Buying a .22lr lever action!

[andym79]

Hi guys I will soon be buying my first .22lr lever action, but after weeks of debating it in my mind I still can't make a decision!

I have shot other peoples ML22, BL22, 39A and 9422 at the range. I am looking for peoples experiences of each of the above. I realize no rifle is perfect and want to know the pros and cons of what I am getting myself!

The ML22 was smooth and accurate with no obvious problems!
The BL22 (started life the same as the ML22 but has been heavily modified and often dropped to half hammer when rapid firing) but was smooth and accurate!

The Marlin was very accurate but the action just didn't seem as smooth (but the marlin is easy to clean!)

The 9422 seemed to have a velvet smooth action, but lack some of the accuracy of the 39A and BL22!

Of course I don't know how long since these guys have cleaned their barrels!
So anyway questions:
1) How often do you get feeding /jamming issues?
2) Do you ever get half cocked hammers whilst rapid firing?
3) How easy are the ML/BLs and 9422 to clean?

 

[LANDMAN4389]

Henry - look no further.

Simple to clean, accurate, and won't break the bank as some of the others listed like the Marlin or Winchester. I own guns by all three manufacturers but in a lever action .22, I'd go with Henry. Excellent customer service as well.

 

[Starter52]

I love the Henry. I love the BL-22. Cost-wise the Henry is the way to go.

 

[bhk]

My 9422 runs smoothly, has never jammed with any size or make of cartridge, and is accurate. I have owned it for decades and it has fired a zillion bullets from it's barrel. While I know the Henry is a good gun, I want my lever guns to be all steel and walnut. A traditional gun should be make of traditional materials, IMHO.

I also like the Marlin 39, but their actions have never seemed as smooth to me as my 9422.

 

[Vaarok]

It's only further confusing the issue, but I have to advocate for the Marlin 39 because it's light, handy, accurate, and overall a very good .22 rifle.

 

[Picher]

The Marlin will probably keep going long after the others are sidelined. The problem right now is quality control. Getting on to work properly at the beginning has been difficult for some, a bit trying for me.

I recommend a good, used Marlin 39A.

 

[ctdair]

Henry , hands down. Made in USA , unsurpassed customer service. Owner president of company personally responds to customer needs. Less expensive. Fun to shoot. You won't be sorry.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=67

 

[OldmanFCSA]

Back when I was 15 (44 years ago), my Dad bought me a Winchester Model 260 Lever-action tube-fed 22LR. I shot it so much, I had to hold the action shut with the lever.

38 years later I found another in near Mint condition, which I added to my collection, only to have my daughter find it, and steal it, although it stays in my gun vault.

 

[lizziedog1]

This past year I bought a Henry. I love that gun. It has become my go-to rifle for plinking adventures.

 

[bigfatdave]

I have 4 Henry guns in the cabinet, three of them rimfire leverguns, and one AR7 copy.
H001L, H001ML, H001TM - none show significant signs of wear in the action, all are nice-looking guns. My only complaint is that the H001L could use better sights but lacks an easy way to upgrade them, although I saw a rumor on RFC about an aftermarket front replacement that will let me use a rear peep on the built-in rail.
The parts that matter are steel, in fact they are good steel ... just because something is an alloy of Iron and Carbon with other traces doesn't mean it is quality construction, the fetish for "steel" is generally a sign of a sketchy understanding of metallurgy)
Some cosmetic parts are Zamak (which is a lot more advanced than the "pot-metal" from past centuries), not much is plastic on current production Henry guns, they've transitioned into metal front sights and barrel bands due to customer requests (there really wasn't anything wrong with those parts, but HRA listens to the customer)

They're more than accurate enough for casual shooting, not many reasonably-priced leverguns will be as "accurate" as a bench-rest gun, but they're a lot more fun and a lot more handy. Unless the OP is a crack-shot competition-level shooter, I doubt he'll be out-shooting a Henry regularly.

And on top of that, HRA customer service is about as good as it gets - I assume they're bored with so few repairs to do and end up being helpful because of genuinely being good people and based on company policy.

 

[jsimmons]

I have a Henry H001T. Smooth action, accurate, but a bit on the heavy side due to the octagon barrel. I wouldn't trade it for any of the other guns you've listed. More importantly, I'd buy another one if the need ever arose. My rifle is going on five years old with several thousand rounds pushed down the pipe, with not a single failure. When I shot Cowboy Smallbore Silhouette competitively, I used my Henry and easily kept up with/surpassed Marlin shooters.

