Home Forums Lever Action Central Rimfire Levers Browning 22's

Here's something to start up some conversation. A few years ago when I was in High School (I won't tell you how many but it was a lot) my uncle sold me his winchester pump 22 and I fell in love with it. I shot it for years until I got married and had a couple of kids. By then I had a hankerin for lever guns and bought a couple BL-22's and mounted 1" 4 power scopes on them and have had a blast with them. I've gone through mountains of ammo with them and have never had a problem. What about the rest of you. What've you been using and how have they panned out?

I bought my son a BL-22 in the early 90's. I can't say that he's ever had any problems with his. He still uses the open sights, no scope. A great little plinker, IMO.

I'll try to slip something in here. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />



I've got a BL-22 that I've owned since sometime in the 70's. It was my trappin' gun that went with me when running lines, and I thoroughly abused this little rifle. Dropped many a time, in mud, snow, gravel roads, pavement, and even a creek one time. It road most of the time up on the dashboard of my '64 Ford pickup, sometimes in the bed. I'm not sure I even cleaned it for the first 15 years of it's life, do remember hosing it off at the carwash once. And after all this plus thousands of rounds run through it, I'm still waiting for it's first malfunction.



I've refinished it since then, given it a proper cleaning, and will give it to my son when he's old enough. I feel like the BL-22, and Browning's Auto 22, are kind of 'tweener' guns. A little too big for really small kids, but a little too small for a full grown one like myself.



Bottom line....From my experience, the BL-22 is an accurate little 22 that'll handle just about any kind of abuse you can sling at it and keep right on doing it's job.

My BL-22 was one of my two main daily carry farm guns from about 1981 through '99, and it has had mountains of ammo run through it and with too tender of care.
It wore a Weaver 300 for most of that time, although currently has a Leupold 4X. It's always been very accurate with anything I've fed it, and has functioned flawlessly with only sporadic cleaning. It has sent untold thousands of gophers to that great alfalfa field in the sky, and only took a back seat for the longer shots when I discovered the wonders of exploding rodents into a pink mist of gore with higher-velocity 22's.
And now we've gone to the other extreme with our most recent rifle purchase, a 1895SS 45/70. Those levers are fun....

a 45-70 on gophers, WOW!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> The best I've done is with my 338 WMag. Problem is, however, you can't find no bullet hole. In fact, you don't find much of anything. It is a pretty humane way of dispatching an animal isn't it? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I have a BL 22 and its my favorite rimfire gun period. Its more acurate than anything else I have shot and its a blast to shoot!! From the above post it looks like it will take a beating also. This is the levergun I learned to shoot with, and God willing it will be the same for my son when I have one. Something special about passing guns down the line, I take great pride in the guns passed to me ( I have my Great grandfather's, Grandfather's, and my Dad's first shot gun) and I hope it will be the same for my son. Gotta love those Browning 22s <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My relationship with the little Browning has only amounted to lust. I can't recall how many times I walked to the hardware store in my youth for a date with the first one I laid eyes on. Oh, how I loved to fondle that thing. Years later, after I had money to spend on such niceties I came across another lovely little lever. This one was a Winchester 9422 and it had the nicest, highly figured wood on it. I wasn't really looking for another 22 just then but I had the money so I bought it to save it from a sure life of hard use and neglect. See, this rifle showed up on the rack in a small village in rural Alaska. That it would have seen honest use is beyond question. That it would have likely ended up in someone's boat and in the corner of a damp porch is also just as certain. I couldn't see such a pretty rifle ending up that way so I bought it. It turned out I liked that little Winchester so much I felt the need for the Magnum version for my, then, fox hunting obsession. In more recent years the magnum has seen less use so the wood has been switched between the two and the original 9422, which is the Long Rifle version, now wears the plain wood that came on the 9422M. It's probably a good thing. The little 9422's metal has considerable bare steel showing - and it's all from honest use.

I grew up thinking my dad's Model 62 Winchester pump was the end all in 22 rifles. Now I can't imagine being without some kind of quality lever action.

