Which Lever Rimfire

[Dixie Dude]

I want to buy a lever action rimfire.  I would like to be able to shoot shorts, longs, and long rifles out if it.  I am considering a Marlin 39, Browning, and a Henry.  I have also seen an old winchester.  The Henry is the least expensive.  Which is the most accurate?  Easiest to clean?  Most durable and reliable?  I would like to use peep sights mostly, but might want to install a scope.  So which also is the easiest to scope? 

[Rangr44]

[I am considering a Marlin 39, Browning, and a Henry. ]

[Which is the most accurate?] - The Marlin, followed by the Henry.

[Easiest to clean?] - The Marlin.  The action splits apart for EZ access, while the other two are about equal in cleaning access.

[Most durable and reliable?] -  Either the Marlin or the Henry.

[which also is the easiest to scope?]  - Either the Browning or the Henry, as both are factory grooved for scope mounts.

In addition, I found the Henry the easiest to peep to my satisfaction, although a Marlin can be a "no gunsmithing" screwdriver job.

[Dixie Dude]

Does the Marlin have scope mounting taps on top, or side taps for a peep?  Sounds like it is the winner. 

[Lurker]

Does the Marlin have scope mounting taps on top, or side taps for a peep?  Sounds like it is the winner. 

The Marlin 39A is drilled and tapped for scope mounts...

Bill

[Lurker]

I want to buy a lever action rimfire.  I would like to be able to shoot shorts, longs, and long rifles out if it.  I am considering a Marlin 39, Browning, and a Henry.  I have also seen an old winchester.  The Henry is the least expensive.  Which is the most accurate?  Easiest to clean?  Most durable and reliable?  I would like to use peep sights mostly, but might want to install a scope.  So which also is the easiest to scope? 

I like good 22's... With that being said, nobody can run fast enough, to even GIVE me a Henry 22 rifle.

Look at the receiver on the blue henry's... Their painted, and a miserable job of it...!

I know the Ruger 10/22 receiver is painted. However, Ruger does a much better job...!

Bill

[goldhound56]

I've had  a Henry and I have  Winchester 9422 , for my part if you can find a Winchester thats the way to go !!!

[mattmillerrx]

I was really in the market for a marlin 39a.  I think it is the .22 lever gun.  Before I found one Dad gave me his old bl-22 (browning).  I had not seen this thing in many years.  He said I can not see the sights anymore on it.  I told him I would get a scope for him but he insisted I take it.  After I got to looking it over, I remembered this was the first gun I had ever fired well besides my bb gun.  I took it to the range the next day to give it a try.  The trigger was horrible gritty so I only shot it a few times thinking I would clean it up.  This thing really can not be broken down at all.  I ran a can of break free cleaner through it and it took care of it.  I talk to dad about how he had cleaned it in the past and he said he had never.  I would say it is reliably and durable based on what I have seen.  It is not that bad on accuracy, but I suspect the 39A will top it from what I have heard.  The trigger is very heavy and I think this is what is killing the accuracy but I have gotten decent with it now and can hit with it to 150 yrds with the bsa sweet 22 scope which makes it a very fun plinking gun.  It will shoot one inch groups at 50 yrds off a bench using bulk ammo with the occasional fliers form the bulk stuff or maybe it is me but I will blame the ammo.  I tried several brands of better ammo in it mostly what I had on hand that my buckmark likes although it will shoot anything well there are a couple it prefers.  The bl-22 actually had the tightest groups with the cheap bulk back which was fine by me.  I do not know what this gun even cost new but if it is a great deal cheaper than the marlin I would get it but if it is close I would go with the marlin.   

[Dixie Dude]

The Browning is about $100 less than the Marlin, and the Henry blue is about $200 less than Marlin.  Marlin is all steel.  Browning I think has an aluminum receiver that is blued.  Henry looks to be aluminum also, unless you buy their brass receivered rifle.  I know Winchester made the 9422, but haven't seen one of those in a while. 

