What is the downside of lever action 22lr?

[Vern Humphrey]

Can't clean it from the breech like a bolt gun. I'm not a huge fan of the tube mag on .22s.

Both the Marlin 39A and the Winchester 9422 (no longer made) are takedown guns which can be cleaned from the breech.

 

[foghornl]

Only downside I can think of re: .22LR or .22Mag levergun...

Not a big enough calibre for deer, bear, elk, moose etc.

 

[AirForceShooter]

I have a Marlin 39A.
I don't like it.
But that just me

AFS

 

[aka108]

Bought my 39A new in 1955. Just as much fun now as it was then. Only issue is that the white spacer between the butt plate and stock has shrunk a little from age. Nice accurate rifle and one of the very few I've left unscoped.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Not a big enough calibre for deer, bear, elk, moose etc.

But ideal for squirrel, rabbit and other small game. And if you like to hunt, you get more hunting for small game than for larger game, which have limited seasons.

And your lever action .22 is an ideal practice rifle stand in for your lever action centerfire.

 

[bhk]

I love my 9422 for plinking and rabbit hunting. For serious squirrel hunting and target shooting I prefer my bolt guns. This is mainly because of trigger quality. My Kimber Classic's trigger is set at a little under 2 pounds, and my informal bench rifle has a 2 ounce Jewel trigger on it. Just can't do that safely with a lever action.

 

[308win]

My two most "fun to shoot" .22 rifles are a lever action and a gallery type pump.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I came up with another couple downsides since the first page..

My 79 39A led to a 77 1894c in 357. Then I picked up a Ted Williams 30-30.

On top of that I recently repaired my Dad's 52 39A, fell in love with it and he won't sell it to me. ouch

and another thing, every time I pick up a lever I feel like a 10 year old cowboy ... then I need a nap.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

I like the Henry Lever Action, it's cheaper than the Marlin but just almost as good IMO. I have almost 20K+ rounds through mine as of December of '08 when I bought mine from Wal-Mart and it is still a tack-driver with almost no cleaning. Never jams either, unlike autoloading 22s, and you can shoot any length of 22 ammo except for the magnums, but with the 22 shorts you can fit about 21 of them in the mag tube. The lever cycles smooth as warm butter and much faster than a bolt gun. The cowboy-factor is also fun, and it's great for introducing others to the world of shooting, everybody that shoots mine never puts it down.

Downsides? Unless you are one of those hi-cap mag dump junkies, there are NO downsides to owning a lever-action 22. I would sell my 10/22 before I sell my Henry.