Lever action 22

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ExAgoradzo

ExAgoradzo

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I want a fun, reliable, good shooting lever action 22.
The cost is not the primary factor: reliable and straight shooting is.
Secondarily, I don't want optics: iron sights.
Thanks,
 
Yea! I forgot about the Browning BL-22!
I have never owned one, so I have no openion on it.

I also am not a great fan of the trigger going along for the ride when you cycle the lever.
And since they are not take-down, you can't seperate them into two parts for through action cleaning like the Winchester 9422 or Marlin 39A.
With a .22, thats almost a deal breaker for me.
.22's get very dirty inside if you shoot them a lot.

rc
 
I don't particularly care for them either but they are supposed to be good guns. I'd definitely take one over anything from Henry.
 
I have an aperture sight on my Marlin 94 357.
Just checked out the BL22, my 12ga and my 270 are both Browning (who can argue with owning a Browning). But it looks like the Win is winning so far. My tube fed 22 is an old Win. My boys like that one better than the Ruger 1022 (what a terrible dad I am!).

So my question is, approx what year did the Winchesters start going down hill on quality? I understand they are like the newer marlins that are made by somebody else with their name and not as good. This actually gets to the heart of my original question...

BTW: I really appreciate your guys advice...
 
Actually the 9422 was never made by anyone except Winchester, and later USRA when they took over after Winchester went broke.

The decline in quality was due to the tooling becoming completely worn out over the 33 year production run. (1972 - 2005)
Neither Winchester, or later USRA had enough beans in the cookie jar to replace the worn-out jigs & tooling.
Finally production ended shortly before USRA closed the doors of the old Winchester plant in New Haven.

I have two.
A 9422 .22 RF, and a 9422M .22 Magnum.
Both are very early guns with F-42XX and F-63XX serial numbers.
I started to see a noticable decline in quality about the time the laminate stocks, and 14 different commemorative models started showing up in the catalogs.

rc
 
You know , I've never thought about owning a lever action rifle until about a week ago. and all of a sudden it seem like the frequency on or about Lever action rifles has increased.

Something in the Air??

But back on Topic I like the Marlin 39A, its what I plan on getting. seems like a very well built machine.
 
Henry is the best bang for the buck.
Click to expand...
Henry is the cheapest but they are all a good bang for the buck. As in, the more you pay, the more you get. Personally, I'll take a used older $400 Marlin over a brand new $250 Henry any day of the week and consequently, consider it money better spent.
 
I started a thread on this earlier this month and it got tons of replies and it was called "22. lever action choices". Good luck I went with an older marlin 39a
 
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I decided about a year ago that if I want something to take a deer down, I want a scope with it. Of course, if someone gave me a 45-70 I wouldn't turn it down or get a scope :)!

But I wanted a 357 and a 45 to go with the pistols (Ruger Blackhawks SA revolvers) so I got the Marlin 1894. It seems to me that there are plenty of times you want to shoot something 5' to 100' away, then scopes are more hindrance than not.

I like the aperture sight, don't have any with the covered front sight, but I'm guessing that will be great as well.

RC, thanks for the input on the Win manufacturing.
 
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I've got the Browning BL-22. It was my very first gun, January 1988. It's got a lot of miles and is very blue-worn but it still shoots well. VERY short lever throw - something like 30 degrees. Yes, the trigger moves with the lever but you never have to worry about pinching a finger against the trigger guard. I know Browning made/makes 2 or 3 versions of the BL. Mine is short, carbine-length, and has a straight stock. I paid either $125 or $150 back then, used. Ought to look on GB and see what they go for now.

My Dad had a Winchester 250 that is now mine. I don't like it as much as other .22 Lever actions but as it was Dads, it will not leave my possession. It's a good shooter. If you run across one used, it's worth looking at. It reminds me of the Savage model 99 lever-action.

Q
 
im a sucker with all things marlin, that being said i dont think you could go wrong with any of the choices above. and.... the 39a is the longest continuesly produced firearm currently in production(if i havent completly lost my mind that is). yes its evloved a bit but thats to be expected.

PS i love the skinner black gold, and i have 2 39's
 
I would choose an older Marlin 39A, which I did. I'm still procrastinating about what sights I want on it other than factory... Weaver 2.5-7x rimfire scope or aperture sights...? I have a number of scoped 22 rifles and was considering doing something a little different with this one.

The Winchester 9422 can be a bit expensive and a little hard to find. They were a premium lever action 22 and the best that Winchester made.

Folks like the really smooth action of the Henry lever action 22 rifles. They are pretty good rifles. I have not heard of many issues with them other than complaints about plastic parts and so forth. They have to cut corners somewhere to keep it at the price point it is.

Marlin just keeps essentially making the same rifle and increasing the price over the years. The Marlin was never an inexpensive 22 rifle.

The Browning BL-22 is excellent, but it is not very scope friendly. It is a small rifle and seems more appropriate to keep it with iron sights. The short lever throw was one of the big selling points as well as premium fit and finish. If one fits you well, you can't go wrong with the BL-22.
 
Love the Marlin 39A's, but be very cautious buying anything after 2008-2009. If you look at a new one, check it over carefully for fit and finish, lever cycling, and try running some snap caps through it if possible. There are plenty of cases of defective rifles out there. I, for one can't imagine taking home a rifle I wasn't happy with before leaving the store-but there are those who just say "I'll take that one" just to end up disappointed. It's a buyer beware situation with all the new Marlins since the factory moves. Sad but true.
 
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