Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Lever action 22lr's, round 2 - Marlin 39A vs Henry

Just like the other post - please let us know which of these you prefer, and why if you don't mind.

The rifle with the most votes will go up against the winner from the 1st thread down the road.

Thanks all

Marlin 39 for me..

39 for the win...

Marlin! You couldn't give me a Henry!

Does anyone know if the Erma version of the Henry (& the Ithaca 72 I think) had steel recievers or if they were also "alloy"?

Winchester '73....hands down.

Here's a couple of my Marlin 39's.....oldest one I have is a '54....

but also have one Henry..........

Marlin 39's are very dependable...easy to take down & clean.....accurate....fun to shoot !

Marlin 39A hands down!

Wow - until today I didn't know that the Winchester 73 was available in 22lr.

Thanks Cisco1!

Marlin 39A

The Ermas and Ithacas were also non-ferrous mystery metal.

To answer the original post, there is no finer lever action 22 than the 39A.

Other than the original Winchester 1873.

39

The Model 39 Mountie is what I consider THE classic rimfire hunting rifle.

Truly an heirloom quality rifle.

I know I full intend to pass mine down.

That is, after I get done shooting it a whole bunch more!

39 with out question
henrys are pretty much you know what

Alloy

39. I do have a couple of the commemorative Henry's adorning my office wall, the Boy Scout, Eagle Scout, FNRA, and the latest 2nd Amendment gun from a FNRA banquet. They support the FNRA very well every year.

Kragman,

Winchester '73 not available in .22LR. Most ( with early Winchesters ...one can never be sure) were in .22Long.

just another..........'81 Mountie.........

Marlin in my opinion but I have only handled a Henry and haven't shot one long term.

Marlin pre-Remlin....current manufacture I choose Henry. Have have good limited experience with my one Henry, but does not hold a candle to my 1966 39A.

Marlin 39a, I have two a 52 and 57 vintage. Dad bought me the 52 version new when I was in the second grade. It's a standard rifle, the 57 model I bought off Gunbroker a little over a year ago, not the greatest price, but got one in probably 95-97% condition, and It's a Mountie. Got Lyman receiver sights on both.

As long as I could get a Marlin I would not consider a Henry, I prefer a steel receiver to the Zamak alloy of the Henry.

I wonder if the zinc based alloy of the Henry will stand the test of time that the Marlin has?

well, it won't rust out......

Where are these "Remlin" 39A's of which you speak??? I haven't seen a new 39A in over 5 years....

39A. Bought mine at a garage sale 25+ years ago. Two of 'em for $50.00! The old gentleman just didn't want them around any longer. That won't happen again anytime soon.

Just got a 39AS for a song that must be from late '80s cuz it has CB safety.

It was owned by an elderly fellow in the country so it's got some dings & nicks.

Got a Simmons scope on it I'll ditch for XS irons or Skinner sights ( anyone use latter?), and may put better scope on it later.

First rimfire lever ever; pretty, stoked.

Mackay, what load do you use on those big jacks in your Mountie?

Henry, just kidding

I didn't realize how accurate the 39's are until I shot mine against my Remmy 572. Both are open sights and it was not even close.

Apparently unlike most people, I don't get dewy-eyed when discussing Model 39's and consider .22's to simply be tools. From that perspective, it's hard to beat a Henry in terms of price, function, customer service, and general "bang for the buck" (the pun was intentional).

In my experience, most people who trash Henrys have never shot one and simply badmouth them based on what they read or someone told them.

I had one...and thought it to be a cheap, overpriced turd. It was functional....but thats about it.

you forgot customer service(as if anyone uses it....) and general pun-like 'bang for the buck'

I've owned both and if all one expects from a .22lr firearm is being able to hit a soda can 50% of the time out at around 50 yards then maybe your opinion would ring true. But in real life I myself find the difference between the two to be night and day. Again I'm not talking about having fun and just plinking, I'm talking about a real workhorse and accurate rifle. My .02 anyway.

yeah, but....Which different one do you like at 'night'?

If you're unable to hit a soda can at 50 yards more than 50% of the time, I respectfully submit that the fault doesn't lie with the rifle.

Marlin 39A for me. Why, 1) because I own two, and 2) the drop at the comb on the Henry (Golden Boy) does not allow for anywhere near a decent check rest. I found myself craning my neck to get a proper sight picture. (The 'standard', non-Golden boy version, does have a stock that has a little less drop.)

39A, all the way.

39a , go no further.

Henry who?

I've owned or shot most variations of the 39 and my favorite is the 60s vintage Carbine with the 2/3s magazine. Just has a balance that none of the others do.

But I don't trash Henry...they give tremendous support to the shooting sports...

Bob

While not on the OPs list of options, the Marlin Lever-matic is pretty sweet if you can find one.

YES, there is! Marlin 1897 Cowboy .22LR.......and I own one!

They're both great rifles. Between the two the Marlin is superior in every way. But (ain't there always), the Henry is an awesome little rifle for the money. I bought one for my son because quite simply I wasn't ready to part with my Mountie even though he desperately wanted it.

39A Marlin is twice the rifle! My 39 made in 1958, was given to me in 1960, for milking the neighbors cows, while they went to Alaska for a month. My Henry was bought during a weak moment! Henry shoots ok, but it's no where near the quality rifle Marlin is. When the Henry is 59 years old I guess we will know, How well it held up!

My Golden Mountie is a 1972 edition. Very accurate, totally dependable. If restricted to a single .22 LR firearm, this would be it.

I like the Winchester best. I think it was called 9422 and could be purchased in 22mag. My buddy had one, I was always a little jealous. It was a real classy looking and accurate gun.

I never care much for the Marlin, mainly because it was 22LR only with no magnum version available. also too long a barrel. And a big bolt on the side is ugly. In spite of all that I would say the Marlin looks better than the Henry. It has a steel frame and the ugly look is now classic. The Henry has a boxy look and seem like the whole product line was beat with the ugly stick. In addition to ugly, the Henry line also seems to contain rifles with a lot of inappropriate style features for the time period firearms thy offer. Even in 45/70, if I was forced to choose between a slip shod remlin and a henry, I would gamble on the remlin.

The one thing Henry has going for it is the "Made in USA" theme and apparent genuine enthusiasm of the owner. I believe with the right attitude and listen to the customer the company should do well. It may simple be a case of the modern customer and myself are not in step.