22 lever gun suggestions---

petie · Post by **petie** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:12 pm

I would like to buy a quality 22lr lever. So, Browning, Marlin and Henry come to mind. The Marlin 39a now has a 24" barrel which seems just too long. Thought they used to make a 20" which I think would be perfect but don't know how long ago they dropped them. I like the Marlin's beefier size stock feel. Not at all familiar with Henry's - Golden Boy? So, what would you recommend - price not really a consideration, more interested in quality and feel. Thanks.

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:17 pm

Find any 39a on the auction sites, new or used.

Then the 9422.

Then the Henry.

I've got all three so that's my order of preference.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:20 pm

39a ! nice rifle!!

Palmtreee · Post by **Palmtreee** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:37 pm

Marlin 39 TDS is a great rifle.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:39 pm

Try for an older Marlin 39a without the safety and the rebounding hammer. You'll be very happy!!

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:49 pm

Hmmm.... I didn't know there were any other than the 9422. Any good one that is....

JB · Post by JB » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:55 pm

The Browning BL22 is one of my favorites. It has a very short lever throw that's just soooo nice.

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:08 pm

Henry and Browning both have aluminium receivers, and Henry has some plastic bits too.
Winchester 9422 are a nice rifle, I had one 15 years ago and loved it, and poured tens of thousands of rounds thru it, but its getting hard to get parts for them now, at least in Oz, don't know about USA.
I currently own a new Marlin 39A with 24" barrel, its a hefty rifle for a .22 but it handles and balances well. Only problem I've found is that there seem to be a number of them coming out of the factory with dodgy extractors, I had to have the extractor replaced to fix the problem.
The shorter barrel Marlin you are refering to is the mountie, which also had a straight stock instead of a pistol grip. If theres too much steel sticking out the front for your liking you could always get a smith to lop off 4" and put a target crown on it at the same time, because from the factory the crown is a straight cut from a lop off saw.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:21 pm

+1 on 39TDS. LOVE IT!

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:32 pm

Not a 'traditional' gun, but I like the little Ruger carbine ('96/22'?) that uses the 10-round rotary magazines. Short lever throw, compact, and never jams. Just good old fun to shoot. Looking to put peeps on it, but right now have a red-dot that is good for showing novices how to shoot.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:33 pm

Hard to beat the Marlin, especially if you can find a Mountie.

Swampman · Post by **Swampman** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:51 pm

I have the Marlin 39A with a 24" barrel and I like it. I sold my BL-22 Browning.

Slick · Post by **Slick** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:51 pm

I have an Ithaca (early "Henry" style lever .22) and an early Marlin 39a.

The Ithaca (Henry) has a super-smooth action and is light-weight and quick handling. The Marlin is as heavy as a full-size center-fire levergun and can be taken down for storage or transport. Both rifles are very accurate, but the Marlin a bit more so.

While both are lever-action .22's - they are such completely different rifles that I would never sell either. I would say any collection is not complete without one of each - but you'll need to access your needs to decide on which one to get first.

Now I just need to find a Winny 9422 to complete my collection.

Hagler · Post by **Hagler** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:34 pm

petie,

You really gotta handle ALL of them. I love my Henry H001L. ...still, I arrived at my decision to buy it, partly, because of how it felt in my hands. Smooth and easy is how it was then, and it is moreso, today.

DO NOT think that the Henry Golden Boy & the H001-series will feel the same in your hands. The actions are the same, but the tang & drop of stock for the Golden Boy are much steeper than those of the other-mentioned Henry. Handle both of them.

I think that the Browning BL-22 has a forged STEEL receiver; the Marlin, too. The Henry, indeed, has an aluminum aloy receiver, and it comes apart like this:

...old test reports for Ithaca version:

...a gunsmithing review of the Ithaca:

Remember, you gotta handle ALL of the rifles that you want to buy. Good luck.

Shawn

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:46 pm

Welcome to the fire!

Find an older Marlin - you won't regret it!!!

jbm1968 · Post by **jbm1968** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:59 pm

I have a bit of experience with the Marlin and the Winchester. Both are Great, I got my daughter a 9422 because it is a little lighter, shorter and trimmer (she is 6). I was just wiping that little carbine down before logging on tonight and am convinced I made a good choice. It works for me at 6'2" and for her at slightly over half of that.

Warhawk · Post by **Warhawk** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:14 am

There isn't a thing wrong with the Henry's.

I have an old Iver Johnson (made by Erma in W. Germany) that is the original design for the Henry. They are so much the same that the set of stocks I found from a Henry fit perfectly on my IJ, no fitting at all.

I like this old lever action .22 so well that I bought a Henry youth model for my grandson. He's only 4, but will be ready to start shooting soon enough.

And just recently I ran across one of those deals you can't pass up, on a Henry Golden Boy .22. That is one gorgeous rifle!

I also have a Marlin 39A, which wears a scope. Without the scope I don't think it's a bit more accurate than the old Iver Johnson.

WAR · Post by **WAR** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:32 am

We have several Henry 22â€˜s in our family. They were my boyâ€™s next step after the Daisy. The actions are smooth as butter, their plenty accurate and just fun to shoot. We have shot thousands of rounds through them with never a problem, and I hadnâ€™t seen a can survive them yet.

Swampman · Post by **Swampman** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:13 am

I just wish the receiver finish on the Henry didn't start coming off so fast. Also the plastic sights and such leave a lot to be desired. If I had a Henry, I'd scope it. They are nice light little rifles and for a kid they might be a good choice.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:36 am

I have both a Browning BL22 and a Winchester 9422, like them both really although the BL22 may just get the edge because of the short throw.
However I am on the lookout for a Marlin to join them.
As Hagler says you have to handle them all before you make up your mind.

Love that avatar gundownunder

reddnek · Post by **reddnek** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:01 pm

Find an older marlin ,its worth the effort

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:07 pm

I'd go with the Winchester 9422 - keep you eyes on the used markets - should be able to find on.

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:56 pm

I really like my Henry large loop carbine. Yes, some plastic but doesn't matter to me as it has no effect on how it shoots. I think it also costs about half of the others if that, brand new and is smooth as silk right out of the box. Great little gun.

Rebel1972 · Post by **Rebel1972** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:02 pm

I wonder if Henry will sell the octagon barrel by itself?It looks to be fairly easy to change out