Which lever action 22?
 

My little brother has asked me to help him pick out a lever action 22 for my parents to give him for Christmas. I don't have much experience with lever actions (I only have sem-auto, bolt, and pump), so naturally this is the first place I thought to come for help. The price limit is $400. He'd prefer a shorter lever throw. So far I'm leaning towards the Browning BL-22 Grade I. What do you all think?

RE: What lever action 22?
 

The Browning is a good one.

RE: What lever action 22?
 

My buddy had a winchester and it was probably the sweetest rifle that i've ever shot.

RE: What lever action 22?
 

i have a winchester thats pretty smooth and it has never given me any trouble and keeps on firing

RE: What lever action 22?
 

Does Winchester still make a lever action 22 since they shut down opperation in Connecticut?

RE: What lever action 22?
 

marlin 39

RE: What lever action 22?
 

i have a marlin 39a, great little gun shoots anything you want to feed it, i have also heard the henry is pretty decent, BTW on the browning, never shot the little lever, they feel great but after having a blr (and the horrible trigger)i shyed away from it, they do feel good though, i now have 3 lever guns an old marlin in what else 30-30, the two newer ones are a 22 and the newest a 1894 in 41mag

RE: What lever action 22?
 

I have a Browning that is a nice gun with acceptable accuracy.
All in all a great little gun

RE: What lever action 22?
 

The Browning would be my choice in a lever .22.

RE: What lever action 22?
 

The Winchester 9422 is no longer made. The 9422 is a nice rifle, I have a 22 LR, and had a 22 Magnum. I have been looking for a good deal on a Marlin 39. I have shot a couple of 39's, and they are nice. I believe they are a little better than the Winchester. The problem is that they are over $400. I believe the Winnie and the Marlin are better rifles than the Browning. I do not like the Browning triggers. And I also prefer to buy American over Japanese, especially when I feel the American firearm is better. There is nothing wrong with the Henry, alot of people like them. I just like the other ones a little better. And if you buy the better Henry's they are not real cheap either. Tom.

RE: Which lever action 22?
 

I like my little Henry just fine.

RE: Which lever action 22?
 

Everything that I have read on them points to the Henry's as being a fine little lever action 22. That is probably what I will get my 4 year old son in a couple of years. They have one of the smoothest actions that I have ever felt.

RE: Which lever action 22?
 

Henry or Marlin.

RE: Which lever action 22?
 

My dad has owned a marlin lever action forever, it was the gun I learned to shoot on 30 some years ago. Still functions great and looks pretty good too.

I used to own a henry .22 and would have no problem suggesting one to someone. Very nice action and probably the most accurate out of the box .22 I have owned. I'm talking like 1 inch groups at 100 yards off from a bench with a high powered scope and the right load.

It is one of the few guns I wish I would not have sold.

I would say if you can afford it, get a marlin, if you are on a budget get the base model henry. Both are nice rifles.

My honest opinion though would be to shy away from the lever guns and get a good bolt action, like a savage with the new accutrigger. With a bolt gun you can pull the bolt and clean it from the back vrs doing it from the front where you could damage the crown and ruin your accuracy.

Lever guns are fun, just sort of a pain to clean. Not the best for bench shooting either;). They make real fine hunting guns though because they will feed anything you put in them.

I have no experience with the browning, but I would imagine they are nice enough gun. Haven't met a browning I didn't like.:D

Paul

RE: Which lever action 22?
 

My Uncle used to have an old Marlin .22, probably the samemodel you described, Paul, and it has been the most accurate .22 I have ever seen.

RE: Which lever action 22?
 

henry golden boy

RE: Which lever action 22?
 

Marlin 39a or the Henry,both are great little levers in 22.
BBJ

RE: Which lever action 22?
 

Along with other .22's, I have a Browning, it stays on the rack for the most part, the trigger pull is terrible, and a gunsmithI trust says there isn't much he can do with the Brownings.My gun,my opinion.
I tend to agree with Paul, I think a bolt action is the way to start off, and they do have a number of advantages.

RE: Which lever action 22?
 

I'd get a marlin. I'd also look for a used one if a new one cost too much. The marlins are forged steel and walnut. They will last many generations. My Dad bought me a 39a for my 13th birthday and now 23 years later and many, many thousands of rounds later it is still going strong. You can also clean the 39 from the breech if you like.

The browning is nice except for the "made in japan" on the barrel. I don't mind my electronics or motorcycles to come from japan, but not a true American icon like the lever action rifle.