Browning SA-22
- Thread starter dak0ta
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toivo
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My uneducated opinion: very nice, kind of expensive. There's a Norinco clone that is more affordable but hard to find and not as classy.
lastofthebreed
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Browning SA -22
These are very nice rifles. Great for plinking and just toting around the field.
These are very nice rifles. Great for plinking and just toting around the field.
Dave Markowitz
Member
If it wasn't a good rifle it would not still be in production after nearly a century.
I have one of the Norincos, which AIUI is a faithful copy, albeit not nearly as finely finished. It is a really neat design. In my first outing, I put a couple hundred rounds of CCI Mini Mags through it along with probably ~60 - 80 Federal bulk packs. I had only a couple malfunctions.
I have one of the Norincos, which AIUI is a faithful copy, albeit not nearly as finely finished. It is a really neat design. In my first outing, I put a couple hundred rounds of CCI Mini Mags through it along with probably ~60 - 80 Federal bulk packs. I had only a couple malfunctions.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
IMO: One of the best & most reliable .22 rifles ever designed.
There are tons of old Remington Model 24's (1919-1935) on the same design still running 100% after 90 years.
Browning's version is, and always has been expensive compared to lesser quality rifles.
But in this case, you get exactly what you pay for in fit & finish.
Plus pride of ownership rarely equaled in other rifles.
rc
There are tons of old Remington Model 24's (1919-1935) on the same design still running 100% after 90 years.
Browning's version is, and always has been expensive compared to lesser quality rifles.
But in this case, you get exactly what you pay for in fit & finish.
Plus pride of ownership rarely equaled in other rifles.
rc
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dak0ta
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I found one for $275. It's a Grade I, with some handling marks from use, but not abuse.
Good deal?
Not sure if it's a FN or Miroku, but even if it was a Miroku, good deal?
Compared to a Marlin 60, is it more accurate and reliable? I like the takedown feature, pretty neat, and the loading feature from behind seems faster and safer than the front loading tube method. Cause you can just lift the spring out and drop the rounds into the hole in the side of the stock without pointing the muzzle anywhere. Only downside is 11 shot capacity, but good enough for plinking and hunting.
How does it compare to their BL-22?
Good deal?
Not sure if it's a FN or Miroku, but even if it was a Miroku, good deal?
Compared to a Marlin 60, is it more accurate and reliable? I like the takedown feature, pretty neat, and the loading feature from behind seems faster and safer than the front loading tube method. Cause you can just lift the spring out and drop the rounds into the hole in the side of the stock without pointing the muzzle anywhere. Only downside is 11 shot capacity, but good enough for plinking and hunting.
How does it compare to their BL-22?
Skylerbone
Member
I'd say good deal. The SA is my mother's squirrel rifle, has been for more than 20 years. Sleek, lightweight and accurate.
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dak0ta
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In your opinion, is there anything that JMB designed that sucks?
Lever action, pump action, semi-automatic, machine gun, rimfire, pistol, cartridges? Anything?
It seems like the amount of balance in all his firearms is superb. Win 94, Ithaca 37, SA-22
Lever action, pump action, semi-automatic, machine gun, rimfire, pistol, cartridges? Anything?
It seems like the amount of balance in all his firearms is superb. Win 94, Ithaca 37, SA-22
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Yes, there were a few that sucked lemons, & eggs.
But none that ever made it commercially.
rc
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Mmmmmm?
I'm thinking, but not coming up with much except the Winchester Model 1893 pump shotgun.
And even it wasn't all that bad for the first successful pump shotgun.
And his first double barrel link Model 1900 auto pistol design didn't turn out so hot, long lasting, or influential either.
It's fair to say he got way better with more practice though.
rc
I'm thinking, but not coming up with much except the Winchester Model 1893 pump shotgun.
And even it wasn't all that bad for the first successful pump shotgun.
And his first double barrel link Model 1900 auto pistol design didn't turn out so hot, long lasting, or influential either.
It's fair to say he got way better with more practice though.
rc
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dak0ta
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Sorry to derail the thread about designers. But who are the other greats in history?
Christian Sharps
Christopher Spencer
Dieudonné Saive
John C. Garand
John Pederson
John Moses Browning
Benjamin Tyler Henry
Wayne Leek
Mauser Brothers
Eliaphet Remington
Samuel Colt
So many more.
Christian Sharps
Christopher Spencer
Dieudonné Saive
John C. Garand
John Pederson
John Moses Browning
Benjamin Tyler Henry
Wayne Leek
Mauser Brothers
Eliaphet Remington
Samuel Colt
So many more.
Years ago, my wife gave me a Grade II Browning .22 SA. It was made by Miroku, but even in side-by-side comparison to a Belgian-made GR II, there is literally no difference. Even the patterns of the hand engraving are identical.
The little rifle is FLAWLESS in function, and accuracy is extremely good (given the take-down construction).
Trigger action is crisp and runs around 2.5 pounds.
Using a cantilever scope mount (which mounts ONLY to the barrel and then extends rearward over the receiver) I mounted a Burris "Shotgun and Muzzleloader" 2-7X sight. I really like this type of scope on my .22 rimfires, because:
a: they have decent eye relief
b: they are parallax-free at about 75 yards
c: adjustments are generally 1/4" clicks
d: construction is much stronger than typical .22 rimfire sights
With this sight aboard, a 2X setting is excellent even for close-range small game, and 7X is more than ample for plinking or paper-target work.
