Lever Action 22 LR - Which of these 3 would you recommend?

sleepyhound

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UPDATE: I've officially purchased the Henry. Reasons for deciding on the Henry were:

- Reported warranty services are unbeatable, even when just having parts shipped to you. I'm planning to have this rifle for a very long time, so the lifetime warranty is highly valuable.
- Ability to shoot all 22s/l/lr. I'd failed to mention that in my original post, but certainly notable.
- Even though it doesn't have the takedown functionality of the other two, I also already have a Henry AR-7 so that's my takedown rifle for the time being when needed.
- Found a decent sale for it from North Pro Sports, hard to beat the price!

General consensus I could take from this thread is - just can't go wrong with the Henry. I think the Henry will treat me and the kiddos well for years to come. Appreciate the input all. Cheers!

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Hi all. I'm in the market for a lever action 22lr rifle and I've narrowed down my choice to one of three options, all very similar but different in their own ways:

Henry H1
Savage Revel
Winchester Ranger

My reason for looking and criteria are:

- Levers are fun as all heck and I get to look like an old west Sam Elliott-esque cowboy pew pew.
- Kids have a couple Red Ryder BBs and I'd love to have something that looks like theirs for fun plinking in the backyard with them, plus it would work as one they could grow in to eventually and be kind of fun stepping up from a BB gun to a "real" rifle just like their old one.
- Budget. All 3 fall within the $600 cap, with the Revel right at the top when on sale. Ideally the lower the better, so far the cheapest I've seen for a new one of these three is the Winchester Ranger at $539. That said, I have no issue with used either and am keeping my eye on these three in particular on the used markets.
- I would use it for legitimate hunting as well, small game such as squirrel and rabbit. Nothing ever beyond 50 yards, but I want it to be at most 1.5-2 MOA accurate at said 50 yards.
- Scope mountable. The H1 and Ranger have dovetail rails, while the Revel is tapped for optics base(s), however this adds additional cost as well for bases / single rail when considering the overall cost. I don't mind dovetail rails, but if possible would definitely prefer Weaver / Picatinny. I already have a 2 - 7 rimfire scope I intend on using for hunting purposes.

Probably forgetting some, but that's the gist of it. So far pros and cons I've found for each are:

Henry H1

Pros:
- I have heard the Henry warranty and related service is unbeatable. Now that may be different in Canada vs USA, and I've yet to require warranty services with Henry so I can't say from personal experience if this is the case, but it's what I've read.
- Reportedly accurate between .075 - 1.5 MOA at 50 yards.
- Famous out-of-the-box buttery smooth action.

Cons:
- Honestly, none I can think of off the top of my head. I've heard anecdotal reports of a slightly heavier trigger and more closer to 2 MOA accuracy at 50 yards, but I've heard just as much the opposite so may only be able to tell by handling it. Outside of that, it's the H1, how bad could it be?

Savage Revel (classic, just personally uninterested in the DLX version)

Pros:
- The new kid on the block, comfortable features (for me) such as a longer length of pull and large loop.
- Tapped for choosable optics bases, but as noted this could also be a con due to the additional cost.
- Reportedly 1 MOA at most accuracy at 50 yards.
- Warranty. I have personally dealt with Savage warranty services in Canada and have had great experiences twice. This isn't to say I'm dogging on Savage because I've had to use their warranty twice, I just have a lot of other Savage firearms and when warranty has been required it's been relatively painless.
- Made in Canada. This is a big enough point for me to include it in my legitimate consideration of which firearm to choose, especially in this political climate. I like supporting Canadian as much as I can, especially the firearms industry with as much turmoil as its currently in. The more money I can add to it to keep it going the better IMO.

Cons:
- Cost. Top of the budget and even more so with optics base if I can't find a used one to come with it.
- Limited to 12 round tube capacity vs. 15 rounds for the other two. Not a deal breaker, just more unfortunate. But for hunting purposes if I'm taking more than 12 shots in a row I have many other problems lol.

