lever action .22 question
- Thread starter the rifleer
- Start date
FYI, The BL-22 has what's termed as a "short-stroke" lever action, meant to be operated by merely flexing the fingers of the shooting/trigger hand open/closed FAST, w/o removing the hand from the stock as you would with a full-throw levergun.
The downside of the short stroke is that it's harder to operate due to the decreased leverage - so, either deal with it, or exercise/build up the finger muscles, or don't buy a BL-22.
Their fit/finish, by Miroku, is second to none - but some larger adults find them too light/wispy for shooting, except for the Grade II Octagon model.
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The downside of the short stroke is that it's harder to operate due to the decreased leverage - so, either deal with it, or exercise/build up the finger muscles, or don't buy a BL-22.
Their fit/finish, by Miroku, is second to none - but some larger adults find them too light/wispy for shooting, except for the Grade II Octagon model.
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The Racqueteer
Inactive
BL22 stroke
I have 2 of these and they are both "dead on" with iron sights. The stroke, is designed short and smooth, but tight.
This one sounds like it needs to be cleaned with a spray cleaner and lubed with teflon based oil. I use Break Free but have had great success with Tetra Lube products as well.
I have 2 of these and they are both "dead on" with iron sights. The stroke, is designed short and smooth, but tight.
This one sounds like it needs to be cleaned with a spray cleaner and lubed with teflon based oil. I use Break Free but have had great success with Tetra Lube products as well.
I had a problem after taking it apart and reasembling the ejector spring was not correctly located. The cycling felt VERY stiff. So I diasembled it again and reassembeld a few times until I got it right. 
After that it was nice and smooth again. I disassembled it because I bought it used and it had some surface rust and I was worried about the inside. A quick cleaning and oiling and luckily all was well and it shoots great.
7
After that it was nice and smooth again. I disassembled it because I bought it used and it had some surface rust and I was worried about the inside. A quick cleaning and oiling and luckily all was well and it shoots great. 7
Best at what?
Best is a big role to fill since it means different things to different people. If you want something light weight to carry all day long, the '39 may not be best. If you want blued steel and wood and aren't concerned about the weight then you should probably look for a nice Marlin, Browning, or Winchester. If cost is a driving factor, you will probably be wise to look at Henry's line of rifles. Some folks may want a short, quick-handling carbine which is only offered by Browning and Henry. People value many different qualities in a rifle when making a purchase. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for one rifle to be best at everything.
Zamak is a long way from pot metal. It's actually some pretty tough stuff. Why don't you hear bad crap about Marlin model 60's and a ton of other .22's with alloy receivers that have held up for decades already? The Henry is going to be around a long time. I had a Marlin 39A and wish I had it back but there's no way I'd give up my Golden Boy for it.
FWIW:
Well, my 2c worth on this lever action thread..
I have a Browning SA22 (ATD), and had considered the purchase of a BL22, but once I saw the trigger came down with the lever I just didn't care for that.. (Roy Rogers rifle didn't do that)
Not saying there's anything wrong with that, just a detail I didn't personally care for.
I have 5 Marlin 39's. (1950/2~1970 Century Limiteds,1975 &1996).. I love my Marlin's.. No ZYMAC or whatever wonder metal the receiver is on the Henry's, and no plated receiver cover either)...
I recently bought a new Henry THOO1Y (youth/trapper model) and that sucker is just as accurate (for me) as my fancier (more costly) Marlins, and smoother to boot.
Go figure..
So, to anyone considering the purchase of a new lever action 22cal rifle, I'd say the best "bang for the buck" is the Henry.. (Lordy I hate admitting that since I have over $2000.00 in 39's).
I love my Marlin's and they aren't for sale, but honestly I love my new Henry just as well, and I'm betting IF I ever need Customer Support I'll get it better from the folks at Henry (they have a wonderful CS/Warranty Dept, or so I read), because those folks at Remington making new 39A's don't seem to have their poop together and I'm guessing CS/Warranty Repair will be just as iffy..
No offense if you disagree..
Best Wishes,
Jesse
Well, my 2c worth on this lever action thread..
