In my experience the Marlin 39 and 39A are more accurate than the Winchester 9422.
However the 9422 is smoother operating, with a shorter lever stroke, and better made in similar excellent to mint condition.
The Model 39A is a take down rifle although you need to take care not to lose the bolt.
The 9422 is not marketed as a takedown rifle but comes apart with the removal of a single screw and that screw can be replaced with a no tools required saddle ring screw from Beartooth mercantile.
There’s also a third option in the form of the Browning BL-22. It’s well made and usually less expensive than the other options. It’s also still in production which is a big plus for availability and finding a very nice example. It has the shortest lever stroke of the bunch but gives up some smoothness
to the 9422, and some accuracy to the Marlin. It doesn’t take a tang sight, which is a negative, but Skinner does make an ok performing receiver sight for it (which also requires a taller front sight).
The BL-22 is also the smallest of the bunch, other than the trapper variant of the 9422. That’s a pro or a con depending on what you want.
The Model 39/39A and 9422 are nice adult sized rifles, the BL-22 isn’t kid sized (except for their youth model) but it is slightly smaller and lighter than the 9422 and handles like a smaller rifle.
Any of them are one or two orders of magnitude nicer than the Henry and a Rossi .22 LR lever guns.
However the 9422 is smoother operating, with a shorter lever stroke, and better made in similar excellent to mint condition.
The Model 39A is a take down rifle although you need to take care not to lose the bolt.
The 9422 is not marketed as a takedown rifle but comes apart with the removal of a single screw and that screw can be replaced with a no tools required saddle ring screw from Beartooth mercantile.
There’s also a third option in the form of the Browning BL-22. It’s well made and usually less expensive than the other options. It’s also still in production which is a big plus for availability and finding a very nice example. It has the shortest lever stroke of the bunch but gives up some smoothness
The BL-22 is also the smallest of the bunch, other than the trapper variant of the 9422. That’s a pro or a con depending on what you want.
The Model 39/39A and 9422 are nice adult sized rifles, the BL-22 isn’t kid sized (except for their youth model) but it is slightly smaller and lighter than the 9422 and handles like a smaller rifle.
Any of them are one or two orders of magnitude nicer than the Henry and a Rossi .22 LR lever guns.
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