[Keith L]

The reciever on the Henry is not brass either.  I think they called it Brasslite or something along that line.

I would spend the extra on the Marlin, but I am a Marlin lever fan anyway.  I have a Winchester 9422M that I do like a lot also, but they are no longer made and getting harder to find.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

The Henry is a pot metal POS---and not even in the same league as the other two.

Had a Browning--sold it to fund something else.

Have a Marlin 39 now---its simply the best lever action .22 rifle out there.

Thinking about another Browning to go with the Marlin---kinda miss the light weight and quickness of the Browning.

[Lurker]

The Henry is a pot metal POS---and not even in the same league as the other two.

I agree with you...

Had a Browning--sold it to fund something else.

I gave my Browning BL22 to my son. He loves it.

Have a Marlin 39 now---its simply the best lever action .22 rifle out there.

For some reason, or another, I have acquired eight Marlin 39's in the last twenty or so years. I think they're great rifles for almost anything you use a 22 for.

So, you can kind of see where my lever gun likes are centered...!

Thinking about another Browning to go with the Marlin---kinda miss the light weight and quickness of the Browning.

I just bought two NIB winchester 9422's. One in 22LR and one in 22 WRFM.

Bill

[whiskey101]

Well you can bash the Henry all you want, but it is not a POS. It is much like the 10/22 as far as the receiver goes. Yes it is painted, so is the Ruger 10/22.

The Marlin is a nice gun, my dad and my best friend have them. My Henry outshoots both of them.

I guess it just depends on what you are looking for. If you want an expensive all steel gun then the Marlin is a nice gun. If you want a 200.00 plinker that will shoot with most bolt actions then the Herny fits the bill.

Don;t believe all the negative crap you read about the Henry. If has plastic sights on the cheapest model, but they can be replaced for less than 20.00.

They have a painted receiver, so? How popular is the 10/22 with it's painted receiver? Is it called pot metal junk?

There are no other plastic or pot metal parts. The "pot metal" receiver is just the receiver cover. If you take it off you will see nothing but good old american made steel! If the cover has to be painted, atleast it is replaceable. I have had mine for a couple years and ton of rounds through it with zero problems.

Check out the reviews at the Henry forum on rimfirecentral.com, you will see nothing but happy owners. Happy owners that own the Marlin and the Henry.

Buy what you like, but don't be run off of the Henry by INTERNET BS!

[LaOtto222]

There is the Marlin 39A and then the rest that try to measure up. The Marlin 39A is the gold standard, that all others are compared to.

[hillbill]

the marlin is the one all others aspire too, like otto said. all steel, all there ,all the time.the brownings are good as well but i have no experience with cleaning them. they are hard to beat as far as heft and feel go, not to metion the short lever stroke.henrys are good as far as what yu pay for them. but they are indeed pot metal receiver guns. history shows that alloy reciever guns do not hold value or function as well as steel receiver guns.winchesters i have little experience with but defintiely are not as heavy built as the marlin in the receiver area and the ones ive seen didnt seem to have the finish of the marlins.when i buy a gun i look at what it will be werth when i sell it, if i sell it or my heirs do.it must be accurate and reliable. ive never been dissapointed with a marlin in that respect.however ive owned all of the above except the winchester and havent been dissapointed with any of them. actually one of the best levers short of a marlin ive ever owned was a ithaca lever which is the same exact thing as the new henrys.yu mite look for one of those.or look for a older marlin lever, roun here yu can git one for less than 400 if yu keep yur eyes open.or even less than that if yur lucky.from what i see, only choice yu have is to save up and buy one of each. keep them all and yull never regret it.

[p15camborne]

My best .22 lever is a Winchester 9422.  Great shooting .22.   It's my best shooting .22.  Outshot my Savage accu-trigger bolt action.  A shame it's no longer made.  Used ones are high priced. 

I also have a 1970's Ithaca lever action .22.  Shoots great.  I understand the Ithaca is an early version of the Henry.   So an early model hasn't worn out yet. 

