Lever action 22

[jjamna]

Hope it okay to post about 22's :lol: I have been looking around for a lever action 22. I should have bought a Marlin or Winchester when they were making them but I didn't. There are several that fall in my price range. Some I know a little about, others I didn't even know the made a Lever 22. Henry and Rossi I know a little about. Chiappa and Heritage Manufacturing I didn't know they made one. Browning don't look bad but at the upper end on price. Any body know anything about any of these? Or maybe one not listed. My hope is that Rugar will make a new 39A

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I have a Henry with heavy octagonal barrel, fitted with a Leupold 1X-5X scope it is an excellent and reliable rifle.

[marvelshooter]

Edit: my friends Rossi is a .357 not a .22. His .22 lever gun is a Henry golden boy. Also very nice.

[Thundarstick]

The Browning (Moroku) BL-22 is the top of the heap now days, but I know several who have Henry rifles and love them.

[dverna]

Wish you had posted a few months ago as I sold a few this year. I only have one .22 lever action left after downsizing.

IMO the Henry is a decent gun at a decent (for today's economy) price. I sold mine because I was not using it but I had no complaints.

The 9422 is a great gun but they are expensive. Only available used.

[BNE]

My first 22 was a Browning lever action 22. Not sure the model, but it is now 42 years old and still works fine. I have shot thousands of rounds through it. Not sure if the new ones are as good, but they probably are. Spend more and cry once. Go cheap and cry twice.
BNE

[Tatume]

I'm very pleased with my Marlin Mountie. Mine is the short barreled, take down model. Used guns are widely available, and there are several on Gun Broker and Guns International right now.

[Outer Rondacker]

I might get flack for this but.... Wal Mart has the Golden Boy Henry with heavy octagonal barrel for around 499-559 all over. I have one and love it. Its almost to nice to just gab and take out to shoot. I honestly can say the most fun anyone can have with a 22 bullet IMHO. I have a Rossi in 357 and love that but its not a 22.

[.45colt]

A few years ago I bought a Henry "youth" model with a shorter stock for the Grandkids. That rifle is just crazy good. The Boys love shooting it and so do I. I'll be getting one in .22 mag soon .

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

I bought a Henry Youth model about a decade ago. My grandson put maybe 500 through it that summer. Works flawlessly. In the safe waiting for the next grandchild wanting to shoot it. BTW, I like to carry it when on a walkabout along creek and fields.

[MrWolf]

Find a Marlin 39a if you can. Marlin's just fit me best. I do have a Henry (actually two) but for some reason I just don't care for them. They are well made, etc but just don't feel right to me and have them for kids/grandkids. Good luck.

[uscra112]

Marlin 39a but they've gotten mighty spendy.

[Bigslug]

If you can stomach the aesthetics (I can't), the Henrys are good shooters. Recommend you find a good 39A, pay the asking price, and not hold your breath waiting for Ruger - it's unlikely to come and less likely to be cheaper.

[Kestrel4k]

94/22's can still be found at semi-affordable prices. A nice one locally is $679 (& no sales tax).
Their values will only go up, unlike the cheaper stuff that is still being produced.

[TNsailorman]

The top of the lever action 22's as far as I am concerned is the older Marlin 39a's. I have one that the action is smooth as butter and the trigger is very light after having been polished and adjusted by an old time gunsmith in the late 60's. It is a 1966 model. my .02 and experience anyway, james

[John Taylor]

I picked up a Marlin 97 in a trade ( about $200 ). It needs a little work, missing one screw and may need a liner. Last year at a gun show I saw two at different tables and both were priced over $3500. These two were not in good enough shape to be considered collectable. Is anyone willing to pay that much for a possible shooter?

[Shawlerbrook]

I have both the plain Jane Henry H001 and a Goldenboy. Although they have gone up a little in price since I bought my H001, they are still the best deal around for a new levergun. Not as nice as a Marlin or Winchester, but they work !

[jjamna]

94/22's can still be found at semi-affordable prices. A nice one locally is $679 (& no sales tax).
Their values will only go up, unlike the cheaper stuff that is still being produced.

