Browning BL-22, what do you know about them?

Stevie said:
Yep..you are right. Just looked in my 'Gun Trader's Guide'. Made 1970 on by Miroku. Must have been thinking of the BLR.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I thought all of the BL-22's were made by Miroku; learn something new every day. I can't add anything about the rifle, I've never had one, don't even think I've ever fired one. As much as I like .22's, though, I'd probably pick one up if one came along at the right price.
 
BL-22 disassembly

I came across this when I googled the dis-assembly. If anyone has a link that works I'd sure appreciate it, I can't seem to pull up anything correctly.
I'm wanting to re-finish the stock and forearm. Got the stock off, got the pin out of the forearm, the screw out of the barrel/magazine band.
Now, how to get the magazine tube off so the forearm can come free ?
Thanks,
Steve in Beaufort, SC
 
Gun Digest Book of rimfire rifles

Howdy,
I think they are nice rifles.
For you fellows having trouble with assembly of the BL-22 it is covered in the GUN DIGEST BOOK OF RIMFIRE RIFES.
I can't vouch for the info on the BL-22 but data published in the book made the Nylon 66 as easy as pie to detail strip and reassemble. I expect the BL-22 data is as good.
Good luck with your new rifle.
Mike
 
I had the choice of the Browning, the Marlin, and the Henry. I went Henry. I chose wrong. Wish I had flipped a coin between the BL 22 and the 39A.
 
I've had my BL22 for many years. I "loaned" it to a friend that thought it was cool to dry-fire constantly while walking in the woods for a few hours. The firing pin had enough of that. The forearm pin is slightly tapered and a one-way affair. My 'smith can tell you that after putting the new firing pin in and having to buy a new barrel band that snapped due to the tapered pin direction being incorrect. The bad was no fault of the gun. I've had some lucky shots and put a fair bit of game on the stove with mine. The stuff that previous fellas counted as negative, I see as positives....ie, the rear flip sight. It is very sleek and fast and is perfect for what it was designed for. A light, small lever-gun that can be carried all day if you have to. Buy it and enjoy the heck out of it!
 
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I've owned 3 of them over the years and now i have only
one. It's a grade 2 model with the minor scribbling/engraving
on the sides of the reciever. I did'nt go out looking for the
grade two but this gun came up at a small auction and i bought
it for 350 bucks. It was also sporting an early 4 power Weaver
scope which is just perfect for this fine little lever gun.
Like others, i've loved my shooting/hunting times with the BL22
and would highly recommend them to others. Fun little guns.
Browning also offers a Micro BL22 that has a 16" barrel.
If i get a chance i'm picking one of these up for a truck gun.
Make sure you post pictures when you get your rifle.
The wood on these little lever actions can really be quite
gorgeous for what they are.

Chuck
 
I own one from a 70's pawn deal for $50. The firing pin broke in the 80's and I put it in the closet. A couple of years ago I found it and called Browning. They told me to send it in and they would look at it. It came back in about three weeks with a new stock (the old one didn't match the forearm) all cleaned up (looks new again) and ready to shoot. Charge on the work order including shipping was $0.00!
 
One of my gunshow buddies likes me and thinks I need to buy every gun he sells out of his private collection. He has good stuff and if I don't jump at the first price he keeps dropping $ until I have no choice. :D

He forced a nice shooter grade BL22 on me a couple shows ago for $320. I already had a couple.

I got on a bar22 kick a few years ago and bought 3 of them, a straight stock semi auto, a pistol grip s-auto and a .22 pump. Browning advertised them as "man sized .22s". Only on the market for a few years in late 70/80s and all Miroku made.
 
A LGS had a BL-22 with Maple stock on the rack for months. Sorry I didn't buy it.

I really like the light color Maple wood.

Instead I bought a 1956 vintage Marlin 39A from a friend. It's a great rifle, perhaps better than the BL-22.

What I really should have done is bought both.

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I've had one for 40 years. It will feed anything. Shorts, shot loads, CB's, anything. Very accurate. Not to hard to take apart.
 
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Two of my friends have the BL-22. They both love them. I have shot both and they are great little guns. I once had a Winchester 9422 and sold it. Dumb, dumb, dumb! I did pick up a Marlin 39 Centennial 1870-1970 in the late '80s. I love the octagon barrel and the straight stock.

One of the BL-22 owners bought his in about 1974. He had shot my other friend's Browning and decided he wanted one too. He lived outside of Birmingham and I was visiting him before we went back to college. The Sears, Roebuck and Co store in downtown B'ham had one, so he went and looked at it. The clerk couldn't find the box, so Bill paid for the rifle and we walked out of the store with him carrying the .22 over his shoulder. Nowadays, somebody would have called the SWAT team. :(
 
max503 said:
Not to hard to take apart.
Click to expand...

But what about the putting back together?

I've had one for a few years (it's one of my favorite rifles), and still never disassembled it. I've watched a few YT videos, but it looks somewhat daunting, and that's what's kept me from it. I've only given it a superficial cleaning, and I need to do a detailed scrubbing of the insides.

Do you have any hints or special tricks for reassembly? Any info would be appreciated!
 
Have fun brick after brick with that Browning.
I almost bought one this weekend but was led astray buy a 9422.

Quick question: of the books mentioned for lever gun dis/reassembly plus care etc etc, will they cover the Winchester Miroku M92 and M94 as well as the Winchester 9422 ?

Thanks OP and all !
 
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Of all the lever guns I've ever owned, the BL22 ranks at the top of the heap. It makes a great .22 for young and old. Slick, short action, solid design, quality. Take care of it and it'll last for generations to come.

First time I pulled mine apart was a piece of cake. The difficulty in putting it back together... was a different story. A dob of assembly grease behind the ejector spring is what worked for me.

Here's a video from mixup98. You can watch him stumble through the process his way.
YouTube

Or follow the advice of one of his commentators:

Strutingeagle
1 year ago (edited)
Putting them back together is the easiest thing to do. You go about it all wrong and don't line it up properly before sliding the receiver together.

Put a dab of grease on the bottom of the ejector spring to hold it in place.

Tip the gun upside down and put ejector on its pin. The next step is key to making it easy. While the gun is upside down and on half cock, slide the lower receiver with the bolt installed on top of it together, so you are sliding the top of the bolt against the top of the inside of the receiver and just slide it straight in.

You don't have to hold the ejector as the cut on the bolt will automatically line up on the ejector and viola. You will get it right the first time every time I guarantee.
 
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