With my aging eyesight, the combination makes a wonderful general-use .22 rifle. The high quality and fine appearance of the rifle just adds to the attractiveness.
The little rifle is FLAWLESS in function, and accuracy is extremely good (given the take-down construction).
Trigger action is crisp and runs around 2.5 pounds.
Using a cantilever scope mount (which mounts ONLY to the barrel and then extends rearward over the receiver) I mounted a Burris "Shotgun and Muzzleloader" 2-7X sight. I really like this type of scope on my .22 rimfires, because:
a: they have decent eye relief
b: they are parallax-free at about 75 yards
c: adjustments are generally 1/4" clicks
d: construction is much stronger than typical .22 rimfire sights
With this sight aboard, a 2X setting is excellent even for close-range small game, and 7X is more than ample for plinking or paper-target work.
With my aging eyesight, the combination makes a wonderful general-use .22 rifle. The high quality and fine appearance of the rifle just adds to the attractiveness.
DM~
Member
I've owned mine since the early 70's,
They are great 22's, i probably shouldn't have passed on a pretty nice Belgium made one, not long ago for $350.00.
DM
They are great 22's, i probably shouldn't have passed on a pretty nice Belgium made one, not long ago for $350.00.
DM
If you look at all the "modern" competitor handguns, MOST of them put the safety, slide stop, and magazine release right where JMB intended it to be. So even the competition flatters JMB by imitation.....
Love my SA22 I had a beater Belgium one that I ended up selling to buy my uncle's LNIB Japaneese one. They are every bit equal in quality and I like the story behind my uncle's.
As to bad JMB designs the only ones that come to mind are the 1887 lever shotgun and the model 8 Remington. Maybe not total suck but they suck when put against his better designs.
As to bad JMB designs the only ones that come to mind are the 1887 lever shotgun and the model 8 Remington. Maybe not total suck but they suck when put against his better designs.
Dave Markowitz
Member
BTW, it's my understanding that the safety can be reversed for LH use. Anyone know how? I'd like to reverse the safety on mine.
Scrumbag
Member
Love mine!
Browning SA-22s are great little rifles. Anything that is still being produced and cloned after 100 years must have something going for it. If you are speaking in terms of shear utility I don't know that it's any more reliable or accurate than a Marlin model 60, at least not to any significant degree. What it is however is much more elegant and well made. The Marlin certainly isn't a bad rifle but the Browning is made to last several lifetimes if properly cared for. While both rifles will get the job done, the Browning is much more of an heirloom type of rifle, the Marlin more disposable. The Browning's bottom ejection is an added plus when shooting next to others.
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JeffWarner
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I have an early 70's Belgium Grade I that I picked up used in excellent condition.
Its a solid rifle and for me it "points" naturally. Because its a tad longer than normal LOP (~14") and it feels like its balanced toward the rear of the gun, I find it very comfortable for offhand shooting.
As someone commented, its a "heirloom" rifle; so I feel a bit bad tromping through the woods with it .... I've heard it called an "Old Man's Walking Stick" ... so when that is called for, I grab a Marlin 39a.
Bonus points for the rifle are ease of getting parts. My take up joint was getting loose when shooting. A call to Browning and $25 later, I had an assortment of springs and plungers on the way to refresh the mechanism. Its a simple rifle and can be take apart with no tools for cleaning.
The Belgium guns have the collector's appeal, but the Miroku rifles are still put together with forged parts and walnut stocks and are every bit as good. For $275, I'd pick up a good Japanese gun in a heartbeat.
Its a solid rifle and for me it "points" naturally. Because its a tad longer than normal LOP (~14") and it feels like its balanced toward the rear of the gun, I find it very comfortable for offhand shooting.
As someone commented, its a "heirloom" rifle; so I feel a bit bad tromping through the woods with it .... I've heard it called an "Old Man's Walking Stick" ... so when that is called for, I grab a Marlin 39a.
Bonus points for the rifle are ease of getting parts. My take up joint was getting loose when shooting. A call to Browning and $25 later, I had an assortment of springs and plungers on the way to refresh the mechanism. Its a simple rifle and can be take apart with no tools for cleaning.
The Belgium guns have the collector's appeal, but the Miroku rifles are still put together with forged parts and walnut stocks and are every bit as good. For $275, I'd pick up a good Japanese gun in a heartbeat.
Dan Forrester
Member
I have a Miroku made gun in .22 short only. I would say it’s the nicest gun I own from a fit and finish standpoint. It is probably the only gun in my collection I would consider a “fine firearm”. My Ruger no 1 comes close but this thing has it beat.
It has never malfunctioned in probably over 1,000 rounds since I bought it 6 months ago. Probably 75% of this is CCI .22 short CB caps. It’s a really quiet set up with the CB caps and great for backyard plinking where noise is a concern. My wife loves it too. She just calls it the “Japanese gun”.
Dan
It has never malfunctioned in probably over 1,000 rounds since I bought it 6 months ago. Probably 75% of this is CCI .22 short CB caps. It’s a really quiet set up with the CB caps and great for backyard plinking where noise is a concern. My wife loves it too. She just calls it the “Japanese gun”.
Dan
CopperFouling
Member
My friend's father owns one (Belgian-made, if I recall correctly) from the early '70s, and it still shoots great. Whenever we shoot down at his cabin, I always bug him to bring it along.
I'd definitely buy one for $275.
I'd definitely buy one for $275.
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