Is the Winchester 9422 better than the Browning BL22?

the only downside to the 94-22 is the weight. It is all steel and walnut. The prices for them are high now. I have had several and still have one. I had a BL-22 grade 2 and loved it. It was my gopher gun for quite a few years, probably shot 20 K rounds no breakages or jams. It is much lighter and has an aluminum receiver.
 
The 9422 has gotten (a whole lot) more expensive since they discontinued it.
When I bought my XTR, it seems like they were all priced the same. I chose the 9422 over the BL22 because I didn't like short throw lever of the BL22, when you take them down, there are less little parts to go missing with the Winchester... and the XTR had some nice checkering.

My favourite lever 22lr? It would be a toss up between the 39 Mountie and the 9422.
The 9422 is smoother
The 39 feels more like a centre fire.

Is one worth twice the $ ? Not sure...
 
I've never fired a BL22, but I have owned a 9422. At the time, the dealer had one in perfect condition (which I bought=mistake) and several older, used ones that just seemed a bit tighter..but nicely broken-in. Mine had some lateral wobble in the lever..but was in perfect condition. I scoped mine (another mistake) and while it was 100% reliable with a very nice trigger, it wouldn't even keep pace with my Savage bolt guns accuracy-wise. I think if it was one of the older/used ones...I MIGHT still have it but I sold mine while it was still in like-new/perfect condition.

They are heavy guns, and I was always surprised by how dirty they got...and how far the crud seemed to travel downward. (inside) Function was always perfect, but I hated cleaning it. Stayed mostly as a safe-queen. A well-worn one in 22WMR with lots of rifling~I could see that being a temptation for me. However, tube mags aren't my thing...so I've really had few regrets selling it. Only regret was getting such a perfect specimen to begin with.
 
buckbrush said:
the only downside to the 94-22 is the weight. It is all steel and walnut. The prices for them are high now. I have had several and still have one. I had a BL-22 grade 2 and loved it. It was my gopher gun for quite a few years, probably shot 20 K rounds no breakages or jams. It is much lighter and has an aluminum receiver.
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The BL22 recievers are made of steel it has an internal aluminum frame. I recall that Browning brought out one in .17 Mach 2 anyone own one? Be nice if we would see another quality lever action in .22 Mag apart from Henry.
 
On the BL22 the extractor is subject to falling out. If that happens you can figure $200 plus to fix. I worked on one like that. Knowing what I know now I will never own one.
 
skidderman said:
On the BL22 the extractor is subject to falling out. If that happens you can figure $200 plus to fix. I worked on one like that. Knowing what I know now I will never own one.
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Ya I have a BL22 sitting in my safe with a missing extractor. From what I've found it's a fairly common problem. its a slick little rifle, but as far as levers go I still prefer my Marlin 39. Never tried a 9422 but always wanted one.
 
its funny that i was thinking about this same question a little while back, I just recently got a new BL-22 from AL's it was $650 plus a $50 rebate from browning. $600 for the bl22 is about half the price of a winchester now and only about $150 more than a henry so as far as value I don't think its terrible. I've shot a 94-22 a fair bit in the past and honestly prefer it a tiny bit to the browning. I like the normal 90 degree leaver throw as it feels more like my 92, 94,95 etc. I also prefer the oil and not glossy finish on the winchester it just looks and feels like its a bit better built overall.

As for shooting Ive asked my uncle to lend me his winchester to try them side by side, so ill have to let you know.
 
sgt.rock said:
Is the fact that I often see the 9422 listed used for +/- $400 more than a Browning JUST because they arent made anymore/collectable value? Or its $400 better? Which one?
I have owned 4 flawless looking and operating BL22's, but never one of the Winchesters. Why so much more? I cant imagine they work BETTER than the BL22.
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I have one each in 22lr and 22mag. the 22lr feeds shorts and lr flawlessly and they are both very accurate.
BTW if you find a 94=22 for $400 grab it. I have seen the go for $800 to $1000
 
Rarely mentioned and rarely seen, I have a Mossberg 464 lever. It does not feel like a toy or a centre-fire but somewhere in between. It is plenty reliable, never skipped a beat. Always fed correctly, fired, and ejected correctly. Shoots straight and is a heck of a lot of fun. At a third of the price of a 9422, I don't mind if it gets knocked around unintentionally by new shooters or whatever. Having said that, like Lookie, I would like a 9422, just have not seen one at a price I am willing to pay. Although the action of the Henry feels superior, I don't care for the look.
 
Note to self: I ought to get a new front sight hood and butplate spacer for the Marlin...

IMG_1258_zpsb6f013ad.jpg~original
 
Never handled a 9422 (as much as I'd love to own one) but do have a bl22. The only thing I don't like about it reassembly like was stated in an earlier response. They are extremely miserable. Other than that it is a fairly accurate and really reliable fun little rifle to shoot.
 
The 9422 production stopped in 2006 when the winchester factory went belly up.
FN bought the factory and closed it and eventually outsourced the 94s to miroku of japan.
Winchester had been slowly bleeding out since 1964.
Can't blame consumers.
The first runs of post 64 model 70s were crap.
The customer base felt betrayed when the new alloy 94s came out even though functionally there were as good as the pre's.
The most accurate 94 I ever shot was a 73 in 32 wsp which would cluster the factory rem-peters 170 grain ammo into a 3-shot keyhole at 50 yds with the factory iron sights.
 
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