All the ones I have seen around here, in the last couple years at gun shows, were over $1200

[Lance Boyle]

At least a $k here. I wouldn’t take less for mine even if I would sell it.

My ranking 9422, 39a, Browning BL22 then Henry. Then all shoot. The Henry is zamack pot metal alloy. The BL22 is alloy in the lower action but a steel upper .

[7br]

I purchased a Henry lever .22 through their hunter ed program. A month later, I threw a lowball bid on a Marlin 39a and got it. While I will keep both, I am happier with the 39a. I have since taken the scope off of the Marlin and put on a Skinner peep. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20231117/5fbb26dfd247478c9445b5a9a630096a.jpg

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

[Outer Rondacker]

I am not saying this is any good but I did post in this thread and just came across this while shopping.

https://www.rkguns.com/rossi-rio-bravo-22-lr-rifle-18-15-1-rl22181wd.html?utm_source=gundeals&utm_medium=cse

[Bazoo]

I've owned a Winchester 9422, Marlin 39as, Henry standard rifle, the large loop carbine, and a Golden Boy.

The Marlin was my favorite, but I didn't care for the rebounding hammer and crossbolt safety. The balance and feel was that of a centerfire rifle, and it was extremely accurate. The gun was a tactile pleasure to shoot though. I want a 39A.

The Henry rifle and carbine were both toyish feeling by comparison. Neither of mine were that accurate, though they were plenty of fun. The carbine's poi would drift pretty good when it got hot. Enough that I'd completely miss a coke can at 25y.

The Golden Boy was very accurate, and it was a good gun overall. The brass plating started flaking off the receiver cover after a while, starting at the screw holes. The comb was very low for me, so I ended up swapping it off for something that fit better.

In my youth, I had Winchester 9422, and it was okay, but the cartridge cuttoff was messed up and it would let 2 in some of the time. I sent it to whomever owned/ran Winchester for repair, and they "fixed" it but it did the same thing when I got it back, so I swapped it back to the gun store from which it came. I swapped that and a Ruger Single Six for a new 1894c right before Marlin went under.

I've never owned a BL22, but I looked at one in the store and the lever was super short throw. I didn't care for it and I never went any further.

[c0wb0y84]

I've never owned a BL22, but I looked at one in the store and the lever was super short throw. I didn't care for it and I never went any further.

The short throw of the BL-22 is one of the best features about it! You're able to maintain your sight picture much easier due to less movement of your hand. About the only thing faster is a semi-auto. That and the top quality fit and finish. Of the currently manufactured 22 levers this is the direction I would suggest after much research and hemming and hawing about it. I'd love to get a marlin but I would be hesitant to get one without putting eyes on it and there just aren't any around me. And between it and a browning, the browning is less costly for the most part.

[TomAM]

Another vote for the Browning. Love that short action!

[jjamna]

This one has my interest. About the same price as the Henry and Heritage. Best I can tell they are made in Italy. Have not found may reviews on them though. Maybe someone has dealings with the brand on here. https://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/920.414/la322-l-a-carbine-pistol-grip-take-down-rifle I like the Henry as well. Held one yesterday felt good to me.

[Mk42gunner]

I have had several lever action .22's, and I would rank them as: 1. Marlin 39a, it feels like a rifle when you hold it. I never had one of the 39m's. 2. Ithaca Model 72 (predecessor of the Henry's), Winchester 9422 (Mine was an XTR) and the Browning BL22. Way in the back of the pack is the newer Henry rifles, I have to admit they were only making the basic model when I bought mine.

Used ones are out there, but it may take some searching to find a decent one at an affordable price. Last month I bought a fairly rough Marlin Model 39a for $250. A bit of cleaning and it works like it should. Still needs quite a bit of cosmetic work, but at least I have another.

Robert

[5090SS]

If you run into an Ithaca Model 72, they are well worth a look. Super smooth action and nice triggers.

