the modern black polymer semi-auto rifle.
I do own a black polymer Mossberg Plinkster .22 and a Maverick 88 12 ga. but other than that it's lever all the way (3 so far and wanting a .357 next)
 
I used to take the rifle off the shoulder to cock it but i realized i didnt have to and keep it on target as i fired.
Its easier with the .22 than with the .30-30. That doesnt jump, its just you want to smile and enjoy it.
 
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