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  #1  
Old 11-07-2010, 02:45 PM
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Default Lever action .22 rifle?

I'm on a lever action kick and was wanting a Henry lever .22 rifle, but I looked at a used one at a gunshow and the aluminum receiver had a lot of wear and looked kinda cheap, so now I'm thinking about Marlin, Browning, or old Winchester 9422. I know the Marlin has a steel receiver but how about the Browning and Winny? Also, any pros or cons of each brand?
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  #2  
Old 11-07-2010, 03:20 PM
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I found a Marlin that was 40 years old that I think is great! The gun came unfired and at first gave accuracy problems but once I put 200 rounds through it the accuracy of it is close to unbelievable!I have heard that the latest Marlins with the rebounding hammer are giving problems but there are still older guns out there.
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Old 11-07-2010, 03:27 PM
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you can't go wrong with the marlin or the winchester. my first rifle was a 1976-vintage winchester 9422, and i still have it. it is still a jewel, and a treasured gun to me!
good luck!
ed
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  #4  
Old 11-07-2010, 03:43 PM
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If you can find one, the Winchester Model 250 is a winner. My dad gave me this one, my first gun, when I was twelve...47 years ago and no, it's not for sale. (o;

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  #5  
Old 11-07-2010, 04:01 PM
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My 39 Mountie with a red dot sight will out shoot my 9422 with a 4x Leupold at 50 yds. benchrest.
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Old 11-07-2010, 04:04 PM
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Hard to go wrong with a Marlin M39 with a few years under its belt. Mine are great. And they hold their value.

My cousin likes his 9422 a lot. Pricey.

Regards,

Dyson
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  #7  
Old 11-07-2010, 04:23 PM
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I had a Winchester 9422 that was outstanding. My friend bought a Henry golden boy that was beautiful but shot insanely high at 20 yds. My Browning BL-22 (1972 vintage) has to be my favorite lever gun in double-douce(s, l, and lr.) as my dad gave it to me for my birthday and it is a shooting dream. It has a 33 degree lever throw, so you don't even jerk the lever....you literally flick your fingers to lever in another round. It is also very compact. All in all though, my Winchester 62-A and my Model '06 carbine (both pumps .22 s,l, and lr.) get the majority of the trips for game. The BL-22 is around $500 or less new. Some can be had around the $375 mark if you look. Check out GB on-line.........http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=199170172
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  #8  
Old 11-07-2010, 04:37 PM
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Have a newer Marlin 39A (04 production) which is very accurate and have had no major ejection problems. I bought it lightly used from a Forum member. It has safety features which some think are cumbersome but they don't bother me.
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  #9  
Old 11-07-2010, 04:42 PM
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As others have said, the Marlin and Winchester are both great lever actions. I have a Winchester 9422 Magnum XTR, and it's a beautiful and accurate gun. Some day I hope to get a matching 9422 LR. I don't think you can go wrong with either of them.
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  #10  
Old 11-07-2010, 04:46 PM
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All those old guns are great, but I have a Henry Carbine with the large loop, and I love it. It's fairly accurate for what it is, and I shoot it with Wal Mart bulk ammo only, so I get what I expect. Good thing about Henry's is that EVERY componet on the gun is sourced right here in this country. I know you said the receiver looked cheap, but the external part is actually just a cover over the actual aluminum receiver. I don't think you would go wrong with one of these.
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  #11  
Old 11-07-2010, 05:09 PM
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One more vote for a Marlin 39A made after 1939.

Regards,

Tam 3
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  #12  
Old 11-07-2010, 06:03 PM
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I am a .22 rifle addict, and am particularly fond of lever action .22 rifles, I own a Henry H001 (the cheapest Henry), a Winchester 9422, a Browning BL22 and newer Marlin 39A.

Some thoughts on each:

If you want a Marlin 39A, get one of the older ones without the rebounding hammer. Mine (with rebounding hammer) took two trips back to the factory to cure it's failure to fire (light primer strikes) and failure to eject issues. Seems to be OK now, 500 rounds through it since it last came back from repair. It's a full size, heavy rifle, quite accurate. Marlin has now been aqcuired by Remington, and the New Haven Conncticut plant where the 39A was made is now closed, so getting even one of the newer, problematic rifles may be difficult. Much easier to get an older used one...