I have a Browning SA22 (ATD), and had considered the purchase of a BL22, but once I saw the trigger came down with the lever I just didn't care for that.. (Roy Rogers rifle didn't do that
)Not saying there's anything wrong with that, just a detail I didn't personally care for.
I have 5 Marlin 39's. (1950/2~1970 Century Limiteds,1975 &1996).. I love my Marlin's.. No ZYMAC or whatever wonder metal the receiver is on the Henry's, and no plated receiver cover either)...
I recently bought a new Henry THOO1Y (youth/trapper model) and that sucker is just as accurate (for me) as my fancier (more costly) Marlins, and smoother to boot.
Go figure..
So, to anyone considering the purchase of a new lever action 22cal rifle, I'd say the best "bang for the buck" is the Henry.. (Lordy I hate admitting that since I have over $2000.00 in 39's).
I love my Marlin's and they aren't for sale, but honestly I love my new Henry just as well, and I'm betting IF I ever need Customer Support I'll get it better from the folks at Henry (they have a wonderful CS/Warranty Dept, or so I read), because those folks at Remington making new 39A's don't seem to have their poop together and I'm guessing CS/Warranty Repair will be just as iffy..
No offense if you disagree..
Best Wishes,
Jesse
Guv-
Your opinion is that a lever gun should be blued steel and walnut, but it's still just your opinion. I have several steel/walnut leverguns and like them just fine. I like my Marlin 39A and 39M rifles just fine. However, there's a reason Marlin isn't the only game in town when it comes to rifles. Different people have different needs, and while a Marlin '39 may meet your needs perfectly well, it may not do it for everyone.
I completely agree with you on the rich history of the model '39 and I hope it hasn't come to an end with the help of Remington bean counters.
Your opinion is that a lever gun should be blued steel and walnut, but it's still just your opinion. I have several steel/walnut leverguns and like them just fine. I like my Marlin 39A and 39M rifles just fine. However, there's a reason Marlin isn't the only game in town when it comes to rifles. Different people have different needs, and while a Marlin '39 may meet your needs perfectly well, it may not do it for everyone.
I completely agree with you on the rich history of the model '39 and I hope it hasn't come to an end with the help of Remington bean counters.
Guv ~
I'm an old guy.... EVERY GUN should be steel and walnut, but sadly that's just not the way it is any more.
I love my Marlin 39's..
I was just surprised to find the Henry equal in performance at half the price. And, that price difference makes ALL the difference to someone who can't afford a Marlin 39.
I keep hearing Marlin lovers saying the 39A will "last a lifetime", or "two lifetimes". I agree.
But I doubt seriously you'll wear a Henry out in a lifetime, and IF you did I'm betting the good folks at Henry would replace it for you.. And IF they wouldn't replace it for you, you could take the money saved from buying a Marlin 39 in the first place and buy another new Henry..
I think my little Century Limiteds are absolutely beautiful.. But some folks think they are gaudy and prefer the Mountie...
Just personal choices..
I probably won't buy another lever action 22 as I have so many now. But IF I were to consider buying one another Henry would be at the top of my shopping list.
No offense, just conversin'..
Best Wishes,
Jesse
I'm an old guy.... EVERY GUN should be steel and walnut, but sadly that's just not the way it is any more.
I love my Marlin 39's..
I was just surprised to find the Henry equal in performance at half the price. And, that price difference makes ALL the difference to someone who can't afford a Marlin 39.
I keep hearing Marlin lovers saying the 39A will "last a lifetime", or "two lifetimes". I agree.
But I doubt seriously you'll wear a Henry out in a lifetime, and IF you did I'm betting the good folks at Henry would replace it for you.. And IF they wouldn't replace it for you, you could take the money saved from buying a Marlin 39 in the first place and buy another new Henry..
I think my little Century Limiteds are absolutely beautiful.. But some folks think they are gaudy and prefer the Mountie...
Just personal choices..
I probably won't buy another lever action 22 as I have so many now. But IF I were to consider buying one another Henry would be at the top of my shopping list.
No offense, just conversin'..