Winchester Ranger

Pros:
- Also a newer model with the recent revival of the classic Winchester lever style in this 22lr. I consider a firearm being "newer" as a pro as it would hopefully more likely have longer warranty / parts support.
- By far the least expensive, but that is in no doubt due to the first con I'll post shortly.
- Looks the most like the Red Ryder BBs which is more just for novelty, but fun for the kiddos. Henry is pretty darn close as well too though.

Cons:
- Made in Turkey. Now, this isn't necessarily a con right out of the gate, I have had and still have several Turkish firearms I'm fans of, including Winchesters (SXP), and Stoeger has been impressing me lately with their Turkish manufacturing as well. But, as is the case with most Turkish firearms, you get what you get, luck of the draw.
- I've heard it has the heaviest trigger pull. Not a big deal for me overall especially when just using for hunting, but when plinking it may be annoying. Hard to say without firing one personally.
- No experience with Winchester warranty services.

Honourable Mention

Browning BL-22: My heart's desire, but alas my wallet's demise.
Chiappa LA322: I've had hit and miss reliability with Chiappa, and the style is just a bit too different for my taste.

These probably aren't all of my thoughts / notes on these 3 but certainly long enough of a read for a forum post. Now I'm interested in what all the other CGN fine folks' thoughts are! Welcome to any and all input and anecdotal evidence of what you prefer. Cheers!
 
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well here i go all three are a waste of money
poor quality
the new world reset people would not pay for quality firearms now most everything sold on the market is at a price price point
all are junk !!!!
i have been in the firearms industry since 1977
i have sold firearms and repaired them since that time
i bought a browning bl 22 in 1974 grade 11 i still have it 179$ i could sell it today for 800$ all day long a new one is 1000-1200$
just saying
by a bl 22 or a used 94/22 or a marlin 39 pay the price have a trouble free gun for a life time and its value will increase
not one of those will increase i value
 
well here i go all three are a waste of money
poor quality
the new world reset people would not pay for quality firearms now most everything sold on the market is at a price price point
all are junk !!!!
i have been in the firearms industry since 1977
i have sold firearms and repaired them since that time
i bought a browning bl 22 in 1974 grade 11 i still have it 179$ i could sell it today for 800$ all day long a new one is 1000-1200$
just saying
by a bl 22 or a used 94/22 or a marlin 39 pay the price have a trouble free gun for a life time and its value will increase
not one of those will increase i value
Thank you for the reply. In fairness, I'm not intending to buy a firearm for it to increase in value and sell it down the road. Ideally I'll have this for so many years I can pass it on to my kids as mentioned, and I intend to use it regularly, not store it as an investment. Still, I can appreciate your thoughts. Certainly nothing is made to the quality it once was, and inflation affects / is actively affecting everything, clearly even more so firearms. However, BL-22s priced as they are now are currently out of my budget, and to abide by your logic I'd first have to buy a time machine, which is a bit out of my budget as well (for now)!
 
These are budget entry level lever guns. And that's OK! Out of those 3, I really like the Henry H001 for the price especially. Accurate, smooth, and very reliable in my experience. Large mag tube. If you're hunting squirrels or gophers you'll be happy to have the capacity.

In my opinion the Henry is higher quality than the Winchester Ranger and Savage Revel.

The con in my opinion is the factory sights aren't the best. This is true of most factory .22 lever gun sights. We sell the HIVIS fiber optic replacements to fix that on the Henry. Comes with various color inserts to get it the way you like it.

https://partsonly.ca/product/hivis-fiber-optic-sights-for-henry-22-lr-rifle/
 
These are budget entry level lever guns. And that's OK! Out of those 3, I really like the Henry H001 for the price especially. Accurate, smooth, and very reliable in my experience. Large mag tube. If you're hunting squirrels or gophers you'll be happy to have the capacity.

In my opinion the Henry is higher quality than the Winchester Ranger and Savage Revel.

