Lever action or semi-auto .22?

[dugasgunner]

It's a question of taste. Start with the one you like most and after a while if you don't like it, sell it and go with the other action. Or wait a year or two and get the one you didn't choose at first. For my part i'm not a lever guy so semi is my choice. Good luck.

 

[mpmax]

Get what ever you can afford. I bought my Henry used for $200, a 10-22 used for $125, and a Marlin model 60 for $60. The kids love the lever, the 60 is super accurate and makes me happy because it was so inexpensive, and the Ruger can be "tact'd up" with all of the after market parts available.

 

[RichBMW]

I have a 10/22 but my vote, as some others here, goes to the Henry .22 lever action. I think it's one of the best values in firearms. Silky smooth action, very accurate, absolutely gorgeous stock, very reasonably priced ($287 at Walmart.)

 

[Sav .250]

I like both.... If you want to burn up ammo, go semi! Other wise a lever would be a better choice. 22`s are just plain fun to shoot. Either way, you come put a winner.

 

[moonpie]

i have bolt, pump, and semi 22s the only reason i don't have a lever is because i'm to cheap to buy new nobody is trading them off.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

I HAVE A MARLIN 39A love it had it for 30+ years now

and a AR with a 22 upper, ill take the AR over the 39a or a 10/22 any day

guess im the odd ball here i have had a few 10/22 and didn't like any of them, all shot good pretty accurate. im sure the built ones are great but it is not really a 10/22 any longer now is it. it has been made into something better. or it is just turned into a $1000 10/22.

(daughter did scored a 182 on the army Appleseed shoot with her stock pink 10/22)

i guess it is the 10 round mag thing, all the high cap mags seem to be junk unless you buy the steel lip ones, them and fact mags were the only ones that seem to work, the rest just turns the gun into a jammer

 

[CraigC]

If you do any research you'll find that not many people will claim a Marlin lever gun will compete with an equivalent bolt action.

I'm sorry, I didn't know we were talking about competition. Compete for what? If we're talking about accuracy, then let's speak practically. No, a levergun will never win a benchrest competition but then again, neither will a $200 boltgun or semi-auto. So if you're looking for benchrest accuracy, then obviously you don't want any of those. However, if what you want is a practical, fun and accurate "enough" rifle for general purpose use, plinking or hunting, then any of those three will certainly suffice. However, it is an incorrect assumption that all leverguns are less accurate than your average boltgun. I own, at present, only one centerfire boltgun and it shoots 1.5MOA. Whereas two of my leverguns shoot sub-MOA. The only conclusion we can draw from that limited frame of reference is that boltguns are not always, automatically more accurate than levers.

They are also hard to operate for some people including me because my fingers don't fit inside the rings.

You are the first I've ever heard make such a claim.

The reason I don't "get it" is because I've tried them and I don't like them.

Nothing wrong with that.

But to think those cowboy guns can compete with a modern rifle is just off the charts IMO.

Again, compete for what? What exactly is "modern" about a bolt action? And what is it exactly that a semi-auto .22LR can do that a lever cannot?

Acting as if I'm missing something is just a big assumption on your part and a wrong one at that.

You are. I understand and accept that you don't like them and I argue that. However, all of your assertions about the shortcomings of the rifles are based on your bias, not reality. It's not a case of you don't like them, therefore you don't like them. It's a case of you don't like them, therefore they are no good.

The act of cocking the lever will move you off target and if you think all lever guns are faster than bolt actions you must not be familiar with the British "mad minute" training regimen.

Not by much and certainly less than a boltgun. I'm not sure what Enfields have to do with this discussion but I've seen them in action and no, while they are fast they are not faster than a levergun, given equal skill. Has very little impact on a discussion about $200 .22 boltguns.

 

[schnauzer]

I'd suggest there's plenty of people that "get" the lever gun's goodness.
To the tune of over 7 million model 94's sold making it the most successful rifle model ever produced...
My two boys honed their skills with the 94 and of all the rifles in my cabinet it's taken the most big game of all that I own. It's hard to argue against that success! IMHO of course.

 

[chicharrones]

Question: does your arm get tired after a long shooting session w/the lever?

No. Not in my experience flying through ammo with my Marlin 39.

The thing that will wear on you operating a lever a few hundred times in one session is the back of your fingers that are in the lever loop. There is no meat there and your fingers can get sore until you get used to it. You could wear a glove or get one of those lace on leather lever wrap to cover the lever loop if that is a concern.
http://www.maverickleather.net/imag...itebuilderpictures/leverwrap.jpg&target=_self

One thing that I see some shooters do that might wear out there arms is dismounting the buttstock from the shoulder for each crank of the lever. That is way too much motion when all a shooter needs to do is keep the buttstock on the shoulder while operating the lever. Levers on .22LR rifles are easy to move back and forth. Definitely easier than cranking a .30-30 through something like a Winchester '94 if that is your prior experience.

