Bit of a dilemma. Looking at a new Browning BL-22 Grade II Walnut for under $600, and a used Winchester 9422 with checkered stock and fore end (mfg 1980) for $850.

The Browning has checkered stock and fore end, engraved receiver, and gold plated trigger.

The Winchester is like new. No wear marks, bluing is 100%, and the wood is pristine. Bore is bright and shiny.

Both accept 22S, 22L, and 22LR.

Would appreciate any feedback from those who own either or both. My brain says Browning, while my gut says Winchester.

I've had both. The Browning is nice and shiny, but the 9422 is the way to go.

I to have had both. For shooting purposes there is no difference.
I tended to like the Browning a little better, don't ask me why.
Haven't been following prices on the two, Winchester name
brings the Bucks.The lever 22 I kept in the rack was a Marlin 39
the most successful 22 lever action design.

Of the two, I prefer the 9422. But I suggest looking into a Marlin 39 first.

John

I agree with the above posters. I had a Browning bl22 and 2 9422 Winchesters and sold them all and kept a Marlin Mountie.

I have the Browning and the Winchester and the Marlin Mountie and the Marlin 1994M. And won't be stupid enuff to get rid of any of 'em......

I really like the Browning. For the intended use of these rifles (classy plinking) the light weight and super short throw lever rule the day.

Winchester may be a nicer rifle, but you do give up the handiness of the Browning.

I've owned a BL-22, 9422, Marlin 39A and a Henry. Hands down best shooter was the 39A, then the Henry. Best looking was the 9422. If you want accuracy, ease of maintenance and durability, seek out a JM stamped 39A or the very hard to find Mountie version.

PS, the lever action 22 which will never leave my collection is a Marlin Model 57 Levermatic with the house brand of Ted Williams. Not worth big money, however it has a blisteringly fast rate of fire and shoots every brand of ammo fairly well.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

I've been going through the same consideration lately. I concluded that the winchester 9422 is quickly becoming a valuable collectors item, and the Browning with its short throw and current production is likely a better gun for regular use. So in my typical fashion I decided I should get both

Apologies for being of zero help. If you ever need encouragement to spend money on guns, you can always count on me!

I bought the 9422 the year they came out.....Then added a Marlin 1897T(39 with 16" octagon bbl)......Then later added a Browning Bl--22 grade II octagon.......All are great rifles.....The 9422 & the 39 are no longer made......Personally if I were in your shoes I'd by the Browning......All three of the above rifles are steel & walnut......NOT zamack & plastic.

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S&W Accumulator

Be sure to look for a Marlin with the JM mark, not one made since the Remington acquisition.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Remington hasn't made any 39's and don't plan to.

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S&W Accumulator

I'd only pick the Browning if you like the short lever throw. As much as I love the 9422, I love the Marlin 39m better, even though the 9422 is prettier.

I own both, the bl22 is to me more fun to shoot, no pinched fingers since the trigger moves with the lever, short throw, great quality.

The 9422 is arguably better looking, more traditional, and a better investment but feels clunky compared to the buttery smooth browning action. Answer, buy both!

Here is my two cents
For free
I like the Winchester the best for fit, don't own one now
I have two Brownings, love the smooth action but the rifle seems small for me
I have a Marlin that is from the 1990s and do not much care for it, fits better than the Browning but not near as smooth

An apples to oranges comparison. The Browning is made in Japan and
is light with a short lever throw and is also known to be a difficult
disassembly and reassemble for an owner. The Winchester is a
machined steel rifle made in the US that was intended to restore the
idea of quality to the Winchester name. I currently have two Marlin
Mounties and a Winchester 9422 from first year of production,1972.
My suggestion is to pass on both of the rifles you are looking at and
look for and older Winchester with the smooth wood or a pre crossbolt
safety Marlin. The Winchester you are looking at is overpriced in my
opinion. The "engraved receiver and gold colored, yes colored, trigger"
is worth about as much as a fast food cup of coffee. True story, a co-
worker bought a new Browning BL-22 at a gun show some years ago
now. Great American firearm right? Well no. He didn't realize that it
was made in Japan until he got it home. After a few days of grumbling
about it he gave it to his son in law. He bought a Marlin for himself
at the next show.

In spite if its foreign manufacture I've always liked the little Browning. It's a nice rifle. Never had a lick of trouble with mine, and it shoots very well. The Mountie always appealed to me but for some reason I never saw one in a shop in a condition I wanted and never bothered to order one. I don't think you would be unhappy with any of the three mentioned but the price of the Winchester does seem a bit salty.