The Henry H001 is one of my favorite rifles, great value for the money. I paid $249 for mine brand new, it's smooth and accurate, and hasn't had a hiccup in the thousands of round I've put through it. I like the sights on the Henry better than any other of the lever .22's, it has a blade front sight and square notch rear, while the others have some sort of bead front sight. To me, a bead front sight obscures the target, making fine accuracy harder. With my first box of ammo through the rifle, I was hitting golf balls at 50 yards. It is light at 5.5 pounds, has more of a utilitarian look and feel to it, but it is a great rifle.

The Browning Bl22 is one of the higher grade, engraved rifles, got it used, 1994 or so vintage. It is the lightest of my .22 lever rifles at 5.0 pounds, prettier than a speckled pup, but has a horrible trigger, probably greater than 8 pounds. This hurts it's accuracy some. Has a short stock, so might be good for those with younger shooters in the house. The short lever throw does make it fun to shoot, but the accuracy limits it to a 25 yard rifle for me....

The Winchester 9422 I have is one of the first year 9422 "XTR", with the high gloss stock and metal. It is accurate and smooth, weighs about the same as the Henry at 5.5 pounds, great trigger. Owning and shooting it makes you feel like you own a Cadillac Eldorado, it is that nice. Bad news is they don't make them any more so you have to be prepared to pay some big money to own one (500-700 dollars). Worth every penny of it if you find a nice example.

So, if you want a field grade .22 lever rifle you don't mind letting the kids use or throw into your truck, get a Henry. If you want a legacy rifle, a desirable collectors piece, get a Winchester, older Marlin or Browning.
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  #13  
Old 11-07-2010, 08:11 PM
Old 44 Guy Old 44 Guy is offline
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I bought my first Marlin 39 in 1954. Great rifle, accurate & fool proof. Gave it to my son years ago. Won a Henry Golden Boy @ FNRA dinner a few years ago. Smooth action but there's a Model 39 at our local gunshop for $395. Ha Ha, I'm thinking............. What the Hell.?
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  #14  
Old 11-07-2010, 08:16 PM
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I bought my Marlin 39A last year, and have had no problems with it. I put on a set of Skinner Peep sights, and she shoots very tight groups at 25 yards (indoor range where I shoot).
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  #15  
Old 11-07-2010, 08:17 PM
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Hard to go wrong with either the 9422 or a Marlin 39. I've got a 1951 vintage 39A and a 1972 vintage 9422, both 99% original, factory condition and both shoot great. I was out plinking with the 9422 this afternoon, good fun!
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  #16  
Old 11-07-2010, 08:19 PM
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I have a henry 22 standard and it shoots great; consistently 1/2'' at 50 yards with CCI ammo.

It is a nice smooth actioned 22 and inexpensive too.
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  #17  
Old 11-07-2010, 08:27 PM
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I have a Browning BL22 and find it to be one of the most accurate .22's I own. Love the short lever throw and mine has filled the frying pan with critter meat dozens and dozens of times.

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  #18  
Old 11-07-2010, 09:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by canoeguy View Post
...
So, if you want a field grade .22 lever rifle you don't mind letting the kids use or throw into your truck, get a Henry. If you want a legacy rifle, a desirable collectors piece, get a Winchester, older Marlin or Browning.
That pretty much sums up my opinion on the question as well.
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  #19  
Old 11-08-2010, 01:04 AM
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I have this Henry Repeating Arms GoldenBoy
It has the slickest action that I have ever used.

I liked it so much that I bought this in 45Colt.
Henry Repeating Arms BigBoy
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Last edited by LouisianaJoe; 11-08-2010 at 01:08 AM.
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  #20  
Old 11-08-2010, 01:19 AM
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Another vote for the 9422 IF you can find one and IF you can afford it. Otherwise I would consider the Henry mostly because it is made in USA which is becoming rare, but the plastic and aluminum parts bother me some.
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  #21  
Old 11-08-2010, 01:50 AM
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Pretty tough to beat either the Marlin or the Winchester. They are both great rifles. I think you made a good decision in passing on the Henry. They are decent rifles, but just too much plastic on them for me.

I have a couple of 9422's, and a 9422M. I was going to sell one of my 9422's. If you are interested send me a PM. Here is a picture of it. It is the nicer model with the checkered stock. It also has the target style peep sight on the rifle. Wood and metal are in tip top condition. Tom.