Another consideration with a semi-auto vs. the lever is what is the majority of your shooting going to be? If you are going to be spending all your time resting your rifle on sandbags shooting paper targets, I'd get the semi-auto or a bolt gun. Operating the lever on sand bags is not as "efficient" as operating the lever standing up, kneeling, or sitting.

For plinking while standing, I think levers are much more fun than semi-autos. A shooter can fly through a magazine full really, really fast and be accurate at the same time (with practice).

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I have had a Marlin 39A for 30 years. I picked up a Marlin 60 from someone needing money about 5 years ago. Today those guns have a huge difference in pricing but both are extremely accurate and fun.

If you go auto but don't feel like tinkering and upgrading I'd recommend the 60, even a used one, but everyone needs a lever....


.

 

[flusher]

get yourself an older Marlin Mountie

 

[chicharrones]

Jeez, y'all. Major thread hijack when the OP is concerned about rimfire levers vs. rimfire autoloaders.

I know a couple reasons why the military didn't choose lever guns. The ones with tube type magazines can have their mag tubes crushed in combat conditions pretty easy. Plus, when shooting prone so low you the dirt is above you, the lever is a pain to operate.

As far as lever guns in gun stores, that will depend on where you live and the market that the gun store is aimed at. They are still being sold in good numbers otherwise Mossberg and Rossi wouldn't have come out with their versions of the Winchester and Marlin. The gun stores around me that sell to the common everyday hunter still move leverguns from the rack every year.

As far as comparing lever technology to bolt or semi-auto in the way the world has advacned, people still buy revolvers so . . .

I do like all types of gun actions and own a lever, some bolts, and some auto-loaders. I do believe that people are gravitating away from levers in the 21st century without doubt. Especially in the rimfire rifle category. Blowback rifles are obviously cheaper to produce than even an inexpensive lever gun.

 

[VA27]

See if you can find someone with a Browning BL22 to shoot. Accurate. Shoots S,L, LR. The lever travel is less than half that of the Marlin. Lighter than the Marlin, too.

 

[Smaug]

I've got all of them.

My brother's lever-action Marlin 39M, a Marlin 60, and a Ruger 77/22 in 22LR.

The ability to eat shorts and longs is not really an advantage any more. They cost as much or more as long rifle subsonics, which are just as quiet.

What is an advantage is the ability to cycle any of them reliably. Most autos will only cycle HV ammo reliably. Levers don't care. Especially a tube-fed lever.

Levers are also a lot cleaner-shooting than autos. They don't blow that dirty crap all over the action; it stays in the barrel. This is one advantage shared by the bolt, but bolts take four motions to get the next round chambered, while levers only take two.

I would much rather have a used Marlin than a new Henry. It is just such an elegant design. Take out the thumbscrew, and it breaks in half. Nice slim, forged reciever. (instead of the cast metal of the Henry) Keep your eye out for a 39A or 39M

Here are my 22s.

Marlin 60, $135 used. (I got taken, but it is a nice gun) Handier than the 39M, but not as much fun to operate. More ammo-finnicky. Doesn't like Subsonics much.


Marlin 39M, $300 used. Well worth it.


Ruger 77/22, $400 used, also worth it. Definitely not as handy as the 39M.

 

[kimberkid]

Both ... or all.

One of the beautiful things about the 22 is they are affordable. Over the last 35+ years I've had a lot of different 22's and in the last 15 or so years have unintentionally built a fairly eclectic collection ... all were purchased for specific uses in mind like ... bench/target, plinking, blasting, hiking/packing, beauty, cool-factor, a couple Crickets just for the kids and a couple just because they were a good deal ... and other reason's I don't remember but seemed important at the time.

Remember too, guns aren't like women ... you can have (and use) more than one and they don't get jealous, these are all 22's and they get along just fine!

​

You really can't go wrong with a semi-auto ... it handles well in all positions and if you want it to be a single shot, just put one round in the mag at a time.

The best advise I could offer is to decide "what" you want it for ...

... good luck!

 

[SeekHer]

Jeff56 -- Again if the cowboy guns were as great as you think then at least one army in the world would use them wouldn't you think? Name one that does. They are 19th century technology in a 21st century world.

