lever action .22 question

T

the rifleer

New member
So a friend of mine has a very nice browning lever .22. It is really nice, but my problem with it is that the lever only goes down maybe about half what I was expecting it to and it is fairly stiff. I can certainly handle it, but I think it would be more enjoyable to shoot if the lever dropped farther down and took less effort to drop down.

I guess i was expecting the lever to basically move with almost no effort as I move my hand downward. Are all lever .22's like this or only some?
 
The lever only goes halfway by design, but mine is butter smooth. Sounds like your example is either gummed up or binding on something.
 
I have to agree with HALL,AUSTIN. My henry is easy and smooth. You say only half way. Is it cycling all the way? If so, maybe it just needs some time to break in.
 
Well I'll look an henry's. It wasn't gummed or anything. I don't know how to describe it, there was nothing at all wrong with it, I just expected it to be easier to operate being a browning. Again, its was not difficult in anyway and shot great, I just expected smoother and easier.
 
I love my henry. I think it is the smoothest lever out there IMHO. I can literally flick it all the way open with my index and middle finger.
 
I have a Henry Golden Boy 22 Magnum, and am very happy with it. Smooth and easy action, accurate, and more "traditional" looking than the Browning.
 
The BL-22 is designed to have less degree movement of the lever. I sort of liked mine because it was quite quick to cycle. However, in my case, my BL-22 did not prove to be as accurate as I expected. I sold it off to a rabbit hunter and rely on my Henry to give me the target accuracy I need in a rimfire .22 lever rifle.
 
The BL 22 runs with a removable magazine as well. That will add a bit of stiffness to the action over a straight tube fed gun, but provides a shorter throw.
 
The BL 22 runs with a removable magazine as well. That will add a bit of stiffness to the action over a straight tube fed gun, but provides a shorter throw.
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The BL-22 uses a tubular magazine as do the Winchesters, Marlin 39 series and the Henry lever guns.

The difference on the Browning is that the trigger travels with the lever as you work the action. The short throw of the lever is normal for the Browning, but I think they are generally smooth to operate. Once I have one I'll let you know for sure.:D
BL22leveropen.jpg
 
They definitely feel different to operate than the traditional American designs.
You will either like it or not.
If you have other lever actions, it might not be compatible with them.
Switching back and forth could be a problem.
If it's going to be your only lever action rifle, it's less of a concern.
 
I have a BL-22 and love it, one nice thing is your finger will never be pinched by the lever and the trigger........
 
Your Call !!!

Are all lever .22's like this or only some?
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Yes, only some and as stated, the BL22 is designed that way and a beauty to cycle. However, the throw is short but should be smooth to be fully appreciated. I would also agree that the Henry is probably the smoothest lever .22 out there, out of the box. There are other issues that I have with the Henry's and if the money was equal, I'd stick with the BL-22 and work those bugs out. .... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
Aluminum Alloy

It's not really Pot-Metal, in the strictest sense. if you look at the composition of true Pot-metal it contains a lot of zinc and other soft metals. The last time I spoke with a Henry Rep, he acknowledged that it is an Aluminum alloy. Although they use another term/name. They may be plated, or painted but the base metal, is white, in color. The barrels are steel. .. ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
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