[Keith L]

This is an interesting and frequent discussion.  Henry has a following of loyal users as shown in this thread.  I am sure that they are able to last quite a while, and the price is right.  Whin I put one next to either the Marlin or my 9422 the Henry is not even a close second.  I don't think that makes the Henry bad as much as pointing out how good the other two are.

One of the many great things about Living in America is that we all have choices.  Whatever you choose please enjoy it.

[A177]

Have lusted over the Marlin, but never had the money to purchase.
Have a Henry and am content.
I look at it this way, a Henry in your rack is better than the Marlin you lust after in the store. . .

[whiskey101]

I was looking at a Marlin 39A in the gun rack the other day. 500.00 plus tax is a lot of money. Maybe one day I will have a grandson and can justify spending the money. Till then the Henry will do for me.

[hillbill]

boys keep yur eyes open and stop when yu pass a little pawn shop/ beer store.thats where i got mine.the marlin is the best feeling best shootin rimfire ive ever had.but then i grew up with one so i may be a bit biased.i traded the first one i had in on my forst harley, didnt regret it but took me 2 coons age to find another one werth the money.

[CajunBass]

Another who thinks the Marlin 39a is the best lever action rifle made.  Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Henry if funds were limited. 

I for one reason or another very seldom shoot my 39a.  No idea why really. 

[StrawHat]

Historically the Marlin is the most accurate lever action 22 rimfire.

I have owned and sold several of them.  Good rifles.

Another good 22 lever gun is the 12873 Winchester but that was only in 22 short and it is heavy.  Unfortunately, it is no longer made in that chambering.

I cannot comment on the Henry as I do not own one.

[Swampman]

Marlin 39

[Drilling Man]

  I lusted for a 39A for a time too...untill i looked at a few of them.  All that wood on such a small action sure makes it look porky and cheapo...  I like my 22's to be lighter and a little smaller than a full size centerfires, and the Marlins and Winchesters are on the heavy side too.  I'd have to do a lot of chopping on the Marlins i looked at, to get the wood in proportion to the metal.

  After seeing how well my brothers Browning BLR shoots and has held up, that's what i'd buy, but i wouldn't be afraid of a Henry either.

  DM

[firstshot]

+1 for the Marlin 39A.  All steel, made to last several life times...make it a family hand me down.

firstshot
-----------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

[Ladobe]

I've had a couple of Winchesters and one Browning.   Liked them fine and never had any interest in anything else.   But my interests changed and the lever rimfires all went by the wayside.    But if I was ever going to get another one, it would be a Winchester Traditional, preferably the early model without stock checkering.

[shootercochran]

Henry Golden boy is the way to go. You won't be disappointed.

[clum sum]

39A.

[mudstud]

IMHO, the only .22 levers worth owning are the Winchester 9422's and the Marlin 39's (prefer the 39M myself, and only pre-cross bolt safety models).  Never had a BLR, so perhaps there is another.   

[mag shooter]

Presently have my 2nd 39 , sold the 1st  years ago ( funding problem ). I also have a Henry magnum that I normaly squirrel hunt with ( mag has more punch when I encounter hogs and coyotes ) except for NWR's where I am limited to l.r.

The 39 is :
accurate
heavy
reliable

The Henry is:
accurate
lighter
reliable
smoother


as to how long the Henry will last ............. I don't know but in 4 years of hard hunting it hasn't missed a beat !

as to how long the 39 will last............. again , I don't know but I'm sure it will be around for a long time !

Browning....................... no experience

Winchester .......... shot a couple but never owned one


Which ever you decide on , enjoy it and  " good huntin to ya " !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jack Gilbert]

I had a 9422 right after they came out. It was a nice rifle but seemed to spit lead and also the trigger wasn't too great.

In 1978 I bought a new, but slightly shopworn model 39-A for my wife. I put a Williams receiver sight on it. I also had a trigger job done on it.

The magazine cut-off had to be replaced at one time. Otherwise, a finer shooter you won't find. I'd go for the Marlin. It's all steel and gorgeous.