The Spenser, the Henry rifle during the Civil War later to become Winchester Models later on for the plains cavalry and of course the Winchester Model 1895 that Russia bought chambered in 7.62x54Rmm.
There also was the Evans rifle that found markets in South America, and with military forces from both Turkey and Russia...see National Firearms Museum

I have a Browning BLR, a Marlin 39a and a Winchester 94/22 and I like then all.
I have a few worked up Ruger 10/22s and Volquartsens, a Browning SA and a Remington Nylon 66 and like them all.
I prefer bolt actions though--if I was looking for one gun to use for everything from targets to hunting--Ruger 77/22, Browning T-Bolt, Anschutz Sporter, Remington 54, Winchester 52, Kimber Super American, various Cooper models and CZ all perform amazingly well right out of the box.

 

[SeekHer]

And the flintlock musket gave way to the percussion rifle and that gave way to the breechloader and the breechloader gave way to the bolt action, which gave way to the semi auto, which gave way to the full auto/select fire carbine/battle/assault rifle.

How many WW2 era issue weapons do you see on the front lines of today's battlefield--in modern armies that is? How many of the wonderful Mauser k98K, Lee Enfield SMLE (Ok, India is still using some for Provincial Police), Springfield M1903, USM1 Garand, USM1 Carbine, Mauser Gewehr G43, Tokarev SVT-40 (1st nation to officially adopt a semi automatic snipers rifle).

It's called progress and there are lots of Nostalgic Service Rifle shoots out there where you'll still see them.

SASS/CAS, Zulu and Boer War, Spanish American War, Pancho Villa, WW1, 1930s gangsters, WW2 & Korea are all being respected by historical re-enactors using original or reproduction arms and accoutrements.

Oh, I forgot one model that was used--the Winchester Model 1873 Musket.

For the cowboy, remember that around ten years prior to the start of the cattle drives the Civil War was being fought with muzzleloaders so a gun "that you could load on Saturday and shoot all week" was state of the art technology at the time--unfortunately they were chambered in pistol calibres--first the Model 1866 in .44 Henry (which was a major step up in technology) and then the Model 1873 in 32-20, 38-40, 44-40 until the issue of the Model 1876 in 45-75 WCF(NW Mounted Police used this), .40-60, .45-60 and .50-95 Express again due to improved metallurgy and cartridge design and a stockier frame being incorporated.

The cowboy--trail hand--really wasn't around much more then fifteen years and was put to rest by the railroad--further progress...He carried what was comfortable for him and his horse in calibres that would suffice for his needs--jumping an elk or deer or putting an animal out of its misery...Was their more powerful guns--sure, the Rolling block and falling block buffalo rifles designed to do one thing, destroy the Indian's food supply...Just as the military thought that the lever action would cause the soldier to shoot off more ammo then needed so they stayed with the breechloaders and a thirty to forty round ammo box and volley fire.

Even if Custer had more then the six odd lever guns from his civilians and scouts he wouldn't have stood a snowball's chance in Hell against the overwhelming odds (est 20:1 to 25:1) as was evidenced by Terry's near defeat at the Wash-ita---same as the British didn't stand a chance at Isandlwana the prelude to Rorke's Drift--which was an anomaly as it was a highly defensible fixed position (which Custer didn't have), with breechloaders and a TON of ammo which they didn't have at Isandlwana against an army who's battle tactics was for open field contact...Terry and Custer proved the unreliability of the US Springfield 1873 trapdoor rifle/carbine (1877 and 1884 were slightly better) and Victoria's Little Wars (Africa) proved the superiority of the Martini-Henry rifle and variants.

You don't like the lever gun, fine but don't begrudge someone who does...I don't see any need for an AK or an AR in my life but I won't belittle you your choice if you want to collect or shoot them--although I'd really wouldn't mind an AR in .17 Rem or .204 Ruger as a coyote gun but that's towards the bottom of my list.

 

[kimberkid]

Wow ... talk about thread drift

Good info though!

 

[redmond]

I have all three varieties and like them all. My latest acquisition is a Henry Frontier and it is a lot of fun to shoot, for me. It is very accurate too. Here she is, and a 30 shot, kneeling group at 50 yards.

 

[moonpie]

Both ... or all.

One of the beautiful things about the 22 is they are affordable. Over the last 35+ years I've had a lot of different 22's and in the last 15 or so years have unintentionally built a fairly eclectic collection ... all were purchased for specific uses in mind like ... bench/target, plinking, blasting, hiking/packing, beauty, cool-factor, a couple Crickets just for the kids and a couple just because they were a good deal ... and other reason's I don't remember but seemed important at the time.

Remember too, guns aren't like women ... you can have (and use) more than one and they don't get jealous, these are all 22's and they get along just fine!