[Firesubie]

I bought a Henry Small Game Carbine with the 17 in. octagon barrel and Skinner peep sight. It is my favorite .22 rifle and does not have the cheap feeling like the standard model. With CCI Quiets, it is a barn rat slayer.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I have three Henry's, the 'standard' .22 - Leupold 3-9x33EFR, a Frontier - 24" octagonal barrel Nikon 4-12, and .17 HMR with octagonal barrel and Sightron 2.5-10, also have 2 Marlin 39A's (no safety), a Marlin 56, a Ruger 96 .22 Mag, and a Winchester 9422. The Henry Frontier 24" octagon barrel handles like the Marlin 39A and is just as accurate. My Henry's shoot under an inch at 50 yards with the .17 shooting 2" groups at 150 yards. The Ruger 96 works just OK, my Winchester 9422 needed the extractor worked on and needs to be kept clean to work reliably. The Marlin's are very accurate, but the Henry's are just as accurate. The Henry octagon 17 HMR is my wife's favorite because the trajectory is so much flatter than 22 LR, ammo is pricey compared to .22's. The Henry's with the octagon barrels have a very 'solid' feel compared to the 'standard' H001 and are worth the extra money unless the light weight is needed for younger shooters. Henry is made in AMERICA.

[murf205]

Another vote for the Browning. Love that short action!

Me too Tom and if I wasn't so dumb, I would have bought one for $200 at a gun show a few yrs back. I had it in my hands trying to make up my mind when a guy walked up and asked " are you going to buy it?" I said no and he handed the owner 2 $100 bills ant that was that! It's haunted me ever since--so much that Mamamurf bought a 9422 for my birthday as a consolation. What a girl!

[FergusonTO35]

New gun, Henry or Browning all the way. I love my Henry H001T and equipped it with a Williams FP. I only chose it over the Browning because it has an octagon barrel. I don't know about the Winchester or Marlin, in any event I'm not interested in spending what they would cost when I'm perfectly happy with my Henry.

[BFJ]

Marlin 39a, Browning BL22, Henry Golden Boy. In that order, I owned all three. All good and accurate.

[GasGuzzler]

If you get a Henry, be advised the "blued" receivers are regular metal covered with a painted facade and the Golden Boy has a "brasslite" receiver ... it's merely plated white metal, not brass.

Save your money and buy a new or vintage Winchester or a Marlin 39A. You won't regret it. They are much less like kid's toys. I don't know about the Chiappa and Heritage guns. The quality of Rossis the last 2-3 years has been pretty good but I imagine (don't know for sure), they have pot metal receivers like Henrys.

320313

This 1951 Peanut cost me about 30% more than a new, entry level Henry and I paid cash with no tax a few years ago. It's worth three Henrys in resale. Just be patient.

[FergusonTO35]

I would pass on the Rossi. It's basically a crude Henry knockoff for not much less.

[fecmech]

Love my "pot metal" Henry H001 carbine. Solid 3/4" 10 shot 50yd groups with decent std velocity ammo.

[Firesubie]

Love my "pot metal" Henry H001 carbine. Solid 3/4" 10 shot 50yd groups with decent std velocity ammo.

What rear sight is that?

[AnthonyB]

I have/had a Grade II BL22 that somehow now resides with my son. Got rid of the Marlin 39 because I preferred the Browning. My conservative guess is that BL22 had a bazillion rounds through it when I was a kid. If I could figure out a way to get a 2 pound trigger on that BL22 it would be back in my safe again.
Tony

[gmsharps]

I have a first year production Win 9422 that has worked flawlessly. Maybe i just got a good one.

Gmsharps

[jjamna]

I looked at a Rossi last night . It is out. Also looked at a heritage manufacture. It has a different finish on the receiver, not sure has it is. Kinda brown lookin. Drawback- forearm was loose and more money than the Henry. They also had 2 Brownings. Did not hold them but still mighty tempting.

[FergusonTO35]

I looked at a Rossi last night . It is out. Also looked at a heritage manufacture. It has a different finish on the receiver, not sure has it is. Kinda brown lookin. Drawback- forearm was loose and more money than the Henry. They also had 2 Brownings. Did not hold them but still mighty tempting.

We have the Rossi at my side job shop and I would pass. It is a crude Henry copy for almost the same price. The Rossi probably shoots well enough but why not spend just a bit more and get the real thing? If you just need a good .22 there are many much better options for the same or less money. The standard 10/22 costs the exact same.