Just being obvious, but if you're going to shoot it....you don't need a pristine grade, and $250 will buy a few boxes of .22.

Get the Winchester. You'll love it.

I have acquired many 22 rifles over the decades, but a lever was my first. 1966 and thirteen years old.

A Marlin Golden 39A, it just SHOOTS!, that rifle did more to
boost my confidence of shooting ability on my learning journey
than any other that comes to mind.

Still have it, and will till I tip over, and still shoots as well today as it did in 1966

Image of 1966 rabbit hunting with my trusty Malamute pup, hey, I'm 13, what do I know about
rabbit dogs? It was a great time.

Just can't go wrong with an old 39.

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I thought all Brownings were foreign made, either Belgium or Japan.

The 94/22.The Browning is too small and light.
The only thing that i don't like about the 94/22 is the magazine closure.It's the worst one of the three good levers,ie,the 94/22,the BL22 and the Marlin 39.If you add an O-ring,it puts a bit of tension on the tube,and it won't fall out when empty.
The 94/22 and 39 are easy to disassemble.The BL22 is not.

My son and I both have Winchester 9422 color cased 16" .22LR Trappers, and I have a 9417 in .17 HMR as well. Very accurate guns, well made.

We also each have a Marlin 39. Also a very accurate gun and well made.

I believe the Marlin has a slight edge for accuracy. Other than that, flip a coin.

I have not seen a Browning BL-22 in a long time. The lever throw was remarkably short, so you do not have to take your hand off the grip. I can't recall how accurate it was, as we were only busting tin cans and not shooting paper.

Regarding the mag tube issue on the 9422, yes, poor design for the curved slot that holds the locking roll pin. As mentioned, a rubber o-ring solves that problem.

I've got a 1973 Win 94/22. four Marlin 39/As ('48, '53, '66, '74) and a Browning BP-22, the pump version they came out with when the BL-22 was introduced. I have shot a BL-22 also.

First of all, they are all great guns and quality made (at least the older ones).

The Browning is the most petite, so would be a good choice for youths and smaller people. Anyone can handle it, but it felt a little too small to me. The short throw and trigger on cocking lever are nice too.

The Marlins just get the job done. Tough and accurate. The action starts out a little rough but smoothes out over time (or with an action job).

The Winchester feels the most substantial in your hands and is a thing of beauty. I really didn't want it to be my favorite (I always thought it would be the Marlins), but it is. Smooth action, nice trigger and very accurate. The only problems is they are almost at the point where they are too valuable to shoot. I wouldn't pay $850 for a .22 that was going to be shot regularly, and reasonably priced shooter grade used guns are very hard to find.

I also think $650 is a little high for a BL-22, but I've been in gun pricing shock the past few years.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

I bought a brand new BL-22 about 30 years ago and it's one of my guns I'll never sell. I love the Browning finish and the butter smooth short lever throw is awesome. After I dialed in the 4X Nikon scope I have not found another .22LR as accurate. I've taken dozens of coyotes and other varmints around the farm, but it's main use is for late fall squirrel hunting after the leaves have come off the trees. No less than a couple hundred of the critters have been taken with this rifle in the past three decades and ended up pan fried and served with biscuits, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn on the cob.

Now, through the years I've owned a couple of Winchester 9422's. I liked them well enough, but not well enough to keep them when a deal came along. I have nothing bad to say about the Winchesters, they are certainly fun can busters and I've even taken a few rabbits and squirrels with them. Yes, they were fun guns, but not keepers for me.

Oh, and as noted above, my BL-22 was indeed made in Japan and laying side by side with a Winchester 9422 you can tell (unfortunately) tell that American made does not always mean better.

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- Change it back -

Chang444....None are too valuable to shoot unless you would rather have the $$$ than the rifle or whatever...My kids came do whatever with mine after I'm dead........Meanwhile I'm gonna try to wear "em" out....

Faulkner........The quality of the 9422 went WAY down during the last couple of years of mfg. as US Repeating Arms(Winchester) tried to stay afloat and avoid bankruptcy........AND the BL-22 has stood the test of time & quality..No matter where its made.....Miroku turns out good stuff.

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S&W Accumulator

I've not owned the 9422
but i have owned a couple of BL-22's
Browning makes a fine lever action rifle.
Short throw on the lever and trigger assembly
stays with the lever when cocking.
Both my Brownings were very accurate.


Chuck

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They hold no Quarter