PWGUNNY
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My Marlin 39a is very special to me. Awesome gun.
Best lever action .22
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crestoncowboy
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I agree. That said though, (and it doesn't bother me) the marlin is the only lever action 22 with a safety button as far as I know, if it's made after the 80s at least. Somehow it gets less hate than the safety on the heritage SA revolver. I actually don't mind the latter 39a with the rebounding hammer and safety though. Never seen one I didn't like. I even have a little bantam scope on one of mine that i don't mind too bad. I believe it's an old shotgun scope.
doubleh
Member
I bought a Henry Long barrel frontier last year. It's every bit as accurate as my Marlin 39A and the action is actually a little bit smoother. It is all steel and wood and is nice. I doubt you will find a 39A in decent condition for what you can get a new Henry for. If you don't want the 24" barrel they have a little shorter version.
Henry is a decent budget 22 lever action. They tend to be reliable and accurate, but are cheaply made. Not high quality. If you just want something to go bang for a few years they serve a purpose. They are not something you'll be proud to give your grandkids.
I agree that the Winchester 94-22 is the BEST. But they are no longer in production and used specimens are pricy.
I like the older Marlin 39M Mounties with straight stock and 20" barrels. They turn up at decent prices occasionally. But you have to be patient and look around. I never cared for the full size Marlin 39's with pistol grip and 24" barrel.
https://www.guns.com/firearms/rifle...-lr-lever-action-19-rounds-20-5.8-used?p=7676
If I were looking for the best value in a 22 lever today I'd buy the Browning. Not much more money than Henry, but a much better quality rifle. It does stray from tradition, but no more so than Henry.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/28274/browning+bl-22+lever+grade+1+20"
I agree that the Winchester 94-22 is the BEST. But they are no longer in production and used specimens are pricy.
I like the older Marlin 39M Mounties with straight stock and 20" barrels. They turn up at decent prices occasionally. But you have to be patient and look around. I never cared for the full size Marlin 39's with pistol grip and 24" barrel.
https://www.guns.com/firearms/rifle...-lr-lever-action-19-rounds-20-5.8-used?p=7676
If I were looking for the best value in a 22 lever today I'd buy the Browning. Not much more money than Henry, but a much better quality rifle. It does stray from tradition, but no more so than Henry.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/28274/browning+bl-22+lever+grade+1+20"
You have very good and valid opinions above this post.
To a $450.00 or less for a new Henry is winner no questions.bro
From $500.00 to 1000 bucks
Winchester 9422
Marlin
Browning (just a petite rifle)
Up to you pony up, also for an used rifle might be hard to get some parts.
To a $450.00 or less for a new Henry is winner no questions.bro
From $500.00 to 1000 bucks
Winchester 9422
Marlin
Browning (just a petite rifle)
Up to you pony up, also for an used rifle might be hard to get some parts.
We have a Henry lever gun in .22. I gave it to my son when the was 10 to go along with the Ruger Bear Cat (I think it was called) that he had. That thing goes with us every time we go out shooting. When I first bought it, I had the impression that it was just a cheap rifle. The finish on the receiver looks like paint over pot metal...But, the action is slicker than snot, it's accurate and hasn't given us a lick of trouble in over a decade.
When I was at the range last weekend, a guy a few stalls over was shooting a Henry .22 with an octagon barrel on it. It looked sweet.
When I was at the range last weekend, a guy a few stalls over was shooting a Henry .22 with an octagon barrel on it. It looked sweet.
I'm also a Henry fan. I have peep sights on one of mine and a scope on the other. Occasionally I'll put a red dot on one of them. Must have close to 10,000 rounds through the first one I bought.
BullRunBear
Member
I have the basic Henry, 001, and an older Marlin 39a. Love them both and they are both more accurate than I am. The Henry is smoother but the Marlin feels like it should last for generations. (It's already lasted for two generations.)
