22LR Tube Fed Lever Action

[CraigC]

They're just about as much fun as one can have with their clothes on. Gotta pair of 94/22's that I'll never part with.

After all you don't hear many folks dissingon the glock because of polymer.

A Glock ain't a levergun. I couldn't care less what modern autos are made of but I do care what leverguns are made of. I prefer there to be no plastic or pot metal.

 

[Grunt]

Marlin! I got my first Model 39A back when I was stationed in Camp Lejeune in 1992 right before I got out. It was used and iirc, it was actually made in 1977. I loved it so much that years later, I ran across another old used Marlin 39. This time a 39M that was made in 1978. To be honest, I've never had any time for the lawyer models or any lever action with a manual safety outside of the traditional half-cock so I went out of my way and was willing to pay a higher price for an older used model before that feature ever came out on them.

 

[Coyote3855]

I`d say you haven`t done much home work on the subject.

I'd say that's what he's doing on this forum.

I have a Marlin 39A. Took a lot of rounds to smooth out. We borrowed some Henrys for a youth shoot. They were quite nice right out of the box. Decent triggers, smooth levers. It's been a few years so I don't remember what sights they had, but nice rifles.

I want but don't need one of the Henry pumps with exposed hammer.

 

[aarondhgraham]

I found my Henry to be very versatile,,,

I once loaded it with alternating shorts, longs, & long rifles,,,
One of each and repeated that until the tube was full.

It fed everything without jamming up,,,
And I was jacking on that lever pretty quickly.

I sold it as I didn't really warm up to lever action,,,
But I'll admit it was surely a fine rifle.

Aarond

.

 

[alexander45]

I have a henry octagon frontier model (it's all the same upgrades as the golden boy just no brass and for a fair bit less) it shoots great smooth as snot as for reliability I have never heard of a tube magazine going to poo I'm sure it happens but it's not a "thing" if ya know what I mean

 

[kBob]

Well guys I let a lot of you get in first but you "older THR-ers" know what is coming from kBob re-lever .22........

The other Marlin.....haunt the gun shops until you find a nice Levermatic with your choice of feed system.

-kBob

 

[BCRider]

In every way possible I would say that the Browning is a better gun.

BUT! ! ! !....

As someone used to other lever guns and then I pick up a Browning I find them extremely disconcerting and painful with that super short lever throw. Disconcerting because I just can't get used to the short throw. And painful because every time I forget and try to cycle a full throw I bruise the backs of my fingers.

The Marlin would be nice. The Winchester would be nice too. But they are both a lot more money. But if "real steel" is a must for you then these are the way to go. Or buy a Browning and don't ever buy any other lever rifle. Then you'll be OK with the short throw.

For the rest of us Henry has us covered.

Yeah, when I think about the two Henry's I've got the use of the alloy insides and sheet metal cover bothers me a little. But when I see them take down the targets or make small neat sized groups on paper that make me look better than I think I am I smile and forget all about the alloy and sheet metal.

Plastic front band and sights? I thought they changed those to metal ones? In any event the plastic sight on the nose of my own H001 has not caused any issue. The rifle shoots amazingly well and as mentioned makes me look better than I think I am.

As the old saying goes "Try it! You'll LIKE IT!"

Oh, and for the perfect plinker for those of us that don't really cotton up to semi autos you should also look around for a pump action. A pump and a lever and you have two of the ultimate manually loading repeaters around. Bolts? PHTTH! ! ! ! We don' need no STEENKEEN bolts!

 

[Plastikosmd]

I have a 9422 and the marlin. Prefer the 9422

 

[moe.ron]

You guys have been great with the responses, I really hope there are a couple I can lay hands on over the weekend.

Another question... LRN ammo is notorious for not feeding in semi-autos, do the lever guns have issues with it?

 

[flyingtiger85]

Don't forget about Henry 22's the action is really smooth and if your shoot it a lot it doesn't hurt your fingers.And yes,Marlins are very nice!

 

[Nail Shooter]

Browning BL-22 by a mile.

 

[jimbeaux82]

Another vote for the BL-22. Fantastic rifle, never a problem, utterly reliable, very accurate, fun to shoot

 

[toivo]

AFAIK, your only choices for new production are the Browning and the Henry. Nothing really wrong with either one.

The Browning is a notch up in build quality, but you'll pay for that. On the other hand, I've never heard criticism of a Henry from someone who actually owned one.

