Browning Lever .22 Vs. Henry Lever .22

Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray

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So i've been trying to figure out which one to buy. I've been thinking about buying the henry because it's cheaper. The tube mag doesn't bug me. I have an old Sureshot with a tube mag so i'm pretty used to it. I've been trying to decide between the browning and the henry but i want to get peoples opinions first. There is a big difference in price but what i want to know is, is there any big difference in quality? I'd prefer to buy a rifle made in america but if the quality of the henry isn't as good as the browning then maybe i'll lean towards the browning. Anyone who has any insight in this, please let me know what you'd prefer. I don't want to buy the wrong one. Lemme know. Thanks.

Dorian
 
The trigger pull can be a bit stiff on the Brownings and there's not much you can do about it. It's also a more complicated gun to work on.

My preference order is,
9422 followed closely by the 39
It's too bad that the 39 doesn't come in a shorter version from the factory. Some like the long barrel on the 39 for sight radius and ammo capacity but I prefer them around 16"-20"
I bought an older 39 used a while back that had been shortened to 18" and the wood slimmed down a bit and it is nice!
Then the Browning. I haven't shot any Henry's but I've handled a few and the one with the octagon barrel and metal sights felt the best.
 
There are 2 used marlin 39a 's at The Outdoorsman in Medicine Hat the henry has a cast metal reciever wich seems cheap to me the browning is better my opinion but I would choose a marlin 39a golden any day over the others . ps both marlins look to be in very good condition
 
I love my Henry(basic model), It's got a nice trigger and a very smooth action.
My only issue with it was it came with a plastic front sight that doubled as the barrel band. It was far too coarse, and although I thinned it out I was never happy with it, that is until Henry came out with an improved metal front sight with a nice little white dot, they sent me a replacement for free and my groups shrunk in half. It's a pretty accurate little gun, and it's my understanding that all the new Henry basic models come with the new front sight assembly.
That being said the Browning has a very short lever throw and the trigger is carried with the lever, making it very quick. Not that the Henry is by any means slow.
 
the downside to the henry is the front sight is non replaceable on the cheap model H001 because it's moulded directly to the front band. the Frontier model with the octagon barrel is a much better rifle and comes with marbles sights...

i have no experience with the browning or marlins but i hear nothing but good things about them. one word of advice if you are thinking marlin 39 though is to buy an older one. i'd steer clear from the newer ones as i have heard bad things and they're bloody expensive.
 
I'd buy a Norinco before I'd buy the Henry.

If buying new, Browning or Winchester in tie for first place picks. Marlin for a close next, without it giving anything away. My preference is solid all steel and wood.

Used, I have a soft spot for the older Marlins with the Ballard style rifling. The short stroke of either the Winchester or the Browning is pretty slick though.

I don't much care for the die-cast pot metal with a taco shell cover of the Henry. Seemed cheapass built, every time I got a close look at one. The plating on the 'brass' ones looked more at home on a throwaway kids toy.

Buy the one that suits you best though. Getting hands on all of them is worthwhile. Want to save money? Buy used. Buy the one you like, though, not the one that is cheapest. Saves losing money on the one you bought first, so you can buy what you should have had in the first place.

Cheers
Trev
 
I have a Winchester 9422 and 9422m both well over 25 years old and consider their slick actions to be about as good as it gets in a lever 22.I did have a Henry that I puchased on a whim, they are cheap in price but it does reflect in the quality, sold it without any regret or after thoughts and was not very impressed in comparison.The older Brownings are nice and would be my second choice having tried them a few times.If I ever had to replace my lever .22's for any reason, I would still choose the Winnies over any others even though a nice used one would cost substantially more than practically anything new.There are still quite a few of them out there in barely used condition but trying to find someone that will part with theirs is another story.
 
As for the Henry I've got one love it.:D Had it for about 6 yrs. Zero problems. Accurate right out of the box. But in the end it's your dime. So go find 'em and fondle.
 
Thanks for the tips guys. My original post was a little sloppy due to inhebriation but i think it got the point across.

The problem i have is that i don't have anywhere to actually handle any of these rifles before buying one. I live a long way away from any gun shop. Even further from any shop who would actually have any new henry or brownings in stock so that's why i'm asking you guys. Any buying i would do, would have to be by mail only.

I've handled an older browning and i really liked it. It felt really nice but unfortunatly, it's not for sale. Maybe i'll just keep my eye out on the EE for an older winchester, marlin or browning and leave the henrys alone....

Dorian
 
I havee the Henry (H0001) and love it. I can't compare it to the others, but it is great for the price and I highly recomend it as a light weight, compact gun that it endlessly fun to shoot. My only real compaint is the that the all black sights are hard to see against a dark target, but that is easy to fix with a little paint. Also, the black coating on the reciever chips off very easily. That can be touched up and for the low price is acceptable.
 
Will_ said:
I havee the Henry (H0001) and love it. I can't compare it to the others, but it is great for the price and I highly recomend it as a light weight, compact gun that it endlessly fun to shoot. My only real compaint is the that the all black sights are hard to see against a dark target, but that is easy to fix with a little paint. Also, the black coating on the reciever chips off very easily. That can be touched up and for the low price is acceptable.
Click to expand...

Like I said all the new ones come with a much improved white dot metal front sight.
 
Excluding custom jobs, and insane high end brands that are basically like custom made, if price were no object, what would be the best (most reliable, least maintenance, and yes, nicest looking though that's subjective) level action .22? I've been considering buying one for target shooting

I realize that a lever action would not be the first choice for accuracy, but there's just something I love about the lever action rifle.
 
In MHO, 1;win 9422,2;marlin 39, 3;browning, 4;Henry. Leave any Ithaca alone. All that said I like the Henry Golden Boy. If I was looking for a play 22 that might be it. I have many singles, bolt repeaters, & autos. I have never kept any pump or lever I had. I don't like the very short lever throw on the Browning.
 
diananike said:
Like I said all the new ones come with a much improved white dot metal front sight.
Click to expand...

Interesting, just got mine bran new a couple months ago.

Edit: I just re-read your post. The front sight and hood on mine is metal, but the band that holds it on and hold the mag tube to the barrel is plastic. No white bead though.
 
I was under the impression that they all came with the all metal barrel band now(as of last winter), but maybe I'm mistaken, or perhaps yours is old stock.

Anyway they're good little rifles, and I think I only paid about 275$ for mine about 6years ago. The cast reciever is a bit of a drawback as when it chips theres no rebluing it.
I saw one of the new Norinco's at moregunsupply here in winnipeg and it is a beautiful gun really well finished, I might pick one up but I hate pistolgrip stocks on leverguns.
 
I bought a Henry Golden Boy off the EE last spring. It is a fantastic little rifle. Accurate, and a pleasure to shoot. One has to remember that you aren't going to the Olympics with the gun. For everything I ask of it, it works great.
 
I'll throw my name out on the Browning. Wicked little gun. Very accurate with irons. The only issue for me is that I'm 6'-5" and the length of pull is a little short. But it's a .22.....
 
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