Best Wishes,
Jesse
Sweet rifle, yea I'm 51 and my first rifle other than my JC Higgens 22 was a model 94. I thought how luckey I was to have it over a 336, untill I bought an old 36 carbine. I guess the Marlins have never had the "sex" appeal of some of the others. What about the price of a Henry 45Colt, too rich for my blood.
Marlin 39s have had their quality control problems for more than a few years. I had a Mountie back in the mid-'60s and the receiver top wasn't square with the sides...by a lot! I kept the rifle for a few years, and it bugged me so much I got rid of it. The thing I loved about the rifle was it's solid feel and accuracy, so finally bought another Marlin about 3 years ago.
The new rifle is much prettier, having cut checkering and it hangs better with the longer barrel, but quality control folks must have been on vacation the week mine was made. It misfired, the extractor didn't work very often, the sights are off top dead center by about 5 degrees, and the scope mounting screws are way off line. The bore is the roughest I've ever seen come out of an American factory! After doing some home-repairs/tuning and a "bit" of bore-lapping, it works okay and shoots pretty well, but I can't recommend new ones unless tooling is updated and quality control improves tremendously.
The new rifle is much prettier, having cut checkering and it hangs better with the longer barrel, but quality control folks must have been on vacation the week mine was made. It misfired, the extractor didn't work very often, the sights are off top dead center by about 5 degrees, and the scope mounting screws are way off line. The bore is the roughest I've ever seen come out of an American factory! After doing some home-repairs/tuning and a "bit" of bore-lapping, it works okay and shoots pretty well, but I can't recommend new ones unless tooling is updated and quality control improves tremendously.
Picher:
It amazes me that Remington could take a design that has been in production for over a century and screw it up..
How do you manage that do you think?
I prefer it when "Marlin" is making "Marlins", and "Remington is making "Remingtons" and so on.
I just don't think the "Remington" folks making new Marlin's care a whole lot about the quality, it's just a job.
I know I had a senior customer service person at Smith & Wesson tell me one time, altho I'm sure he'd deny it now, that the Walther P99's Smith was importing, and providing Customer Service, Warranty Repair for took a back seat to any guns having problems with Smith and Wesson engraved on the slides..
It's like taking your Ford truck to the Chevy dealer, and expecting him to have a lot of concern about your problem when he already has 4 or 5 Chevys in line for service..
As I've said before, I LOVE my Marlin 39's.. But I wouldn't buy a new Marlin 39A... If I wanted another Marlin 39A I'd buy an older one. In fact I did that with my 1975 39A, and it came with a Williams peep sight and is awesomely accurate..
But that's me.
Best Wishes,
Jesse
It amazes me that Remington could take a design that has been in production for over a century and screw it up..
How do you manage that do you think?
I prefer it when "Marlin" is making "Marlins", and "Remington is making "Remingtons" and so on.
I just don't think the "Remington" folks making new Marlin's care a whole lot about the quality, it's just a job.
I know I had a senior customer service person at Smith & Wesson tell me one time, altho I'm sure he'd deny it now, that the Walther P99's Smith was importing, and providing Customer Service, Warranty Repair for took a back seat to any guns having problems with Smith and Wesson engraved on the slides..
It's like taking your Ford truck to the Chevy dealer, and expecting him to have a lot of concern about your problem when he already has 4 or 5 Chevys in line for service..
As I've said before, I LOVE my Marlin 39's.. But I wouldn't buy a new Marlin 39A... If I wanted another Marlin 39A I'd buy an older one. In fact I did that with my 1975 39A, and it came with a Williams peep sight and is awesomely accurate..
But that's me.
Best Wishes,
Jesse
Unfortunately, my latest Marlin, the one with all the problems, was made just prior to Remington's takeover, so I can't blame them for mine, but heard that Rem shut down the Marlin lever gun production until they could correct deficiencies. I don't know whether they fixed the problems yet...or whether they have the "nuts" to do it.
chris in va
New member
Henry's are also considerably less expensive. Not all of us have a money tree in the back yard. Mine was used off the consignment shelf for $200. Worth every penny.