Reviews and Experience with Current New Levergun Options

7055steved

7055steved

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Brockville, ON
A buddy at work and I were talking about new lever action rimfire options on the market currently and I'm wondering what people have and are liking out there? He happens to be in the market for a plinker to use with his young kids. I'd like to focus this discussion to "current new," but nothing against "awesome used," it's just not the options we're pondering.

I've had a Henry Frontier 22wmr before and it was quite nicely made, slick and accurate for what it was. I didn't love the painted receiver, it got a scratch easily and then I was more careful with it than I wanted to be. Otherwise, loved that gun.

I'm interested in people's take on fitment of components (like unsightly gaps etc), finish (quality and type, like blued, paint, epoxy finishes etc), materials used (how much plastic are we talking about here?), and whatever else seems important to you. Top end of budget would be like Browning BL22 pricing. We've been talking about
  • Browning BL22
  • Savage Revel Deluxe
  • Winchester Ranger
  • Chiappa LA332
  • Henry's
But I'm open to anything new and current that you've got experience with!
 
The Browning would have my vote 💯. Mine has done well over 20 years and is quite good, trigger could be better but isn’t bad.
Henry would be my second choice, buddy has one and it’s solid but is prone to having the receiver scratched.
 
Had a Henry and currently have a Browning and a Savage Revel. Liked the Henry until I used my FiL's Browning and sold the Henry that week and bought a Browning myself. The BL-22 is, in my opinion, is the best .22lr lever rifle ever made. Super smooth, reliable and accurate. Very short throw and I love that the mag tube will connect at any angle and doesn't need to line up with anything. I only bought the Savage to have a lever in 22Mag and if Browning built a BL-22 in 22mag I would have bought that instead.
 
rat-7 said:
... I love that the mag tube will connect at any angle and doesn't need to line up with anything.
Click to expand...
I'm not familiar with this mag tube feature, can you tell me more??

Thanks for everyone's responses! I'd love to hear about the Winchester Ranger. I like the lines of it as they're reminiscent of a Model 94. The price point makes me worry about the quality of components though...
 
7055steved said:
I'm not familiar with this mag tube feature, can you tell me more??

Thanks for everyone's responses! I'd love to hear about the Winchester Ranger. I like the lines of it as they're reminiscent of a Model 94. The price point makes me worry about the quality of components though...
Click to expand...
So the Henry and the Savage have a sort of Pin and Groove connection. The pin on the tube need to line up with the groove in order to secure.
s-l400.jpg
The Browning has a Hook and Inner Groove that doesn't need to line up, you just push the tube down with the clasp facing any direction until it clicks and you're good to go.
review-BL22-Browning.jpg
 
A note on the Winchester Ranger. While the old 94's were made by Winchester in the USA these new Rangers are manufactured in Turkey by Istanbul Silah and the quality of rifles out of Turkey can be hit or miss. 🤷‍♂️
 
I owned a beautiful BL-22. Top notch craftsmanship.
I just couldn't get used to the heavy trigger and high cheek weld. The short lever action was also "different". Ended up selling it and getting a short barrel large loop Henry that's been keeping happy and I don't have to baby it too much.....
 
Hunter John said:
The Browning would have my vote 💯. Mine has done well over 20 years and is quite good, trigger could be better but isn’t bad.
Henry would be my second choice, buddy has one and it’s solid but is prone to having the receiver scratched.
Click to expand...
That painted Henry Zamac (zinc, aluminum, magnesium, copper), receiver does scratch if not careful......:(

However, the painted finish can also be removed with a gell-type paint remover. It's not for the faint of heart, but with a little elbow grease and attention those Henry alloy (zamac), receivers either polish up like stainless steel, or can be made into an old stressed-type look on an old Colt silver firearm from days gone by. I've completed one and it looks very cool. Did the barrel band to match as well.

One does have to put on two coats of clear coat once the polished desire has been completed. This protects your new look from wear, scratches, etc......:)
 
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