Looking for a .22 lever action

I too like the Marlin. Remember, you will keep this rifle for a long time & probly shoot it more than any other gun. Does it make sence to go cheep here? Not to me, a grand for a hunting gun no prob. but some only get used a few rounds a year. A few thou. in the 22 is not uncommon. Look for the fit & buy what you like, the money is well spent. My .02 AJ
 
I own both a Henry and a Marlin 39.The Henry is light and works oh so well but the sights on the Marlin are so much better and if you want to upgrade to peeps easier to find then for the Henry
 
I have a Marlin 39 that I received as a gift almost 40 years ago. It was my first rifle. Get something that is a classic and that you will remember.

If you intend to keep it, the extra $100 will soon be forgotten.

My second choice would be the Winchester.
 
is it expensive to fix a lever action rifle?

Fix what? Compared to a bolt gun I don't think you are adding any additional cost for a trip to the gunsmith.

With a loonie from your pocket, the Marlin 39A is taken down in about 30 seconds. Once taken down, there is practically no part you couldn't replace yourself (hammer, springs, extractor, ejector, etc)
 
I own both a Henry and a Marlin 39.The Henry is light and works oh so well but the sights on the Marlin are so much better and if you want to upgrade to peeps easier to find then for the Henry

Why are peeps easier to find for the Marlin?
Anything that fits on a .22 grooved receiver should work...sometimes a taller front sight is needed as well.
 
Where is the BL22 cheaper then the Marlin? They both seem to be about the same price at SIR with the Marlin a little less...
http://www.sirmailorder.ca/show_prodlist.php?category_id=10&subcat_id=32&PHPSESSID=17852dc4ea687001abbbbc361357e2d0

Henry is your best bet on a budget for new.

How did buddy's 9422 look?

The Bl22 is a nice little gun but the trigger is pretty stiff and hard to improve. It's also the hardest to work on if it needs to be dissasembled.
 
Why are peeps easier to find for the Marlin?
Anything that fits on a .22 grooved receiver should work...sometimes a taller front sight is needed as well.

Marlin has factory D/T holes (side on older models, top on newer models) No front site swap needed for my top mounted Williams FP.

Henry has no holes or groved receiver so add in a trip to the gunsmith to the total. Does the rear sight fold down on the Henry? On the Marlin you fold it down and its out of the way of the peep sight.

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Henry,BL22 and 9422 all have grooved receivers.
Sights are kind of a personal thing and not all that expensive to change if you don't like the stock set up.
Is the Marlin not grooved?


edit, woops I guess the goldenboy doesn't have the grooves....I don't like the gawdy look of the yellow receiver so I have not paid much attention to them. The Octagon standard receiver would be my choice.
 
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I have not heard back about the 1922 still hoping. I'm thinking I might just wait till I can afford a marlin 39 as its a really nice gun. Either that or get a Henry rifle. It's a shame Can-down that you don't like the yellow receiver of the golden boy Henry though I also like the Octagon standard receiver. If the browning is a pain to take apart it's probably best I don't get it as I have no idea how to take it apart. I start my courses today and I'll ask the instructor what he thinks of the different rifles. Hope I pass them all the first time around.
 
I owned a Henry Golden Boy for a month or so then sold it. It was pretty to look at but was very barrel heavy due to the octagonal barrel, had an aluminum alloy plated reciever with the plating beginning to peal off in one small area (it was brand new) and a strange line in the barrel possibly from the rifling tool. Wasn't a fan of the sights either.

I also owned and still own a Winchester 9422 that is head and shoulders above the Henry. It's an incredibly solid feeling rifle, looks classic, has nice checkering on the stocks (something I missed on the Henry) nice bluing and feels great in my hands. Easier to clean too with the single screw take-down feature.

The Henry shot just as well as the Winchester, and had a smoother action, but there was something I liked or was used to about the levering of the Winchester that felt better. I would take Winchester over Henry.
 
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If you like the "Western" look I'd go with a Winchester...buying used is a risk but with a .22lr it's unlikely to be shot out and parts are still available for the Winchesters plus there are rumors that Winchester may start manufacturing Levers again.
Send this guy a PM for some pictures of his 9422....
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237802&highlight=9422

That's a pretty good price.

Ellwood Epps has an 9422 XTR, these are older guns with nicer wood.
 
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