SA-22 worth the price?
- Thread starter Amelio
- Start date
You can find decent used ones for $400-$500 depending on condition. I'd wait to find a decent Browning with some cosmetics issues before dropping anything over $100 for the chinese knockoff, but that's just me. There IS a difference in quality, just depends on what you want.
I had a grade 2 Belgium dated 1965 in my hands before Christmas, it was in excellent shape almost perfect.
Worst thing I did was to walk away from it... I knew it was a great deal but just didn't pull the trigger, My Bad.. now it's gone..
Oh well one day a little sa-22 will catch my eye again and I won't pass on it.
Worst thing I did was to walk away from it... I knew it was a great deal but just didn't pull the trigger, My Bad.. now it's gone..
Oh well one day a little sa-22 will catch my eye again and I won't pass on it.
Trick is to tighten the takedown ring while the barrel is off, so when you install it, you get a 1/4 turn really tight fit. Trying to tighten the ring while the barrel is on doesn't work great in the Browning version either.
These SA22 clones available now were made in the late 80's, early 90's. They are not currently being produced, NOS products.
Honestly, it's a 100+ year old design, parents expired long ago. Do you only buy Colt 1911's because they were the first to make a 1911 110 years ago?
The design is nothing real special, it's got more drawbacks then positive features then more modern designs. It's a novelty, not a must have...I'll take the peanut$ version on one of these, they ain't that great.
Buy a used Browning if the cost of new bothers you.
No complaints with the Norc copies either. Reliable and accurate enough, and not gonna cause me any heartbreak if it gets gouged up or otherwise beat around. The ones I have had a go with were bought on sale from SIR, if that gives y'all any ideas how long they have been beating around.
The Browning is better built, but for the difference in price, it should be. If you find a decent Belgian made one, just grit yer teeth and buy it.
Aside from the joys of having hot brass up your shirt sleeves if you wear long sleeves, and hold the rifle the right way that that is an issue, watch the little dis-connector/feed interrupter that lives in the upper part of the receiver, and prevents double feeding of the cartridges from the magazine. It is very easy to lose when you pull the bolt out, and is not altogether obvious that it is not there, until the rounds all try to puke out into the action at the same time.
That applies to the Originals and the clones.
If you really want to play 'oddball', find a Remington one. Model 24, I think they called it when they were making the design.
No complaints with the Norc copies either. Reliable and accurate enough, and not gonna cause me any heartbreak if it gets gouged up or otherwise beat around. The ones I have had a go with were bought on sale from SIR, if that gives y'all any ideas how long they have been beating around.
The Browning is better built, but for the difference in price, it should be. If you find a decent Belgian made one, just grit yer teeth and buy it.
Aside from the joys of having hot brass up your shirt sleeves if you wear long sleeves, and hold the rifle the right way that that is an issue, watch the little dis-connector/feed interrupter that lives in the upper part of the receiver, and prevents double feeding of the cartridges from the magazine. It is very easy to lose when you pull the bolt out, and is not altogether obvious that it is not there, until the rounds all try to puke out into the action at the same time.
That applies to the Originals and the clones.
If you really want to play 'oddball', find a Remington one. Model 24, I think they called it when they were making the design.
I sold a couple of the Chinese ones, the people that bought them ,love them and it has been about 4-5 ysr of gophers shooting.
The real ones are super guns, but not target guns.
I have a norinco L.A. in right now, that is a rats nest.
as far as the politics are I am more pissed off with the dictator we have, than the one in China.
The real ones are super guns, but not target guns.
I have a norinco L.A. in right now, that is a rats nest.
as far as the politics are I am more pissed off with the dictator we have, than the one in China.
the norc copy is kind of a supplement to the guns available. someone that wants a browning will buy a browning. they likely aren't going to pick up one of these instead...
They do fill the sub 200 dollar semi auto plinker market quite well, and you wont cry if you scratch it.
Thanks Hitzy.
I've had mine for years but never take it out of the safe anymore.
I found that any time I broke the rifle down, I'd have to zero the scope again.
It took the fun out of it.
Just use a barrel mount. The Browning mount is a little longer than the others
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Kind of what I'm thinking... But than again
- The SA doesn't spit powder residue in your face... but it does sends brass down your shirt.
I love the SA, with a little 1.5x5 it's a fun hunting rifle with stupid-fast follow up shot... and I guess being "older" and having been in the game long enough has it's advantages. I remember Belgian SA been $300 rifles
Londonshooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
I bought one before the lockdown. Did a complete tear down and cleaning then put it away until yesterday. Never had or shot one before, did not know what to expect. This one is a Belgian from 1962 and looks as new. Auction hammer price was $450. GST,shipping/insurance, and buyer's premium made it $650 to my door.
The odd: loading through the stock is just strange.
The good: excellent trigger for a semi-auto, and this one is surprisingly accurate at 50 yds.
I think will have to put a scope on it to find our how accurate but the semi-auto cooeys, remingtons, and Win 490's I've owned or shot are not in the same class at all.
Overall, really impressed!
The odd: loading through the stock is just strange.
The good: excellent trigger for a semi-auto, and this one is surprisingly accurate at 50 yds.
I think will have to put a scope on it to find our how accurate but the semi-auto cooeys, remingtons, and Win 490's I've owned or shot are not in the same class at all.
Overall, really impressed!