If you haven't already figured it out, asking for an opinion on the "best" .22 lever gun is more a religious question than anything else. All of the guns listed here are decent guns (with some question regarding the post-2009 Marlins).

 

[az_imuth]

For a good value shooter that will do anything short of being a target rifle, I'd go for a Henry. They are very smooth, functional and lightweight. Construction isn't quite as hardy as the other contenders, but with the numbers of them that have been sold I think we'd have heard of any major issues by now if they were to exist.

If you're dead set on forged steel and walnut, then either the 9422 or M39 should suffice. With the exception of the BL22, I own several of each and the Winchesters are much smoother and built just as well as the Marlins. I've seen no noticeable difference in overall accuracy and feel that would differ from rifle to rifle as much as from model to model.

Personally, I don't think you could go wrong with any of them as I have yet to fire a .22 levergun that I didn't like.

 

[Furncliff]

I've owned a Marlin 39 and BL22 for some years. The Marlin is built like a tank, the Browning is lighter and more refined. The Marlin action is a bit crunchy compared to the Browning slippery feel. The marlin is accurate, the Browning just as accurate. The Marlin has an edge in reliability, since my Browning needs attention to keep running reliably. Disassembly and cleaning the Marlin is fast and easy. I've never had the Browning apart and hope to never have to.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I loves me some Marlin as my Micr-grooved 39 is freakishly-bolt action accurate but were I to buy brand new these days, I'd hafta support Henry. I love their sticktoitivness and the fact that they are willing to advertise on TV. Besides, they're damn pretty rifles that really lend themselves to polishing up.

 

[Z71]

I own a BL-22, a Henry H001 .22, and a Winchester 94/22M XTR.

They're all good guns..but the Browning is my least favorite..For the money..the plain standard Henry is hard to beat.

Never fired a Marlin lever .22..my brother has one and says it a fantastic rifle.

 

[joed]

I've owned a 9422 for a few years, and am very happy with it. It will digest any .22 I feed it and fire it. The rifle seems well made with no plastic parts. Never had to replace anything either.

I've only owned the 9422 and have friends that own Henrys. I wouldn't trade my Winchester. Were I in your shoes the choice would be easy.

 

[DM~]

I have three Henry 22's, they are reliable and plenty accurate.

I don't even have one bad thing to say about them...

DM

 

[Lateck]

Another vote for Henry! But I'll also say Mossberg 464 in .22!
I looked at Marlin and they are nice but the NEW ones have quality issues...

The Mossberg is a copy of the Winchester and they are of dissent quality.

But, first and formost: Henry. I have a H001L and it is a BLAST

Lateck,

 

[CaliCoastie]

I'm a fan of everything Marlin, but I really haven't heard much of anything bad about any of them. I would vote for the 39a used (you can find them for under 200otd at pawnshops) good luck with your choice.
PS I did beat my friend (shooting his Henry, me my Marlin), but in his defense I'm running peep sights and he has factory sights.

 

[saenzrich]

Got a Henry bout a 1 1/2 yrs ago great gun and smooth trigger. All for 225.00.... money well spent.

 

[andym79]

I just cant decide, I would rather buy a new one, but my first choice 9422 is no longer made and from what I read you need to get a Marlin pre 1988 before cross safety and rebounding hammer!

The only thing that really puts me off the BL22 and H001 is how easy/hard they are to take down to clean?

I have heard a lot of people at the range decry Henry rifles, but I am not sure how many have actually shot them!

Any photos of groups shot with any of these rifles would be good!

 

[az_imuth]

misread the last post to say "photos of group shots of these rifles...", when it actually said "photos of groups shot with these rifles..."

 

[T.R.]

This is my Henry 22LR. Shoots very accurate out to 50 yards and never jams. It put nearly every shot into a dime sized group. No kidding!

Scope is Bushnell 1.5X to 4.5X.

Henry is a keeper!

TR

 

[JSNAPS]

A good old 39a pre cross bolt safety will blow away the competition. None of that new marlington crap!

 

[andym79]

Can anyone please tell me what are the differences between a model 250 and the 9422?