But after reading this thread I am going to keep an eye open for a deal on a good condition Winchester 9422. I know they are costly but I'm in no hurry and sometimes I get lucky.
Jeff
But after reading this thread I am going to keep an eye open for a deal on a good condition Winchester 9422. I know they are costly but I'm in no hurry and sometimes I get lucky.
Jeff
DM~
Member
A "few" years?? How many years is a "few" to you??
My Henry 22 is more than 15 years old and has been shot thousands and thousands of times, and it's as tight and shoots just as good today as it did when I bought it. I'm sure that when I croak, who ever in my family gets it, will be proud to have it, because everyone who has shot it, loves it...
I can still knock a crow out of a tree at 100 + yards with the iron sights, so I'd say it shoots pretty good.
Personally, I don't care for the 39, I want my 22 light and handy, not weigh as much as my deer rifle...same for the Winchester...
DM
chicharrones
needs more ammo
A 24" barreled Marlin 39 is the .22 LR lever gun King of sight radius and ammo capacity.
Install a tang sight and do your best impression of buffalo huntin'. Just pick the size of buffalo accordingly.
View attachment 908222
Install a tang sight and do your best impression of buffalo huntin'. Just pick the size of buffalo accordingly.
View attachment 908222
crestoncowboy
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I agree. And I would pay considerably more for a browning over a Henry. The Henry going for 350 or more vs the Browning at 500 or a used marlin for 600 I'd take the others. That said, they do last longer than they feel like they would. I shot a brick (475-500-525-550-555 whichever Rose's had cheapest) every Sunday from 10ish years old up to 16 or so yrs old through my dads Ithaca growing up. Plus the rounds it got shot otherwise by us and hunting which was not much in comparison. It looks like hammered hell but still works. That's a lot of the nastiest ammo known to man. Accuracy isn't as good as it used to be but it's still more accurate than some 22s I've used
I've always said the marlin was a bit heavy and a bit wide as well. But the winchester is balanced the same and almost the same weight I thought. So for the myself and the OP or anyone curious I weighed them. If you want light and handy the browning is the king. They also make it in a micro but I don't know if it's any lighter. Yes I know the marlin is longer barreled. I don't have a different one handy. The balance of those longer barrels is pretty bad IMHO
doubleh
Member
I believe Denis Priesly (not sure about his last name anymore) wrote an article not long before he passed about shooting roughly 250,000 rounds in a very short time thru a Henry and one part finally failed. If I remember correctly he replaced the part and then purchased the rifle from Henry as everything else about the gun was still in good shape. Others here may have a better recollection of the article than me. I read this not too long after I bought my rifle and it gave me a good feeling about the gun. Apparently the rifles are pretty decent for the price. I certainly haven't had any problems with mine. The polishing on the steel parts is better than on my Marlin which give a nicer bluing.
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doubleh
Member
I agree and that is my sight setup. It really hangs on a target.
What's those critters in your picture? The don't grow around here. Bunny rabbits, yes, ground squirrels, few and far between, don't have any of those pictured. No trees so they can get away from the fox and coyotes so they must have all got ate a long time ago.
bannockburn
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For me it would be:
1) Browning BL22
2) Winchester 9422
3) Marlin 39M
4) Henry Classic
1) Browning BL22
2) Winchester 9422
3) Marlin 39M
4) Henry Classic
chicharrones
needs more ammo
One thing's for sure, if someone wants a light carbine, the 24" barreled Marlin wouldn't be their choice. The 39 essentially has a bull barrel, which is a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you want.
I do love carbines. I have several in different calibers. There have been times I've definitely thought of my Marlin 39AS as too long and too heavy.
But then I think of other .22 rifles that are in the same weight and length range and suddenly the 39 doesn't seem so bad. Shoot, when I was younger and I had a better power to weight ratio, I carried my 39 a whole heck of a lot and didn't think anything was wrong with it. Being naive has it's benefits.
19 rounds of .22 LR or 26 rounds of .22 shorts. My gawd that's a lot of ammo in a lever gun.
