The first new firearm I personally purchased was a Browning BL-22 I bought myself for my 18th birthday in 1976 for the outrageous price of $120. It could be my second new firearm depending on how you look at it. At 14 I bought a new Stevens 311 20ga with money I made bailing hay, but my dad had to sign the paperwork.

I kept that BL-22 for a little over 10 years and in a fit of foolishness sold it, can't remember what I thought I needed the money for now. These days I find myself shooting fewer large bores and more rimfires or small bore centerfires. Over the past few years I'm been thinking of replacing that BL-22 but the prices they bring kept me from taking the plunge.

Couple weeks ago I won an auction for what looked like a clean BL-22 for <$300, which was a price I could live with. Picked up the rifle today and it was better than expected. No corrosion on the metal, nicely figured stock and the scope was incorrectly advertised. Scope was listed as Weaver D6 Military, but it is a Weaver D6 Civilian. Difference is the Military version has no cross-hairs. Icing on the cake for me is the serial number puts it at 1973 production, so it is very much in the same era as the rifle I regretted selling.

That sounds great, walnutred. I just had my first centerfire cartridge rifle come back to me yesterday. It's a Savage 340-C in 22 Hornet and it was the gun that started me off deer hinting with Dad as a kid. My brother gifted it to me since it was just sitting in his gun safe.

Great little guns. I had a BL22 Grade II that I loved, but it was just too pretty to scratch up in the woods so I sold it. It wasn't quite as accurate as a 9422 I owned, but much better looking to my eye and that short lever throw was great.

Wow, how coincidental. My first firearm was a BL-22 Grade II I purchased in 1976 from money I earned working a summer job on the farm in Jr. High. I paid $100 for it from a locally owned hardware store that was also selling hunting supplies and firearms.

I still have mine and I've taken hundreds of squirrels and rabbits and several coyotes with it over past 40+ years, I find it to be very accurate. About 25 years ago I put a 4X Bushnell scope on it. Although I started my two sons shooting and hunting at a young age, they both knew that the Browning .22 was "Dad's gun" and I've seldom let anyone else shoot it.

__________________
- Change it back -

Man, a BL-22 for 300 bones is an absolute steal.

My little (56 year old) brother has one that I have been unable to trade him out of for 40 years.

Nice gun. Good job.

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”

I saw one LNIB at a gun show this morning. I was very tempted, but for $600 I decided to pass.
I'll just keep making do with my 9422.

This is such a sad thread for me!! I bought the youth/short version a few years back ... to save for a future grandson. Then, two years ago, I noticed that it had some light rust on it from storage. So, I consigned it and lost over $150 on it ... .

I had one of those fine .22 lever actions and fancied something else and away it went. A Remington 541-S is now my go to .22 but, those BL-22 rifles are wonderful firearms!

The first critter that I shot with mine was a rat in the back yard at 25 yards with open sights. Center mass shot and the rat met its maker.

When I was growing up on the farm dad kept a Ruger Speed-6 in the glove box of the farm truck. The Farm truck was a well worn 72 F-100 granny gear 4-speed that I was allowed to drive to school in 78 and 79, my junior and senior years. I learned how to shoot well with that gun shooting sub-357mag reloads. When I moved out I told dad I was taking the Ruger with me and he was let me have it, he was a 1911 fan.

While I was in the military I sold the 357 to fund the purchase of a 92AF INOX. I still have the INOX but I wanted to get another Speed-6. I found a good deal on a Model 65-2 K frame that satisfied the need for a 357. I think I traded up.

I had one of those. The Hornet will kill deer. You just have to aim good.

One of my fondest memories is giving my youngest daughter (now 30) a BL-22 for her birthday when she was young. She always liked Western guns so I bought the Browning to accompany her Ruger Bearcat. She still has it. Nice rifle.