​

You really can't go wrong with a semi-auto ... it handles well in all positions and if you want it to be a single shot, just put one round in the mag at a time.

The best advise I could offer is to decide "what" you want it for ...

... good luck!

heaven must be missing 18 angels

 

[CraigC]

I'm sorry, Jeff, that you have such an oddly skewed perception of an American classic because it does not deserve your disdain, fat fingers or not.

The Army did not adopt a levergun for general issue because they feared soldiers would waste too much ammo. Outdated thinking, outdated tactics and metallic cartridges were still a new concept. Hell, Sam Colt himself thought they were silly and that people would continue using percussion pistols. There is no way that one can (with a straight face) look at the fact that the Army did not adopt a levergun as a standard-issue battle rifle and conclude that they are junk.

Who cares what the Army does (or did) anyway? It is inconsequential. Fact is, the levergun is as viable today as it always was. That 99% of shooters and hunters can accomplish 99% of the hunting and shooting they do with a levergun for everything from squirrels to Cape buffalo. Fortunately, the fact that you don't like them has no bearing on this. They give up very little to a semi-auto in practical speed, in comparable chamberings, for aimed, controlled fire. True, on average a boltgun will be more accurate but the question is how much accuracy do you need? Fact of the matter is that they are plenty accurate enough and properly applied, they are no less useful in the hunting fields. Sure, I could hunt with a modern boltgun that is match-accurate and shoots laser flat but all that precision and horsepower won't do me much good if I can't see past 100yds anyway. So a 200yd-capable lever is plenty for a great many hunters.

Hopefully anybody reading this will lend far more creedence to statements by those who actually own and use them, over those made by somebody who has never owned one.

 

[JustsayMo]

To the OP, you choice should be dictated by what you're intended use and preference is.

I'd echo pretty much everything CraigC has mentioned. a lot of wisdom and experience there.

My most used and head out the door rifle is the Marlin 1897 Cowboy (basicly a 39A with straight stock and octagonal barrel).

I've not found a correlation between shooting enjoyment and shooting pace. I can have just as much (or more) fun shooting long range targets with a single shot or levergun as I do burning though a box of bulk ammo making cans dance around the sand pit with a 10-22.

I like Marlins better but the Henry is a good rifle. Here's some video of the neighborhood "kid" ringing the 400 yard dinger with his Henry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P95Hzi5zy2E

 

[slowbutsure]

I have all three types of 22. Marlins, Winchester, Savage. (I have owned the M60. Shot well on target, but jammed often. Polished the bolt with a fine emery and solved this problem. Mostly.)

I am do not have a real like for one type over the other (bolt-semi-lever). I just like to smell the burnt powder, feel the recoil, and see the strike of the bullet. I suspect most of us here feel the same. sbs

Sorry I forgot I also have a pump, made by Winchester.

 

[goon]

If you're really all about accuracy you might skip both and try a CZ, Marlin, or Savage bolt action. Savage Mark II's are available right now for about $130.
For semi vs. lever action, I do have to admit that there is just something fun about leverguns. I still miss the 94/22 Legacy I owned in my "youth." If I were to replace it now I think I'd look for a Marlin 39 A TDS or a Ruger 96/22 - both of which are now discontinued. I have considered the little Henry lever actions but don't have an overwhelming desire to buy one just yet, bit I also don't hear anything bad about them.
Right now my 10/22 gets the most use. It's superbly reliable with good ammo regardless of how dirty it is but I did have to put a replacement extractor in it to make it that way. Still, I've put a lot of lead through it in the few years I've owned it and my brother's, which was bought by my dad in 1973 and shot for literally about 20 years without having the internals cleaned, is still in the family and running strong after probably hundreds of thousands of rounds. I think it would be hard to go wrong with a 10/22.
Another choice you might consider is a Marlin M60, but I'm not a fan of a tube magazine on a semi-auto. I admit that my friend's Marlin M60 seems maybe a little more accurate than my 10/22 but it also experiences more malfunctions when dirty or with bulk pack ammo. Were I to go the Marlin route, I'd look for a 795, which is basically a 60 adapted to run on detachable box magazines.

 

[Gig 'em]

Thanks for the history lesson folks. The thinks you learn...especially when you are not expecting it...highjacked threads.
My first hunting rifle was a Win M94. I still have it, shoot it, and love it.

I think slowbutsure summed it up pretty well:

I just like to smell the burnt powder, feel the recoil, and see the strike of the bullet. I suspect most of us here feel the same.

To each their own. OP, figure out what you want to do with it, and let the good times roll.