What is the downside of lever action 22lr?

[CZguy]

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.

One other consideration is the frequency that a .22 needs to be cleaned. I clean mine once a year, but I wipe the external surfaces with an oily cloth after each use.

Some members of my bench rest club only clean a .22 when accuracy falls off. Many of them say that can be 10,000 rounds or more. They say that too clean of a barrel ruins their accuracy.

 

[ArmedBear]

It depends on where and how you use the gun.

If you're in the dirt, mud or drizzle, you might want to clean the gun more often. The Marlin 39 is probably the easiest gun to completely clean, without any real disassembly, of any I can think of.

But just to shoot the gun at a clean range, with ammo that isn't filthy, yeah, you probably don't need to clean it every day or anything.

A semiauto will stop working when it gets dirty. A lever or bolt gun doesn't get fouled inside the action anywhere near what a semiauto does, and it won't care as much either.

 

[DiTzMaN]

I have a 39a and love it. I guess if I had to cite a negative or two it would be that the trigger is not as crisp as a good bolt action. I had mine worked and it is very acceptable but still not the same. The other I would describe as lock time. The time between when you pull the trigger and the round fires is slightly longer due to the mechanics of the exposed hammer.

 

[HarleyFixer]

The only downside that I have encountered is ammo. I use way too much in my Henry. I have 6 lever actions from .22 to 45-70 and I love them all.

 

[Sav .250]

Everything has some kind of "down-side."
You mentioned a possible tube problem. Just pay attention and that problem will be a moot one.
Enjoy your .......lever.

 

[mainmech48]

The only downside I can think of is that they hardly ever break and take forever to wear out. Makes it tough to explain why you really need to buy more of them to your spouse.

 

[rcmodel]

Can't clean it from the breech like a bolt gun.

Not a concern with Marlins or Winchesters.

The Winchester 9422 also comes apart in the middle with one coin-slot takedown screw for cleaning from the breach.

rc

 

[mljdeckard]

Not only is there not really a downside, I have it in my head that my boys should have a working knowledge of all action types. (All of the MAJOR types at least.) I'm not a cowboy culture reminiscer, so I won't be buying any saddle guns for hunting, but a good lever .22 would be a way to fill that hole. I might poke around for something like this used.

 

[paochow]

I have a 9422 and 9417. While they lack the pinpoint accuracy of a good bolt gun like the CZ452, they are sufficient for field use and are a blast to shoot.

Value wise both were great investments as they are now worth 2-4 times what I paid for them a couple of years ago.

 

[westtx28]

Another vote for the 39A. I have a Henry Golden Boy for open sight shooting and a 39A with a fixed power scope. Both are nice but the Marlin is the one I consider hand-me-down quality. I started cleaning my lever rifles with a bore snake. Fast and easy.

 

[rcmodel]

I have a 9422 and 9417. While they lack the pinpoint accuracy of a good bolt gun

Don't sell them short!
It has often been reported in the gun press that the 9422 & 9422M are exceptionally accurate with ammo they like.

I own both, and can attest to them both shooting as accurately as any .22 I have ever owned. That includes one Anchultz and several Winchester bolt actions.

The 9422M is probably more accurate then the .22 Mag ammo has been in the past. I haven't tested any of the new poly-tip premium stuff they have out now though.

rc

 

[Jaybird78]

One time I got real excited shooting my Henry frontier model as I was chatting to a shooting buddy. I actually forgot to put in the tube follower and as I was bringing the rifle up to shoulder........You guessed it? 3/4 of my ammo slid right on out of the tube mag.


If the above or having too much fun is a negative. Then I guess a .22 lever action is not for you.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I the 35+ years I have been shooting a tube fed Marlin 39 the magazine has never ever jammed.

ONLY downside is Marlin lever guns are getting pricey.

Oh and you'll eat though bricks of ammo like they were m&m's.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The downside is that Winchester is not making the 9422 anymore.

The upside is I have mine already.

 

[deacon8]

rcmodel,

Whoa now...I have a nice 94/22 and I love it. However, it does not shoot nearly as accurately as my three bolt action .22's. My Kimber (of Oregon), Savage Mk II Classic, and Winchester 52. However, as I said earlier, it is a great field gun, it is nice, and it is fun. But it is not equal in accuracy to what a decent bolt gun is capable of.

Not trying to belittle you, but maybe it is the shooter?

 

[ArmedBear]

There is one downside to .22LR lever guns that I didn't mention. If you get one, you might not be able to stop.

I got a 39A with a 24" round heavy barrel and a pistol grip.

A few weeks later, I saw a rare 39M with a 20" tapered octagon barrel, in great condition, at the store. I couldn't help myself; after wrestling with it for a while, I scraped up my savings and bought it, too.

Lately, I've seen some 1897s and some 9422s, and while I haven't bought one yet, I've been feeling the urge...

 

[MrBorland]

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

JohnBT said it for me. I find them awkward to shoot from a bench. Surprised more haven't chimed in with this one. OTOH, lever guns aren't meant to be target rifles.

 

[JFrame]

The only one I can think of is when it comes to a thorough cleaning.

Check out the Browning BL-22 (I forget if there is a dash or not...). Nice gun. I've had mine since 1987 when I was in 7th grade. Good shooter. My daughter loves it, too.

Q

+1

Mine has been a tack-driver, and it's a nice, slim, handy rifle to boot.

Also, with the short-throw lever, follow-up shots are amazingly fast -- maybe not as fast as a semiauto, but I doubt you'll be too unhappy with the difference...

 

[deacon8]

I forgot about that one...surely more difficult to shoot off the bench.

 

[ArmedBear]

I have no trouble shooting the lever off the bench. Just pile up a few sandbags.

That said, I'm about as interested in shooting a rifle off the bench for anything but sighting in, as I am in jumping into a 55-gallon drum of dog crap.

Oh, and another downside of the lever-action .22LR. You may never shoot your 10/22 again. I didn't.

 

[Big_E]

Only thing that keeps me from buying one ASAP (besides money) is the way you have to load them. I can't stand having it pull the follower out. Why can't they be side loading like my Winchester 94?

 

[saltydog452]

The 39A is a tad heavy for a rf. It balances well and takes a sling just dandy though.

The white line spacers kinda/sorta detract from the wood. They can be easily removed.

If you wear a ring on the dominant hand, it kinda gets in the way with the lever ring. Finger rings can be removed and lever rings can be enlarged/replaced.

Other than those, admitidly picky comments, I can't think of a dang thing wrong with the 39A.

salty

 

[chuckles]

Marlin 39A. Solid steel, cut checkered Walnut, the only plastic is a grip cap, butt-pad spacers and the Bullseye logo. At $1000 it would still be a bargain. My absolute favorite rifle and i have a few.

 

[ArmedBear]

My absolute favorite rifle and i have a few.

That's what I mean. That's the ONLY real downside!

 

[deputy tom]

There isn't a downside.tom.