Winchester 9422M XTR

CZU · Oct 7, 2023

I first saw the 9422 in 1972-73 at an East Texas TG&Y store. At the age of 12-13 yrs old, I already knew the difference between pre and post 64 Winchesters. It looked pretty good to me across the counter in the rack but still a post 64. I mostly put them out of my mind for the next 40-50 years. Other priorities you know.

The last 3-4 years I would see them show up at the LGS mostly in used but not abused condition. Sometimes even in NIB condition, early ones and later ones, plain jane and XTR's. What I was noticing though is that they didn't last very long, usually a couple days at the most and then gone.

When this 9422M XTR appeared on consignment a few weeks ago I took a good look at it and it appeared to me to be NIB without the box. They held it for me and I headed home to read up on them. This one was made in '82 so technically it is not a Winchester but a USRA CO. The XTR models are somewhat more fancy than the standard models with more polishing to the receiver,lever and sides of the hammer. That's ok for me but the stock polishing/finishing is a little overboard. In my opinion, I think the wood should have been finished like the M94's of old. A rifle that might be used for hunting doesn't need to be so shiny/reflective.

murphydog · Oct 7, 2023

Nice. Did you mention that you bought that nice shiny gun?

mauser9 · Oct 7, 2023

A real beauty and often tough to find these days. Have seen a couple selling for big bucks the last few years. I would grab it as they are a favorite among collectors. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Babysitr · Oct 7, 2023

I thought that when you buy an XTR, you're buying the Deluxe grade...I wanted a nice 9422 so that's what I bought...I'm sure glad I did, mine is from 1986 IIRC, super wood like new,no box...What a fantastic shooter! it's .22LR.....that one is a lovely gun

growr · Oct 7, 2023

Well, you could always unshine the wood........

Randy

CZU · Oct 7, 2023

murphydog said:
Nice. Did you mention that you bought that nice shiny gun?

No, I didn't and yes, I did buy that nice shiny gun.

CZU · Oct 7, 2023

growr said:
Well, you could always unshine the wood........

Randy

I thought about that but then it would no longer be an XTR. I figure it'll grow on me..

mauser9 · Oct 7, 2023

Leave alone is right. Should only increase in value as is. Great small varmint caliber too!

hardluk1 · Oct 7, 2023

We had a winny 9422 somethun that came in a purdy wood presentation box with green material liner that fit the 9422mag . It was given to us as a gift when my wife and I got married. Real purdy rifle and a nice box but it was not very accurate so it sat in our gun safe for 18 or 19 years before selling it when we moved to western NC from SW FL . I had a 22mag bolt action that was simple a better rifle for placing bullets were you wanted them for dispatching hogs .

Today I have a Henry Frontier octagon barrel 24" bought a little over a year for $473 dollars . This rifle had been buried behind other lever actions for 2 year by the tag on he stock at our general store . So I had to buy it to go with a RIA 1911 22mag I had. The henry is as at least as good looking as that winny was But the Henry is a better shooter and does not seem to be ammo picky.

chief38 · Oct 7, 2023

As a lifetime Marlin 39A man I always admired the Winny 9422 but never owned one. That is up to about 10 years ago! One of my hunting buddies wanted to clear out some of this long guns to make room for more (lol).

I went over to his house and while he had some really nice stuff, there was nothing special that caught my eye that I didn't already own. He said there was another pile a few feet away and I spotted a red Winchester box. I said, is there anything in the box? He said, probably, but look inside. Well I did and there was a brand new (old stock) Winchester 9422 XTR inside. It remained unfired except from factory testing. After a brief haggle session, the gun no longer took up space in his closet! From what they are selling for now in pristine condition, I could not be happier.

The Winchester XTR is smoother and ever so slightly more accurate than the Marlin 39A (although mine is 77 years old and has been shot tens of thousands of tines), the finish is a bit better and it is absolutely gorgeous - although not quite as shinny on the stock as yours. I shoot it well but have to admit it's a bit short for me and I wish they rounded over the sharp edges of the lever before bluing it. After a few hundred rounds, it does make my hand sore. I'll deal!

