.22 lever guns: educate me a bit

[ACORN]

A neat little tweak I saw on RFC is to turn the mag tube on the Henry so that the slot you load through is on the side of the rifle instead of on the bottom. That way the mag tube and barrel form a trough and makes it easier to load. If you go that direction

 

[Drm50]

I'm a solid Marlin 39 fan, my 1st rifle was a 1897 I got in 1955 and it still runs smooth as glass with S,L& LR. I have a 39carbine too. The 39 did have a brak in period and no Marlin Lever Action rifle likes SWC style ammo like Rem Yellow Jackets in 22s.
The Win and Brn are good smooth 22s with modern engineering and do have shorter throw and are smooth right out of the box. I find no fault with them. Apples and oranges.
These 3 are the best and most of others are wanna bees, selling on cowboy hype. Not guns that will last to be handed down through the generations.

 

[wetdog1911]

I have 2 Mounties, a 1959 and a 1960. I was actually looking for a 39A like my neighbors 1963 he got from his father, but I was very fortunate to be able to handle a Mountie before I bought anything.

The 39A was about 90%+ in the shouldering/naturally pointing dept. The Mountie hit 100% with the sights just naturally lining up. Just that quick I was sold on the carbine over the rifle.

Didn't mean to get 2, but I was bidding on one with the auction about 1hr from the end. Browsing around in other Marlin sections (CF levers), when this Mountie popped up with a BIN price over $100 less than where the bids on the first one were. I jumped on it thinking I'd surely get out bid on the first one since there were over 10 bids at that point. My bid stood (I had checked the bank acct before the BIN to be sure), and both rifles arrived on the same day.

My wife had told me she wanted to be Annie Oakley when she was little and I skated by telling her this was the same type of rifle Annie used back in the day, just a later version. IIRC, Annie did use a Marlin at some point in her career, but mainly I was just tap dancing as fast as I could, then asked her which one she wanted. Doubt if she believed me, but didn't yell, or even mention it again except to say it was too heavy for her liking.

Yes, you can't work the action slow, it will jam every time. Teaching my kid how to shoot the lever he had that problem. First said, "work the lever with authority!". He took that to mean hard, which wasn't right, then the word "brisk" came up and he got it. Not hard, not super fast, just brisk, front to back in one motion. He enjoys shooting it, but is more into his 10-22.

A quick factoid, the slot on the takedown screw is sized to fit a silver half dollar coin, exactly. At least the older ones are. Have no idea about current production. I keep a Kennedy half in my range bag, just in case and one in the safe.

Rob

 

[PALADIN85020]

My personal preference is for the Winchester 9422s. They were built with great care, have solid components, and they are reliable as sin. The round is completely controlled from magazine to chamber, and they are quite accurate. I own 3, purchased before buying them got so darn expensive. One, an engraved "Tribute" model, made as the last hurrah before they were discontinued, is still in the box as a safe queen.

Here are my other two. This one is chambered for the .22 WMR, one of my favorite cartridges.

This "XTR" model is chambered for .22 LR.

I have one Marlin, extensively customized; I don't know if it was done at the factory, but the work was top notch. It was made in 1951, has the earlier Ballard rifling, and is an accurate gun.

I'd pick the Winchester 9422 as top dog, followed by the Marlin.

John

 

[JayFramer]

I like the Henry's.

 

[22lrfan]

My vote would be for the Marlin 39. I kind of like them.

 

[j a]

Marlin or Winchester.....

I vote Winchester but the Marlins are just as reliable and fun to shoot. I am a Model 9422 guy and my lifelong friend and hunting buddy is a Model 39 guy. I think we are both right as to which is the better lever gun. You can't go wrong with either of these two.
Here is my 9422 collection. Sorry for the upside down pic. I am old and computer illiterate. JA

 

[Breadman1]

Picked this up yesterday, it's. Winchester 9422M Yellow boy in box. I haven't shot it yet, but plan on it later today, since it's not new in box I won't feel bad about it.

 

[inspcalahan]

My vote is for any of the Henry offerings. Here's my thinking - they aren't an investment. Hardly any .22 is and if you get an expensive, investment grade plinker, are you really going to drag it out in the woods, let it get rained on, get rabbit blood on it, cover it in river silt while riding along in your Honda..you get the idea. If you do, good on you. I do with other firearms for certain, but have found the Henry's to be the perfect little .22 companions to bring along on trips.

I suppose if I was just walking around the back acre in nice weather and plinking at something, I'd enjoy any of the offerings whether it be Winchester, Marlin or what have you. Outdoors trips up here tend to be a bit harsher on your gear. Many complain about the Henry's receivers being made of zinc/alloy/something and other parts not being traditional steel. I've found this to actually be a benefit. It's less steel to have to maintain in the woods, meaning less to worry about rusting.

With .22s, the Henry's will shoot just as good at any distance with a comparable type rifle, they are buttery smooth to cycle, they make about any size/model/action you like, you can put whatever optics you like on them if you choose, their customer service is top notch although I've not had to personally use it - this is based on what others have repeatedly said. Their products are made in the USA.

I'll wrap up and go back to my corner, chock full of Henry's.