There are still used 39As and 9422s floating around. I have two 9422s, one from the '70s and one from the last year of production -- 2004, I think. I love them both, and I'm really glad I got them when I did, because they're going for crazy money now.

 

[midland man]

my henry hoo1 loves LRN ammo not one issue!

 

[Don McDowell]

The Browning is a notch up in build quality, but you'll pay for that./QUOTE]
Buds gunshot is listing the grade 1 around 500. The Frontier model Henry is showing at 369.

On the other hand, I've never heard criticism of a Henry from someone who actually owned one.
/QUOTE]

Exactly and if someone did have a problem with one, Henry has been very quick to take care of it.

 

[BCRider]

Another question... LRN ammo is notorious for not feeding in semi-autos, do the lever guns have issues with it?

I don't know where you got that from but the round nose ammo has always been the best for my semi autos. I've got a couple of rimfire semi handguns that choke on the more squared of noses found with the hollow point rimfire ammo but are silky smooth with proper round nosed ammo.

I'm half of the crew that runs my club's Jr .22 program. I take along my H001 for the kids to shoot and they LOVE IT! Over the 4 years I've been doing this we've gone through a wide variety of ammo. Some of it has made the club's single shot Savages and a few of the other owner guns choke. Meanwhile regardless of what it's fed the Henry just shrugs and spits the lead out the front and brass out the side without any hiccups. It hasn't mattered to it if the bullets are RN or hollow point, waxed lead or copper washed. They all just go through fine.

 

[fiddleharp]

Last night, I finally got that pesky lawn-destroying armadillo with my trusty 39A I bought for $117 in 1978. If I had only known it would be considered a Stradivarius in 2015, I would have never treated it as a "truck gun" back in the day! :banghead:
Because of this long-ago treatment by a young, ignorant Cracker, this rifle is rather cosmetically ugly. However, the original firing pin, springs, and parts are still functioning flawlessly, despite at least a zillion rounds through it.

 

[Kookla]

I had a Marlin 39a, think it was a late 90's make. It wasn't smooth operating like a winchester 9422, or a henry, but it felt a lot more solid. From what I recall, it was accurate.

I had one small issue with it.

The rebounding hammer made the most annoying "pinnnnnggggg!" sound each time it fired. Drove me bonkers.

 

[sawdeanz]

Just got a Marlin 39a so I guess I'll have to toss my hat to that one. My first "old world quatlity" firearm and now I can see why so many shooters cherish those old guns. Very nicely built, simple and easy to fix if needed, very heavy and sturdy.

 

[joem1945]

I have a remington nylon 76 lever gun. It always works and is accurate.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Win9422. I love mine and its only drawback is the tube feed. Pick one up and feel the quality of running the action!

 

[moe.ron]

I don't know where you got that from but the round nose ammo has always been the best for my semi autos. I've got a couple of rimfire semi handguns that choke on the more squared of noses found with the hollow point rimfire ammo but are silky smooth with proper round nosed ammo.

I'm half of the crew that runs my club's Jr .22 program. I take along my H001 for the kids to shoot and they LOVE IT! Over the 4 years I've been doing this we've gone through a wide variety of ammo. Some of it has made the club's single shot Savages and a few of the other owner guns choke. Meanwhile regardless of what it's fed the Henry just shrugs and spits the lead out the front and brass out the side without any hiccups. It hasn't mattered to it if the bullets are RN or hollow point, waxed lead or copper washed. They all just go through fine.

OK. What I meant was un-plated ammo. My Buckmark chokes on un-plated lead ammo, so does my father in law's. My 10/22 didn't care for it too much, not as bad as the pistols though. Another buddies Mark III doesn't cycle it well either. I gave the last of my lead ammo to a buddies kid to use in his bolt gun as that was the only one that would shoot it without issue.

Good to know the lever actions will eat it though as there is a lot more of that available for sale than the plated stuff like the Mini Mags.

Oh boy, decisions decisions!

 

[alexander45]

Semis often have problems with unplated 22lr do to the wax lube used on them. The tip of the round will slightly stick to things slowing it down just enough to muck things up royaly

 

[Nuclear]

The only problem I've ever really had is with 22 shorts in auto loaders.

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

The Henrys are super smooth and there's a wide variety - Standard, Carbine, Youth, Octagon Frontier, Golden Boy, Silver Boy, Evil Roy model, Small Game Rifle, etc.