My first 22 was a Winchester 62 that I got from my uncle. It has since been elevated to a seat of honor in the safe and the BL-22's have been out having all the fun. There are a lot of classy old 22's out there and more to come. What a great way to start out loving rifles!

I also have an older BL-22...still like new to look at, and as accurate as ever. Also the 4x browning scope mounted on it.
A sweet combination.
I will pass it on to my son one day also. A nice thought!
Also have the Tula .22 made in USSR.
It shoots well, with an open sight.
Happy trails.
RobD <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I grew up with a Cooey 64B as my 22, you know the 12 year old that walks all day with his dog (Hinze 57) shooting squirrels and rabbits with his 22. Well that old Cooey now sits up in the rafters of my parents house and in my hands now is a Browning BL-22 Grade II.

I have a few of the BLR's 223Rem, 308win & 358win. I shoot with them all and enjoy each and every one a lot.

BUT there is just something that makes a smile come to your face when you get to the SHORT-STROKES of the little BL-22 Grade II. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Mine wears a 2-8x32 bushnell and really likes those CCI Stingers.

Even though they're a 22, there isn't anything about them that isn't first rate. Browning has given them the same consideration as anything else in their line. They are the kind of rifle that will last for several generations. They'll go from us to our kids then to our grandkids and then some don't you think?

My first firearm was a Belgian Browning Semi-Auto 22, given to me by my father around 1965.

I still have it tucked in the safe <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I got my BL-22 Grade II brand new in 1978 at Lorant's Sporting Goods in Shreveport, LA at Christmas. I was in the Air Force stationed at Barksdale AFB. My wife told me to go get something I really wanted ( S&W 357 Mag) so off I went. I had a friend from the base working part time so I really wanted the 357 Mag. He showed me the Browning BL-22 and said after inventory it was going to go way up in price and proceeded to convince me I would be happier due to the high cost of ammo for the Mag. I got the Browning with a nice soft case, 500 rounds of ammo, 2-7 Simmons Scope and a cleaning kit for $212 out the door. I have only shot it a few times and really love the gun. My son was only 2 months old and has now inherited this little jewel. I really surprised him on his 25th birthday when I showed him what I bought him as a "Baby" present. (Screw getting a Teddy Bear, real men want guns???). I even kept the box and all tags and the receipt as well.

Needless to say, my son can't wait for his next birthday as every year I open my safe and tell him to take his pick.

Hope he does not want the the Browning model 92 357 Mag I just bought today. May have to hide that one for a little while. Lastly, I did get my S&W 357 Mag model 19. What a great wife I have. I may have to keep her around?

That's my story and I am sticking to it. Hope you all enjoyed.

Love those brownings. Now I want a Medalist 22LR.

Dave

"Needless to say, my son can't wait for his next birthday as every year I open my safe and tell him to take his pick."

Dave [/quote]

You wouldn't want to adopt me would you???? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Bull Elk:

Nice try. Everytime I have related this information anywhere I get the same request. At least I have only 1 child so he will get them all someday.

Dave

Dave,


I'm to old and wore out for anyone to adopt anyway! I have twins and have been pretty successful saying I need two of everything (rifles/shotguns/knives) so each can have one and there's no bickering! Interesting how kids grow up though, I've got one that loves to hunt and fish and the other stays home and reads. Hunter kid thinks she gets all of the guns so we need to sit down and rethink this whole process.

I just picked up a bl-22 today,judging by your guys accounts I made a good choice.

I also have one..I mounted a weaver K-series 2.5X20 on mine..outstanding and lite...

RLB..

My BL-22 is one of my �working� rifles around the ranch. It�s always loaded and ready to go and it�s never failed me. It�s an accurate, reliable rifle you can really count on. I love the ultra light weight�Hardly notice it�s in your hands.

I bought a BL-22 this summer and really like it so far.Did'nt know much about them when I bought it but liked the way it handeled. From what you guys are saying it seems like I made a good choice.