Lever 22

[chicharrones]

Just putting things in perspective.

If I had money to blow and lived in one of those gun fearing areas, I'd probably own one of those contraptions just because it looks . . . we'll . . . like an AR.

 

[chicharrones]

!!!

What do you mean by 'carry ability'? Lighter? Or just more traditional?

Thanks
Greg

The full length Marlin is kinda long and a bit heavy for a .22LR. It's not bad, just heavier at the muzzle than many of the others.

Yet, the advantage with the Marlin is ammo capacity due to that long magazine, and if you peep sight a 39 the sight radius is impressive.

The other neat trick the Marlin does is it takes down in two pieces. Makes it easy to clean from the chamber, and makes it easy to stuff into a smaller bag if that is something you want to do.

 

[JohnB-40]

I have a Winchester 9422 XTR. It is an American manufacturing masterpiece. I am old enough to remember when Made In The USA meant you were buying the absolute best.

 

[Malamute]

I like the little Marlin 39M carbines. The takedown is very nice, I used to roll line up in my bedroll on the motorcycle.

I never liked the factory stock finish, nor the chunky fore end. I rasped the fore end down to even with the receiver and fore end cap, I like it vastly better. Also ditched the ramp front sight and filed a dovetail where the front screw hole was.

One thing about shiny stock finishes, they can be made not shiny relatively easy. Stripper, steel wool, and a good stock finish kit, and youre in business.

I shot one Browning BL22 back in the 70s that was probably the most accurate 22 I recall ever shooting. I never warmed up to their looks, but they seem to be decent guns.

 

[cpt-t]

I bought my 39A brand new in 1963. And it has never given me any type of problems what so ever in all that time. It shoots Shorts, Longs, and Long Rifles all very well. You can even mix them if you should ever want to, without any problems. My Old Marlin has a great trigger, an action as smooth as glass, carry`s well, and is ((( Deadly Accurate ))) what is not to like. IMHO you would be hard pressed to choose a better lever action 22 rifle than a Marlin 39A. And I have shot mine 1000`s of times and is darn sure not for sale.
ken

 

[cdb1]

I always liked the looks of Winchester lever guns over any other. My uncle Billy owned two Sears branded pre-64 model 94's. I always coveted them. When he died he left the rifles to his two sons and his false teeth to me. I was his favorite nephew out of many. True story, my dads side of the family is kind of backwards.

Anyhoo when my son got his first deer rifle he wanted a lever gun. Figured I'd get him a Winchester but after doing some research decided on a Marlin. Still happy with the decision. When Junior graduated to a 30-06 the 30-30 was suddenly not cool and he wanted to sell it. In a brilliant moment of greed I told him we don't sell rifles and commandeered it for myself.

I prefer Marlin over Winchester, Rimfire and Centerfire because of the scopability and ease of breakdown for cleaning. Fit, finish and accuracy? Winchester had some bad years too. Current production? Give me a Henry.

Scoping a lever gun? To the people who complain to high heaven how wrong it is - blah bla blah blah. Peep sight schmeep sight. If you can't see well enough too shoot with peep sights then scope it. I don't like the looks either but would rather hit what I'm aiming at than look cool.

 

[Cokeman]

I like my Henry. It's the most popular rifle in our collection.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

Thanks for your thoughts

Greg

 

[CraigC]

I prefer Marlin over Winchester, Rimfire and Centerfire because of the scopability and ease of breakdown for cleaning. Fit, finish and accuracy? Winchester had some bad years too. Current production? Give me a Henry.

Don't judge the Winchester rimfire by its centerfire counterpart. Not only is the 94/22 a FAR better made rifle but they also break down at the receiver and are just as easily scoped. I've had a compact 4x on my .22Mag since I bought it, 23yrs ago. The 94/22's had no bad years.

 

[cdb1]

Don't judge the Winchester rimfire by its centerfire counterpart. Not only is the 94/22 a FAR better made rifle but they also break down at the receiver and are just as easily scoped. I've had a compact 4x on my .22Mag since I bought it, 23yrs ago. The 94/22's had no bad years.