All in all, I love it! It won't replace my Marlin 39A (from Dad) but I have to admit, Winchester did some hell of a job with them! Even the regular
9422's are nice, but the XTR's belong in a museum! Now I know why they said they lost money on every one they made - I actually believe it.

Shoot it well!

jrm53 · Oct 12, 2023

The place where I worked in the early 70's used to give us prize points a check for 4250 points and I got a 9422 for about 17000 points this was in early 1974 I also got a Model 70 Winchester varmint bull barrel 22-250 also in 1974.This was a time consuming process as the papers went to the S. Office to be checked over and sent back for me to fill out and I got the rifles. At the time a Dealer in Springdale Ar mr. Jack Byrd said this was the best rifle (Win 9422) had built in many years. Jeff

BB57 · Oct 13, 2023

I try not to discriminate but I prefer the 9422. I have:

- a 1978 XTR (the first year for the 9422 XTR, the only year for the uncheckered stock on the XTR, and the last year they used a steel inner magazine tube on the 9422);

- a 9422 Trapper; and

- a 9422 Legacy.

Many folks confuse checkering with the XTR grade. However as noted above they were not checkered in 1978 and after the XTR grade was discontinued all the 9422s got checkered stocks. What makes an XTR an XTR are the highly polished flats on the lever and hammer, and the XTR roll mark on the barrel.

I also have a Marlin 39A and a couple BL-22s, a grade 1 and a grade 2.

Marlin 39As in general are known for excellent accuracy by lever gun standards, and they will shoot with or better than most bolt action sporters.

In my experience the 9422 is a bit less accurate at around 2 MOA. However the fit and finish is first rate on the early models and is still excellent on the USRA made 9422s. The 9422 also has the smoothest functioning action between the Browning, Marlin and Winchester.

The BL-22 is the most compact (except for the 9422 trapper) which is a nice way of saying it lacks the adult sized feel of the Marlin 39A. It also has the shortest lever stroke, but it comes at the cost of loss of smoothness. The wood on the grade 2 BL-22s is very nice, but the fit and finish is a bit behind the 9422.

Mike SC Hunter · Oct 13, 2023

CZU said:
I thought about that but then it would no longer be an XTR. I figure it'll grow on me..

My son's xtr(and others I've saw) has a dull finish on the wood.........Are ya sure it's a factory finish?

Mike SC Hunter · Oct 13, 2023

I can play. 9422 is from 1973. I changed walnut out for Wincam. With these I don't need a Henry.

Fishinfool · Oct 13, 2023

OP - That is sure a pretty example. I Found an older 9422M new in the box a couple years after they stopped making them. Paid $500. It has became a favorite small game rifle for carrying around in the woods here in PA. The .22 mag hits enough harder than the .22 lr on game like turkey, coyotes, raccoon that it makes a difference.

Larry

CH4 · Oct 13, 2023

BB57 said:
I try not to discriminate but I prefer the 9422. I have:

- a 1978 XTR (the first year for the 9422 XTR, the only year for the uncheckered stock on the XTR, and the last year they used a steel inner magazine tube on the 9422);

- a 9422 Trapper; and

- a 9422 Legacy.

Many folks confuse checkering with the XTR grade. However as noted above they were not checkered in 1978 and after the XTR grade was discontinued all the 9422s got checkered stocks. What makes an XTR an XTR are the highly polished flats on the lever and hammer, and the XTR roll mark on the barrel.

Yep, got me one of those 1978 XTRs. Found it languishing last year in a small store near Vegas. Didn’t know of its gravitas until I did a little reading.

Bullet Bob · Oct 13, 2023

I've seen quite a few 9422 XTRA's, but I've never seen one with wood that shiny.

Empe · Oct 13, 2023

I'm not a big fan of shiny stocks but I do like the 94/22's . They're well made and of good quality.
I always wanted one but ended up with 3 Marlin 39A's .
I waited too long to purchase one now as they fetch more $$ than I am willing to pay.
Hang on to yours as they seem to increase in value a little each year.

Winchester 9422M XTR

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