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  #22  
Old 11-08-2010, 09:53 AM
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I have a Marlin 39 that I'm restoring and have been very impressed with it. I think the older models are a better design.

Ed Kinsel
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  #23  
Old 11-08-2010, 10:02 AM
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I have had 9422s in both 22 lr and 22 mag. After I bought a Marlin 39 Mountie, and kept it for awhile, I traded them both off. For some reason the Winchesters sat idle while the Marlin turned into my "go to" .22. Sometimes it works out that way.
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  #24  
Old 11-08-2010, 10:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Farmer17 View Post
I know the Marlin has a steel receiver but how about the Browning and Winny? Also, any pros or cons of each brand?
I thought the Browning receiver was aluminum, but their website says it's steel.

Don't know about the 9422 but I would be surprised if it isn't steel.
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  #25  
Old 11-10-2010, 01:03 AM
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I love my Marlin Golden Mountie. Fun rifle to shoot and very accurate. Really love skipping a can across the range as fast as I can work the lever.
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  #26  
Old 11-10-2010, 08:49 AM
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I have a Henry lever action .22 and could'nt be happier with it.
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Old 11-10-2010, 09:06 AM
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Here's a Marlin 39 Mountie c 1961
Hard to beat


Last edited by p0838; 03-20-2011 at 09:23 AM.
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  #28  
Old 11-10-2010, 02:15 PM
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I have a Henry the H001. It is very accurate and the action is very smooth. When I bought it the shop also had a Marlin 39 that I looked at but the Henry just had a better feel to me.

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Old 11-10-2010, 05:49 PM
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A couple of my Marlin Model 97's..

Both of these are pre 1908 as they have the 'free to fall out of the gun ejector' when you field strip them.
The secure unit started being used after that time IIRC. Those are held in with the two small screws seen on the top outside edge of the left rec'vr wall.
That still holds true even for the later M39.

The shorter of the two is a 'plain' deluxe. Straight grain wood,,pistol grip, checkered, half octagon barrel & half magazine. I added the Lyman tang site and the 2 leaf fold flat rear sight.
The original factory standard semi buckhorn rifle sight was removed & kept of course. I just couldn't see the oen sights anymore!
No case colors left anymore, the wood is solid and never been refinished. It'll stay just the way it is AFAIC. It's a perfect range and woods rifle for me.

Great shooter. Had to repair the cartridge stop as it was double feeding at times, but all is good now.
Standard velocity only with these old guys. The square cut notch in the bolt at the locking surface is a weak spot and I've seen many that have cracked. The later production changed the tiny square corner to a rounded cut and fixed the problem.

The longer barreled M97 is also a deluxe but with fancy wood and it is factory engraved in the simple #1 pattern. This one is full octagon, half magazine and it came with the tang site, 2 blade fold down rear site and a beech front site.
It has a few problems,,a cracked forend, no finish, a splinter missing off the toe of the butt stock and butt plate and that ejector is gone. But the bore is a mirror (as is the first rifle) and is a perfect restoration candidate.
I hope to complete it this winter or coming spring.

These early Marlins have the round top receiver w/ 'Marlin Safety' marking on top. Inside the mechanical difference between one of these and a later M39 is small.
Slim & trim classic lever action .22's they are just plain fun to shoot, no matter what brand is on them.





Last edited by 2152hq; 11-10-2010 at 05:53 PM.
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  #30  
Old 11-10-2010, 06:44 PM
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I have a couple of Win 9422s, a Marlin 39a and couple of Marlin 39 Mounties. I even have a Marlin 1894M in 22 Mag, a somewhat uncommon 22 lever action that is definately a big boy's lever action 22. I will eventually get a Browning BL-22 when I find a good used one at a decent price.

A lot of folks seem to be pleased with the Henry's but I just don't want one of them. I echo the sentiments that they just don't seem to represent the same quality level of the other rifles, even though they seem to perform well mechanically and shoot pretty good. It may have some appeal, especially for utility, but I don't see it as offering more than the others unless it is strictly a matter of cost.
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Old 11-10-2010, 07:07 PM
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Any of the above without the cross bolt safety.
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9422, browning, carbine, cartridge, ejector, engraved, m39, model 39, primer, remington, winchester

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