The con in my opinion is the factory sights aren't the best. This is true of most factory .22 lever gun sights. We sell the HIVIS fiber optic replacements to fix that on the Henry. Comes with various color inserts to get it the way you like it.

https://partsonly.ca/product/hivis-fiber-optic-sights-for-henry-22-lr-rifle/
Thank you, appreciate the reply. I do think that I'm leaning most towards the Henry based on user reviews, and the sights wouldn't be a major problem as I would be adding a scope at any rate, but always nice to know where to find replacements if / when needed. But of course the Henry will have the most reviews as it's been around the longest as well, with the Revel and Ranger being relatively new competitors. Still interested in others' reviews on those too!
 
I thing Struff55 is on the right track. The ones he mentioned are quality and will out last the 3 you mention. They will handle many more rounds without failure. Quality is why they hold or increase their value over the years.
You’re going to pay more but get a better gun. What you’re looking at are entry level guns. If one of those is what you can afford, I understand, I’ve been there. Of the 3 if I had to choose it would be the Henry.
 
well here i go all three are a waste of money
poor quality
the new world reset people would not pay for quality firearms now most everything sold on the market is at a price price point
all are junk !!!!
i have been in the firearms industry since 1977
i have sold firearms and repaired them since that time
i bought a browning bl 22 in 1974 grade 11 i still have it 179$ i could sell it today for 800$ all day long a new one is 1000-1200$
just saying
by a bl 22 or a used 94/22 or a marlin 39 pay the price have a trouble free gun for a life time and its value will increase
not one of those will increase i value
Double 10-4 on that fer sure. I've owned the 9422, Bl 22 & the Marlin 39a & they all shot "minute of squirrel bean" out to 80 yds on
non-windy days. The Win & Marlins wore scopes, Bl 22 Micro I fitted with Williams irons. Dang, I miss that one now. Uuugh.

BROWNING BL 22 Micro.JPG
 
The only lever action that I saw a bolt cracked into two pieces was a Marlin 39, the rifle wasn't abused.

I own a cheap entry level Henry 22lr with the long barrel (don't remember what they call them),
but this entry level rifle is the smoothest cycling 22lr lever action I ever handled.

I owned Browning BL 22s, but I could never get used to that short stroke
 
well here i go all three are a waste of money
poor quality
the new world reset people would not pay for quality firearms now most everything sold on the market is at a price price point
all are junk !!!!
i have been in the firearms industry since 1977
i have sold firearms and repaired them since that time
i bought a browning bl 22 in 1974 grade 11 i still have it 179$ i could sell it today for 800$ all day long a new one is 1000-1200$
just saying
by a bl 22 or a used 94/22 or a marlin 39 pay the price have a trouble free gun for a life time and its value will increase
not one of those will increase i value
In your experience, how would you compare the quality of a bl22 built today compared to the ones made in the 70's, 80's or 90's? Are they still a good buy new today or would you recommend an older one?

Thanks.
 
II would save a few more sheckles and get the Browning. Epps just sold a used one in excellent condition for 799$ . You won’t regret it.
 
well here i go all three are a waste of money
poor quality
the new world reset people would not pay for quality firearms now most everything sold on the market is at a price price point
all are junk !!!!
i have been in the firearms industry since 1977
i have sold firearms and repaired them since that time
i bought a browning bl 22 in 1974 grade 11 i still have it 179$ i could sell it today for 800$ all day long a new one is 1000-1200$
just saying
by a bl 22 or a used 94/22 or a marlin 39 pay the price have a trouble free gun for a life time and its value will increase
not one of those will increase i value

Your $179 in 1974 is equivalent to $1,159.04 of today's money.
 
Budget. All 3 fall within the $600 cap, with the Revel right at the top when on sale. Ideally the lower the better, so far the cheapest I've seen for a new one of these three is the Winchester Ranger at $539. That said, I have no issue with used either and am keeping my eye on these three in particular on the used markets.
Go with the Henry, it checks your boxes for now
None of your top 3 are unusable and may be the best way to get that all-valuable 'experience' in the bank
its a long road ahead, take a step
 
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Bought my daughter a Henry , sat on the couch for a week straight racking the action couple hundred times a night . It’s butter smooth now and has a gear driven feel . It’s a keeper and I almost regret giving it !
 
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