Which 22lr lever gun - Marlin or Winchester?

[burneyr]

If this one turns out not to be an XTR my feelings won't be hurt. Very glad I hit the listing five minutes after it was posted. In two days of poking around the net nothing in this price/condition state was even close.

Thanks for the XTR specific info - that's knowledge any collector can put to use.

 

[Golddollar]

I bought a Marlin 39A something like 45 years ago off a friend who was out of work and needed the money. I put a good Bushnell Banner scope on it. It would make a group of 5 shots at 100 yards with CCI Mini-Mags that could be covered with the bottom of a styrofoam coffee cup. I still have it.

 

[Krogen]

I use my 9422 in Cowboy Silhouette. No, not Cowboy Action . . . . I don't have a need to dress up like Wyatt Earp!

The rifle routinely outshoots my abilities. It sports a Williams peep sight that attaches to the grooved receiver. I'd put a tang sight on it but I can't bring myself to drill and tap the tang. So it has the clamp-on Williams. These eyes don't work with buckhorn sights anymore. Buckhorns are for kids! I don't know your age, OP, but I'd heartily recommend a better rear sight. While you're at it, replace the front sight with a Lyman 17A. Despite the improved sights, my rifle is still better than I am!

 

[BB57]

If this one turns out not to be an XTR my feelings won't be hurt. Very glad I hit the listing five minutes after it was posted. In two days of poking around the net nothing in this price/condition state was even close.

Thanks for the XTR specific info - that's knowledge any collector can put to use.

If the condition is like it looks in the picture you won't go wrong at $900.

9422s have gotten pricey. 10-12 years ago you could find an excellent condition 9422 XTR for $750-$800, but you'd still have people saying they were over priced, recalling the days when you could find them for $450-$500.

Now a standard grade 9422 will bring $900-$1200, and an XTR will start around $1200 and average around $1300 in excellent condition.

—-

I was hoping "Winchester" (FN Herstal) would have Miroku start making the 9422 again. The odds were against it as it would mostly compete with their BL-22.

Now that they've started making their Ranger .22 LR lever action the odds are much less that the 9422 will ever be made again.

 

[PALADIN85020]

My money is on the Winchester 9422.

1. It's a genuine quality-revived Winchester. They went to "all hands on deck" to make this gun as perfect as possible in every respect.

2. The lockup is stronger than the Marlin.

3. In feeding, the round is under full control from tube to chamber.

4. It's smoother and more positive in operation.

5. Cleaning it is a snap.

6. Fit and finish are superb.

Here are the ones I own and shoot:

John



P.S. Both the Winchester and the Marlin are covered thoroughly in my book 101 Classic Firearms.

 

[Empe]

I'm a little late to the party as I see you've already made your choice ...the Winchester 94/22.
I was going to say that I don't think you'll regret the purchase of either model .
I always wanted a Win 94/22 but somehow ended up with 3 Marlin 39A's including the Mountie you mentioned and with no regrets.
The Win 94/22 models have gotten a little too pricey for me over the past number of years so I'll be content with my 39A's .
Congratulations on your purchase .

 

[Grayfox]

The Marlins are good rifles no doubt. But they always felt kinda bulky to me. Fore end and stock are wider than I like.
I do have a 9422 XTR. The Winchester's slimmer design just feels right in my hands. Its a tack driver too.
I'll still own this rifle until the day I die.

 

[PALADIN85020]

The Marlins are good rifles no doubt. But they always felt kinda bulky to me. Fore end and stock are wider than I like.
I do have a 9422 XTR. The Winchester's slimmer design just feels right in my hands. Its a tack driver too.
I'll still own this rifle until the day I die.

I agree with your comments on the Marlin. I own just one, a highly customized example that in my opinion outclasses the stock examples by light years. Here's a pic of this beauty - not sure if it was done at the factory, but it's really slick now.

John


(Click for larger view)

 

[Drm50]

The Marlins are good rifles no doubt. But they always felt kinda bulky to me. Fore end and stock are wider than I like.
I do have a 9422 XTR. The Winchester's slimmer design just feels right in my hands. Its a tack driver too.
I'll still own this rifle until the day I die.

The older Marlins are as sleek as any Winchester. I had a Marlin
1895 late 60s production. It had more timber than necessary and I decided to skin it down to flush. The forend didn't make that much difference. I remove a lot of wood off the stock. What you don't think about when you remove a lot of wood from stock you are also reducing the area of butt plate. This made the rifle float in your hands. That's the good news. The reduced area of butt plate made recoil feel like you got hit with blunt end of axe.

 

[clang444]

I've got 3 Marlin 39As (1 each from the 40s, 50s, & 60s) and a 1973 Win 9422. The 9422 is the nicer gun - it has a slicker action and overall finish. Accuracy is about the same (excellent for all 4 guns).

As these are all older guns and don't show up that often, I would get whatever pops up first for a reasonable price. A few mentioned the Browning BL22, another nice gun, but more dainty than the Marlin and Winchester. Almost too small for me.

Here's a group photo of many of my .22 rifles: