nicest .22 lever action rifle...

Marlin 39A without question. :D

Unbelievably accurate - it's heavy barrel is the same outside diameter as the Marlin 45-70 barrels - and an action as smooth as glass. I have owned Browning & Winchester lever action .22 as well as a couple of 39's over the years and today only the Marlins remain in my safe.
 
I've tried both, and don't own either, but if I were buying, I'd probably go with the Marlin, partly for it's traditional styling, plus its accuracy, and the way it "hangs" because of the heavier front end.
The BL-22 is also a very fine rifle, great handling in the brush if you hunt bunnies in the thick stuff.
 
The marlin's good. I could never get excited about the browning - it feels a lot more like a modern auto-loader or something than a traditional lever gun.

My money goes to the Henry Golden Boy. Slick as anything, pretty, and accurate
 
'Boo said:
Marlin 39A without question. :D

Unbelievably accurate - it's heavy barrel is the same outside diameter as the Marlin 45-70 barrels - and an action as smooth as glass. I have owned Browning & Winchester lever action .22 as well as a couple of 39's over the years and today only the Marlins remain in my safe.
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I've used the 39as and the BL22 alot. Just can't get excited about the Browning............
 
The Marlin would be my choice, it's just that you don't see them around, hopefully they still make them from steel and wood. The Henry is made from some pot metal and the barrel bands are plastic.
 
Actually, it depends on the model. The low end Henry rifle has plastic bands, but in no way affects the rifles form or function. But I still wuldn't call it the nicest for sure. I've seen that BL-22 in stainless laminate, and it is pretty. But have you seen the limited Alamo model? It had a section of the Alamo tree inletted into the stock. Useless, but cool.
 
Hands down the Marlin. I have the Golden 39A Mountie at it is by far the best lever action .22 I have ever fired. It has spoiled me for all other.22's. My Henry is not close, but closer than anything else.

The Marlin is put together with quality and is no piece of tin ####.
It is a pleasure to shoot and as accurate as they come.

Here's a few pics of my girl with mine.
Mine has a very very nice woos finish that I have not seen on any others, though I'm sure there are lots, but it is very nice wood.



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BL - 22 all the way

browning BL - 22 for me. extrmemly tough finish (iv'e done some dumb things to it) and it stilllooks good.

when i was younger (i have had the gun since 1978) and my hands were stronger i could just open and close my hand because of the very short stroke
i have out thousands and thousands of rounds through it without a single problem. the most important part to clean is the mag tube as the ammo lube buildupcan prevent easy reloading.

i'm pretty biased - never seen such a good little lever action.

as for marlin - i like the 336c, but that isn't a rimfire.
 
Ditto on the Browning BL. The only thing I would change would be to make it with a pistol grip stock, much like the Marlin centerfire rifles. I just find the straight grips to be a little uncomfortable, but that's just me.
 
Whinchester's discontinued 9422 is very good, if you can find one, since they quit making them last year. Kinda half way between the Marlin and the Browning in styling and funtion. Mine's reliable, accurate, and well finished.
 
Longwalker said:
Whinchester's discontinued 9422 is very good, if you can find one, since they quit making them last year. Kinda half way between the Marlin and the Browning in styling and funtion. Mine's reliable, accurate, and well finished.
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My vote also goes to the 9422, although getting harder to find.:bangHead:
 
I have a BL22, a 9422 and a Winchester 270 pump that I had to modify to a lever (lack of parts). I have had an Erma EG71, which I believe the Henry is a copy of. The BL22 has a smooth and fast throw to it, the 9422 a longer throw, but well made. The 270 (now 250) is in a lower class than the previous 2 and the EG71 was just crap. The pot metal receiver hidden under the steel action cover cracked making the rifle useless.
 
best lever gun

I have the Marlin 39 M ( mountie ) and the 39-as ( 24 inch barrel ) both are great .22's , I also have the Winchester 9422 M ( magnum ) it is also a very good gun , with a little more punch than the .22 L.R. the quaility of all these are great and if you get one there worth keeping for life . the Henry I have never shot , but some say it is accurate and dependable ,it looks like it's fairly well made but not with steel parts and a lot of stampings , the stock is walnut and from what I understand it operates smoothly, for this type of rifle and what your buying them for , ( not Olympic shooting ) they are all fun and keepers . later Joe
 
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