I'll take your word on it. I'd like a lever .22 magnum. .22 mags are my weakness.

 

[KAC1911]

I know I'm kinda late here but I have a Browning BL-22 I bought in 1974 and it shoots and looks as good as new.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You're killin' me.

I agree. That thing is as ugly as Nancy Pelosi!

 

[lastofthebreed]

I just got my hands on one of these.

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/lever-action-octagon-frontier-model/

It not only is one of the best looking lever action 22's, it is the best shooting lever action 22 I have ever had my hands on, it is the a joy to handle and shoot.

There are a lot of folks who put Henry's down, but try one before you judge them.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

October 2000 I finally acquired the lever 22 I always had wanted as a teenager in the 1960s: Marlin 39A Mountie, 20" barrel, straight stock. I recently added to it a refurbished, all steel and glass original Weaver B4 1950s riflescope, not the 1960s plastic parts version.

From what I have seen of the Henry lever 22, and heard from those who own them, it would be a very good second choice.

 

[bikemutt]

I picked up a Winchester 94/22 for $300 about a year ago, great rifle! I've tried both the Marlin 39A and the Henry; they are both down the road, the Winchester is still in the safe.

 

[DM~]

My Henry goes with me nearly every single day. I really appreciate the fact that it's lighter than the Marlin/Winchester, to carry too.

DM

 

[CraigC]

My Henry goes with me nearly every single day. I really appreciate the fact that it's lighter than the Marlin/Winchester, to carry too.

My 16" Evil Roy model is only about 6oz lighter than my 20" Winchester. A 16" Winchester would probably be the same.

 

[22250Rem]

I keep hearing lots of good stuff about those Henrys but have no personal experience, ( I'd love to have some). In my personal experience the 22 Lever gun that I fell in love with was the Winchester 9422 a buddy of mine used to own. I still regret not buying it when he was downsizing his collection.

 

[Armored farmer]

I have a couple of Henry's and a 9422xtr and a bl22.
I would probably choose a 39a for the takedown capability.
I know them to be accurate.

 

[JTHunter]

Thanks!
For the record, I didn't mean I already had a .22LR lever: I have a .357, .44RM, and a .45/70--all Marlins.
Looks like the vote is to keep it in the family. I see one on GB right now. Might need it.
Already drilled and tapped too...
Thanks again,
Greg

I'm another "Marlin lover". My most recent acquisition is a ~21 year old 1894 levergun in .357 Magnum (Goes with my GP-100.)
I also have two bolt action Marlins, a .22 LR and a .22 Mag. I used to have a Golden 39A .22 (S, L, & LR) with the half-cock safety (got it in the mid-70s) and let it get away from me.
As others have already posted, the 39s are excellent guns. What I DON'T know is if these newer guns can take .22 Shorts or just the LR ammo. I do know the capacity is less as the 39A I had would take 19 LR in the tube and supposedly, the newer guns will only take 15 rounds.

 

[DM~]

That's ANOTHER thing I really like about my Henry lever.

I can mix/match ANY 22 ammo, CB caps/shorts/long rifles or anything in between in the tube feed, and EVERYTHING runs through it flawlessly and it did it from day one!

DM

 

[SwampWolf]

I can't speak for the latest Marlins but the Model 39A I bought new back in 1997 has been a great rifle in terms of its workmanship, material, finish and reliability. The trigger pull is disappointing. Mine is a perfect squirrel gun with the Williams receiver sight I have mounted on it.

 

[HPJeep]

What about the Ruger lever action version of the semi auto 10/22? No longer made I believe but they were good ones. Uses 10/22 mags too.

 

[Cannibul]

I have a Winchester 9422 XTR. It is an American manufacturing masterpiece. I am old enough to remember when Made In The USA meant you were buying the absolute best.

Just when was that and for what specific item?

 

[CraigC]

I believe the aforementioned 94/22 is a good example of that.