favorite lever action 22

GarnetandBlack

GarnetandBlack

Joined
Dec 1, 2012
Messages
1,781
Hey,

I'm looking at picking up a new lever action 22lr and just wanted some opinions on some you like/dislike/suggest,etc.

People seem to like the Marlin goldenboys, seen people talk about the henrys. Just wanted some opinions.

Thanks
 
Very hard to beat a Marlin 39.....I prefer the older ones w/o the cross
bolt safety.
With good ammo, and a scope or peep sight, they'll usually shoot dime size
10 rd groups...or smaller, at 25 yds......and they're all steel.
 
Marlon makes great rifles but my main experience is with the Henry. The Henry is excellent and a classic choice. I have experience with the Henry Youth which is quite small, The full size Henry .22 and the Golden Boy version. All are very good, reliable and accurate. Good action on them to. Fun guns to have.
 
I have a Marlin 39, Browning BL22, and Winchester 9422.
Winchester and Marlin both come apart easily for cleaning and are plenty accurate.
The Browning is not so easy to get back together and the sights are similar to the 10/22.
All of them are accurate enough for squirrel or rabbits and plinking is fun with any of them.

I would vote Winchester if you can find one that doesn't cost a fortune, older Marlin if you can't.
I have no experience with the Henry but I keep reading good things about them.
 
The Marlin 39A is a sound investment. Even after the rebounding hammer cross-bolt safety made an appearance, they are still some of the best .22 rifles you can buy and certainly the best lever action. I have two; one is a 1957 model that I keep behind the backdoor and loaded with CB Longs for neighborhood pests (quieter than a pellet gun but a lot more powerful) and a newer version with the rebounding hammer cross-bolt safety that has been outfitted with a Lyman tang peep sight for use on tree rats. With good ammo, that one is scary accurate for a .22.
 
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Marlin 39A or Winchester 9422 . The Marlins are great .22's accurate and rugged . 9422's are built much like the older Winchester rifles and continue to go up in value at a fairly rapid rate . The Henry rifles that I have had experience with are not on the same level as far as quality or accuracy .
 
Vintage Marlin 39. This one is from 1979.

Marlin%252039A%2520%2526%2520336.JPG
 
I've owned a BL22 for 38 years and lost count of how many thousands of rounds it has had through it. It's a great, compact, reliable and accurate little gun.
 
I'll take the Marlin .22 lever gun over any other. Mine is a older Golden Mountie. Minute of squirrel accurate out to 50+ yards, and a joy to own and shoot.
My old eyes need a scope, and I use a Leupold rimfire 2-7X
 
I bought a Winchester after trying the others. It has smooth as butter action. too bad they stopped making them.
 
I own two Henry's, a marlin 39AS ( With the cross bolt safety) and a beautiful Browning BL-22 Grade II in maple. Overall best "bang-for-your-buck" are the Henry's. Smoothest action by far over the other two, good accuracy, easy to carry and just fun to shoot. U.S made at very reasonable price and Henry's customer service is the best in the industry, bar none. The Marlin 39 is the most accurate for sure (it seems all my Marlin rimfires are the most accurate), but its a little heavier and doesn't come up to my shoulder as smooth as the Henry's. Its an older version and I paid almost $200 more than my new Henry carbine. Finally, the Browning is the best in fit and finish, but hate the trigger and its not that accurate at 25 yards. It was also $700+.

I shoot the Henry carbine the most. Great woods gun since its light and easy to carry and shoulder, fun plinker too!
 
You mentioned buying new. You'll notice most of the pro Marlin posts are older rifles. Mine are a 2003 rifle and 1969 Mountie and they are great. I've handled some of the brand new ones at the local gun stores and the fit/finish wasn't worth the asking price. If you can't find an older one and must buy new, check out the Henry models. The Frontier is closest in weight to the Marlins.
 
SAKsRCool said:
You mentioned buying new. You'll notice most of the pro Marlin posts are older rifles. Mine are a 2003 rifle and 1969 Mountie and they are great. I've handled some of the brand new ones at the local gun stores and the fit/finish wasn't worth the asking price. If you can't find an older one and must buy new, check out the Henry models. The Frontier is closest in weight to the Marlins.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's a good tip. Actually i ended up going into the store and handling a few of them myself.
 
I only have one .22. It's a lever action henry. I love it! My grandpa has three and he bought one for me and three of my cousins. Its the best .22 I have ever shot.
 
I've noticed a lack of .22lr just about everywhere. Snagged a box or two, but it's not easily found on shelves. Any others noticed this?
 
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