What is the downside of lever action 22lr?

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10-Ring

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I am 95% sure I'm getting a 22lr lever action. All I can see are positives -- no mag issues, good accuracy, w/in price range. I've asked around and the only problem I've come up with is if rounds aren't loaded properly in tube a jam might be tough to clear -- T/F?
so, what is the downside?
 
Downsides generally depend on the model. The only real general ones are slower follow up shots (when compared with a semi-auto), and lack of a detachable magazine (if you consider that a disadvantage).
 
Can't clean it from the breech like a bolt gun. I'm not a huge fan of the tube mag on .22s. I'd just get a Ruger if I were you, the mags aren't a big deal at all, a lot better than trying to find a place to put the tube follower when you reload (they work better before you bend them or get them dirty).
 
The biggest downside is how quickly you will burn up ammo shooting these fun rifles.
 
Got a Marlin 39A myself... downside?

They're not much for the spray and pray portion of your program and that's about all the downside I got... sorry.
 
Every design has its strengths and weakness, and the lever action is no different in that respect.

However, there are no horrible disadvantages to a lever .22. If that's your fancy, you should buy one without any qualms.
 
Thought of another downside, The lever action 30-30, .357, and .44 you will want to get after shooting the .22 ;)
 
I haven't run into any real difficulties with my .22 Henry Golden boy. In fact, I can oppose some of the said disadvantages. For one, I'd be hard pressed to cause some sort of jam up in the tube magazine. You just push them up to the gap and let them drop in a stack. No problems there. When reloading, I rarely pull the tube magazine follower all the way out, but enough to where I can see the orange plunger that actually pushes them down, so no real problems there. And it is possible to clean it from the breach, in fact its not much different than cleaning a bolt action with a rod and brush. Besides its only a .22 so it wont be filthy after each range trip. So the only real downside is too much fun!
 
The price of the 39a. But still well worth it.
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That's really the only drawback I can think of either, though I've heard the Henrys are nearly as nice for about half the price. I may pick one of the Golden Boys up one day, if I come upon a used one.

As for tube jams, I've never really seen that as being a real common problem on any tube fed gun, but I may well be missing something.

The only other potential drawback that I can come up with is that it may not be the best choice if you do a lot of shooting from the prone position - not impossible, certainly, but not as straight forward as a semi auto or bolt gun, IMO.
 
10-Ring,

Re: downside.
Basically there is not one.

Just one learning the gun.
Some say shooting prone is difficult, this is just a matter of learning to shoot the lever gun from prone.

Oh...
Not just a lever gun dealie, still I feel I need to mention this.

If you are on your back, and shooting back over your head...Spent casings do no fall "up".
Trust me on this, and it does not matter how assertive you use that lever either.

Then again neither do magazines from Semi Auto handguns, and I don't care how hard you hit the mag release, them suckers will not fall "up".

*grin*
 
Harder to shoot off the bench, the lever keeps getting in the way.

Some have said that levers aren't quite as accurate as a good bolt. Probably true in my limited experience based on only owning one Marlin Mountie. But I've owned it since '63 and haven't gotten rid of it.

John
 
Can't clean it from the breech like a bolt gun
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not true of the Marlin 39 family, unscrew the takedown screw, seperate the two halves of the action, slide bolt to rear to remove and you have full access to the breech end of the barrel.
Note: you should also lock the ejector down, by turning the "screw" it's nose is recessed in, before doing any of the above so that the ejector isn't sticking out in the way.
 
Jamming is not a big issue with these rifles. There is no downside unless you want to empty the gun in 4 seconds.

Recently bought my first Marlin 39A. Very pleased with it. It may well be the first 22 that I have owned in a while that I leave un-scoped. No complaints.
 
the only downside ive had with my henry is a round got stuck in the feed ramp....the turned out to be a huge problem...had to have the whole receiver redone...but a excellent gun before that especially for the price
 
Adjusting the sights is not that hard to do once you get past the fear of messing up the looks of the gun by whacking on the front sight to get it to drift over.
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I use a sight mover. Brownell's sells some soft plastic dowel rods that you can tap with a hammer and not mar the finish, but a sight mover is the best.
 
I have a 94/22 that I love. I guess the only downside (if I HAD to choose one) would be accuracy. It is not a target rifle. However, for hunting and plinking, it is more than accurate enough.

Wonderful rifle. Pretty too...
 
the downside of a lever 22 is you are going to need to buy lots of ammo. and your wife is likely to get quite suspicious when you come home everytime from shooting with a big smile on your face! she is going to wonder exactly what it is that you are shooting. lol
 
Can't clean it from the breech like a bolt gun.
Click to expand...

Not true. The bolt of a Marlin 39 just slides out the back, allowing cleaning from the breech just like a bolt gun. It's also a takedown, so the whole action just comes off the barrel and is not in your way when you're cleaning the gun.

800px-Marlin_39A_disassembled.jpg
 
Owned a Marlin 39 for a dozen years now , the only gripe I had initially was the incredibly awful trigger - a gritty , creepy 7.5lb. The rifle was no fun to shoot.

After working on the hammer , the trigger turned out to be the best of any of my rimfire rifles and that is when the FUN started! I can see why this rifle has achieved a "cult status" among rimfire fans.
 
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