22LR Tube Fed Lever Action

Status
Not open for further replies.
moe.ron

moe.ron

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2008
Messages
201
Location
Macomb County MI
Who has them and what do you think? Is the tube feed magazine reliable? To me they look like big fun. I am not interested in a competition rifle, just a quality plinker.

I am not real interested in a 10/22 or AR15 type 22lr.

Although if I had to choose I would probably go with a S&W 15-22.

I had a 10/22 in the past and didn't have a good experience with it, believe it or not.
 
The Marlin 39, and now discontinued Winchester Model 9422 were, and are two of the most reliable .22 firearms ever made.

I hear good things about the new Henry .22 also.
But I just can't get past the plastic sights and sheet metal receiver covers.

rc
 
moe.ron said:
Who has them and what do you think? Is the tube feed magazine reliable?
Click to expand...
If the tubular magazine feeding system wasn't reliable, rifles wouldn't still be in production today that use it even after 150 years since its innovation.
 
TruthTellers said:
If the tubular magazine feeding system wasn't reliable, rifles wouldn't still be in production today that use it even after 150 years since its innovation.
Click to expand...

I knew this answer was coming, but sometimes you just have to hear it. :)

I am not real interested in sheet metal or plastic either. Perhaps a Mossberg 464 or Browning BL-22. The Browning is pricey, but sure is purdy.
 
My Marlin 39A is one of my most prized possessions. Partially because it was the first rifle my father bought me but regardless of that, it's a great little rifle. Very accurate, very quick, and heirloom quality. I can't say enough good things about it. Throw some Skinner sights on it and I couldn't imagine a better 22. You can find used ones for very reasonable prices as well. I'm sure the Henry's are great rifles too but I'm biased towards Marlin because of how great mine has been. I have quite literally never had a single issue with it. Not a single jam or problem with the tubular magazine.
 
I own the henry h001 model in 22lr and if I may, that little leveraction 22 rifle has been the best 22 rifle I have ever owned it shoots very very well! I have a scope with raised mounts so I can use the sights on mine and I just love this little rifle! I've killed squirrels and rabbits using Remington thunderbolt 40gr solid nose bullets and it just love those shells. so I can tell you that for sure this also punches paper when I can get some shells from time to time but overall a very fine hunting,plinking and just for fun with butter smooth action this is one excellent rifle!
 
My Henry has been great! No issues that I can think of. Yeah, the sights are crude but frankly it's not a target rifle and it excells at making cans dance.
 
I bought an old Marlin 39A and it was rough as a cob. Very accurate, but tough to lever and the trigger was rough. I had a Winchester 9422 many years ago but had to sell it when some expected income did not come in. It was superb but they are rather expensive now.

So now I enjoy a Henry Golden Boy .22LR. Smooth action, decent trigger, accurate. I'm satisfied.
 
henry h1001? i think is the model are pretty reliable, fun, good trigger, VERY accurate (in my experience) and feed the the cb long, and strange 22 cartridges of the whole family well, but the cast zinc reciever is a little disappointing. That said, they seem to hold up to normal use, and the brass framed model may actually be brass framed, I dont know. the one i had came with a stripped hole in the reciever to the cover, but a thread chaser got it working. never handles the 39a, but hear nothing but good on that one.
 
The Henry Frontier model has iron sights, but even at that I wouldn't let the polymer sights on the other model scare you away. After all you don't hear many folks dissingon the glock because of polymer.
My wife bought one of those Henry Frontier models several years ago, it's as reliable and as accurate as any of the lever 22's around.
 
It appears the Henry and Marlin are the favorites. There is a gun show this weekend and I will hopefully be able to check a couple out, I may get lucky.
 
Take a look at the Browning BL22, not much more money than the Henry, quite a bit less than the Marlin, and along with all the accuracy etc, it also has a slick short throw lever, you can empty that magazine in short order..
 
Another vote for the Marlin 39A. I liked mine so much I bought a second one. Accurate and reliable fun to shoot.
 
I have had a Browning BL-22 for 30 years. Wonderful gun. It's not a large rifle though and does not have the feel of a full sized rifle like the Marlin. I prefer the Browning as it is very quick to handle and points extremely well.
 
Henry is the way to go here. I have a Goldenboy and that gun is pure quality. Most other 22s feel like cheap, lightweight toys compared to the Henry. The action is super slick and feels great. The tube mag has never caused any problems in my gun.
 
Moe,

Have you found the Marlin 39A Club thread yet on this site? This thread is eight years old, with over 4600 posts on the venerable Marlin 39A. Simply skipping through the posts you'll see why many of us are so enamored with the 39A.

Btw, how do you make a Marlin 39A? Get 100 pounds of high carbon steel and a walnut tree. Then cut away everything that doesn't look like a 39A.

Happy shopping and keep us posted,
 
moe.ron said:
Yeah that Marlin is a beaut, another pricey one.

I will poke around for a used one to get an idea of cost.
Click to expand...
I picked up a 39A a couple of years ago after some haggeling for $300.
It was made in the early 60's but showed no signs of abuse at all.
I topped it with an OLD 6X Weaver and the rifle is super accurate.
At 50 yards, from rest, with certain ammo, 10 shot 1 hole groups are possible.
I think that it's tough to beat the Marlins!
 
The Henrys are shipping with metal sights and barrel bands now. They have been for a few years at least. They never had sheet metal receiver covers. I own and love my Marlin 39, but at the prices they sell for now the Henry is a great buy. The BL-22 is very nice too, but a bit unconventional in how the action works.
 
It seems the same people keep repeating that Henry has plastic sights, and they must know by now that, that hasn't been true for at least a couple years now.

I have an OLD Henry with the NYLON sights and it was bought to be my "beater" 22 to live on my ATV. And it has been left on my ATV since I bought it...

The sights have not been broken and still work perfectly. I've shot at least two crows at over 100 yards with them and many many other 20 to 50 yard shots that hit un-named targets I was aiming at.

The bbl has never been cleaned and the gun has been wiped off maybe, two or three times since I bought it, as it's basically my "forget it until I need it gun".

Amazingly, the receiver cover still looks pretty good too, and I hear many complain about them being "painted", seems to be holding up pretty good to me.

One thing I REALLY like about it is, it doesn't matter what 22 round (CB shorts to Stingers and all others) I put in it, and no matter what order they are put in, it ALWAYS works smoothly and perfectly EVERY time! I also like the fact that it doesn't weigh a ton too!

I have no idea how many thousand rounds have went down it's tube, with friends and family shooting it too, but it just keeps on keeping on!

DM
 
I have a BL-22 that is of higher quality than my Henry for sure but either will plink.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

1
  • Locked
Bolt Action: Tube fed or clip fed?
Replies
8
Views
2K
cheygriz
cheygriz
G
  • Locked
Best Magazine Fed 22LR
Replies
21
Views
3K
TRGRHPY
T
D
  • Locked
Seaching for model # of Marlin tube fed .22LR bolt action?
Replies
11
Views
970
rangerruck
R
P
  • Locked
High-Cap .22's to recommend?
2
Replies
28
Views
909
rogertc1
R
J
  • Locked
.22 Tube Fed Bolt Actions?
2
Replies
29
Views
5K
wesmonster
W
Back
Top