I do love carbines. I have several in different calibers. There have been times I've definitely thought of my Marlin 39AS as too long and too heavy.
But then I think of other .22 rifles that are in the same weight and length range and suddenly the 39 doesn't seem so bad. Shoot, when I was younger and I had a better power to weight ratio, I carried my 39 a whole heck of a lot and didn't think anything was wrong with it. Being naive has it's benefits.
19 rounds of .22 LR or 26 rounds of .22 shorts. My gawd that's a lot of ammo in a lever gun.
SwampWolf
Member
So what are the "critters", chicharrones?
crestoncowboy
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Plenty of love for all 4 of the more popular lever action rimfires. How many of you folks could have purchased a few more marlin 39s for 89 bucks back in 1967? The 9422 isnt in the catalog but the 94 in 30-30 was only 85 bucks back then. Seems like the 39 was always a pretty premium rifle.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Tame, "farm raised" ground squirrels. Perfect for replicating a miniature 1800s buffalo hunt.
bannockburn
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crestoncowboy
One of the places I worked out of high school back in the '70s was a department store with a sporting goods department. I gave a long and hard look at the Winchester 9422 and the Browning BL22 but both were pretty pricey for me back then and I decided to go with a much less expensive Ruger 10/22 for my first rifle. Nowadays if I was in the market for a decent .22 lever action rifle I would probably opt for a Henry and be just as happy with it as with any of the other brands.
One of the places I worked out of high school back in the '70s was a department store with a sporting goods department. I gave a long and hard look at the Winchester 9422 and the Browning BL22 but both were pretty pricey for me back then and I decided to go with a much less expensive Ruger 10/22 for my first rifle. Nowadays if I was in the market for a decent .22 lever action rifle I would probably opt for a Henry and be just as happy with it as with any of the other brands.
crestoncowboy
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A house passed down to us had a few old wish books from sears in the attic. I'll have to look and see what other years is up there. The one pictured was a 67 book. So the Bl nor 9422 wasnt quite out yet. But the marlin is one of the higher guns in it except for shotguns. The highest 22 by a fair bit. Higher than an M1 carbine, 94 winchester, model 24 over under savage, and only a few dollars off from a ithaca 37 shotgun
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Look at all those scopes.
I found this piece of paper for a brand new Marlin 39AS bought in 1994 for $296.87. Plus oil, sling, and tax.
I think I got ripped off on the oil. Same thing goes on now. I go into a gun shop and the guy at the counter offers up a 1 ounce bottle of magical, better than ever gun lube for only $9.95. Snake oil, my friends. Snake oil.
Edit to add: Found my old "Dream Book" from 1994 with the MSRPs of some of the lever action .22 rifles of the day.
View attachment 908282
View attachment 908287
View attachment 908373
View attachment 908375
List of the MSRPs from the 1994 Guns & Ammo Annual in case the photos don't last.
- Browning BL-22 Grade I = $301.50
- Browning BL-22 Grade II = $343.50
- Marlin Golden 39AS = $405.45
- Marlin 39TDS = $418.85
- Winchester 9422 = $367.00 to $381.00
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greyling22
Member
One thing to consider is fit. The Marlin 39 fits like a Marlin 336, with a relatively high comb you snuggle in to. The Henry golden boy has a lot of drop in the stock and you do not " get down on it." I hated the golden boy for that reason, I could not get comfortable on it. My old uncle loves the Henry because his stiff neck won't bend down to a Marlin stock easily. Ymmv.
Personally, I'd get the Browning. I like the short throw and light weight. The Marlin 39a was kind of too big and heavy for a 22 rifle. I didn't love it. I have not handled the Winchester so I cannot weigh in on it, but it looks nice.
Personally, I'd get the Browning. I like the short throw and light weight. The Marlin 39a was kind of too big and heavy for a 22 rifle. I didn't love it. I have not handled the Winchester so I cannot weigh in on it, but it looks nice.
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