 

[Big Cholla]

I have owned and shot extensively all three of the rifles you are considering. The balance and weight of the Marlin wasn't quite what I liked. The Browning was nothing special and a little heavy. I really liked the Win. M 9422 and I liked it so much that I found a M 9422M. I have owned both for over 20 years now and they will go to great grandsons after I'm gone.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I vote Winchester but the Marlins are just as reliable and fun to shoot. I am a Model 9422 guy and my lifelong friend and hunting buddy is a Model 39 guy. I think we are both right as to which is the better lever gun. You can't go wrong with either of these two.
Here is my 9422 collection. Sorry for the upside down pic. I am old and computer illiterate. JA

There. Fixed it for you. Looks like a Model 63 crashed the party through the rear door...

John

 

[smoothshooter]

The "Golden" thingy on the Marlins started about 1954. Give or take a year or so. In addition to the gold colored trigger, they started using "micro-groove" rifling. This was more, shallower, lands and grooves. The one I have is from the early '50's, and has Ballard rifiling. Marlin returned to this style rifiling in recent years. Most, if not all of the golden models are drilled and tapped for scope rings. The standard rifle has a 24" barrel and curved grip. The "Mountie" carbine has a 20" barrel and straight grip. I would not buy
one with that silly cross bolt safety.

I think the safety can be pinned in the OFF position, or removed altogether and the gun will still function.

 

[Ranger514]

All are good guns, but I have to ask the OP about the LGS pricing on the Browning. I have the Basic Grade I, which is deeply blued, with beautiful grained wood. I bought new in 2018 for $400. Browning's website MSRP for the Grade I is $460, while the fancier Grade II with cosmetic upgrades runs substantially higher. Mechanically, there's no difference in the grades. If you are sure the Browning was higher priced in the upper $500 range, I'm betting it's a Grade II model with checkering, engraving, and a gold plated trigger. Nice, if you want bling, but not necessary for a plinker and woods carry IMO. Whatever you choose, I hope it's a straight shooter.

 

[VaTom]

Marlin Golden 39A. An older JM marked barrel model. You will pay a premium for a nice one. They are solid full size rifle with walnut stocks. Hefty in weight for a .22 (around 6lbs I think) but built to last. Mine is a 1958 Model with receiver drilled and tapped for scope and factory installed sling swivels. Easy to disassemble and clean. Most accurate .22 I own.

 

[crsides]

My vote is for the Marlin. I have one which belonged to my grandfather, and dates back to 1954 (he traded a .36 muzzle-loading squirrel rifle for it).

At some point in time, Marlin began drilling and tapping the receiver for a scope. I did that for mine many years ago, but replaced it with a Skinner peep sight more recently. Skinner sights are easy on old eyes, and can be installed in lieu of a scope on the receiver, on the tang, or in the dovetail instead of the rear sight on the barrel.

Skinner peep sights are not only attractive, but effective. I replaced the skinny front brass bead (standard 3/8"x 1/4" dovetail in a ramp) with a taller one of the same style. I have come to appreciate a wider (1/8") front blade, either plain black or with a white insert. The 1/16" OEM bead is really hard to see.

The Skinner front blade can be filed to the right height, and is arguably the most accurate style for punching paper. Fiber optic sights are nice in daylight. Tritium sights are a waste of time, even if you could see one 30" from your eye.

When you clean a Marlin .22 from the muzzle, be certain to clamp the ejector out of the way by pressing it down and turning the cam (shaped like a slotted screw) to hold it in place. It's easily broken and nearly impossible to secure a replacement. It took me two years before Marlin made a new batch.

What he said.

 

[Faulkner]

I have owned a Marlin 39, Winchester 9422, and Browning BL22, you cannot go wrong with any of the three. It would be like selecting from one of the finalist for Miss America, they're all beauties and it's just up to personal preference.

For me, I prefer the Browning BL22. Now, I wished I'd never traded off the 39 or 9422 back in the day, but the BL22 was the first one I owned and I still have it.

 

[LittleCooner]

I would prefer the older Marlin 39A for my pick. they are great, great shooting and great high quality guns.

 

[The Norseman]

Lever Release Bolt Guns

Saw this Thread, and just had to comment. Great Thread
by the way.

I like the Marlin, Winchester, and of course the Browning.
The Henry has great Craftmanship, just not for me.

All I have shot, all are very accurate. It all boils down to
what you want to pay.

Thanks for all the neat pictures.

 

[BigBill]

Ditto on the Henry. I bought the carbine for the grandson he doesn't know it yet.

 

[Stevie]

I own a Browning BL-22 a Henry H001 .22 and a Winchester 94/22 M XTR(.22 mag).

All good guns....My least favorite is the BL-22 for three reasons....so-so trigger pull....doesn't fit me very well as the stock comb is too high for me to use the iron sights well.....scope mount grooves in the receiver are rather skimpy and I had trouble keeping a scope on it. The BL-22 has some good points too as it's fast to shoot...accurate too and of undeniable quality.

The Henry H001 I own is really a nice little .22 lever-gun. It's a time-proven design first made By Erma in West Germany and marketed by Ithaca for years. Does have plastic barrel bands and front sight plus the usual plastic buttplate(they all wear plastic buttplates). Some don't like the zinc alloy receiver cover....the bolt and receiver themselves are steel...wood is walnut. Perfectly reliable and accurate little gun. My favorite lever .22 LR rifle.

One minor complaint is that care is required if you remove the receiver cover to clean the Henry's internals. Cover comes right off and goes right back on....but it is possible to get the cover on too tight and cause head-space problems(too tight to close on thick-rimmed ammo)….

The Winchester M94/22 I have is a .22 Magnum I bought used and a bit surface rusty. It's clean as a whistle inside though. These are of impeccable quality as mentioned by others. I can't think of anything bad to say about it?