Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Browning BL-22

A buddy of mine had one of these when we were younger. I really liked it. It was iron sights only and seemed to be fairly accurate.
I find myself wanting one. Just how accurate are they? Do they come close to a Marlin M-39?

Very accurate, and if you want a really nice looking one…. https://www.turnbullrestoration.com/gun/turnbull-finished-browning-bl-22/

Mine is more accurate than my 39A was. It's also a lot smaller and lighter and I like it much better. The 39A is a pig in comparison.

Same. With open sights, my BL-22 was more accurate than my 39A. I did scope my 39A and it was a laser beam. The BL-22, to me, just isn't conducive to scope use. But it is supremely accurate. And exceptionally well made.

BL-22 is a sweet little rifle and I’d agree every bit as accurate as the marlin.

Once you’ve put a few bricks thru it to loosen it up the short throw lever makes flinging brass easy and right quick

The Browning is a TENDER bitch,compared to a 39. As balance/handling goes,I'll GREEDILY take the 39's ergo's and mag capacity. The 39 shines brightly and stomps the Browning with Optics. Hint.

I wish I could speak to a 39 being "too heavy",but sadly,I'm not tender enough! Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!...........

I can't stand any optics on lever guns. It's rude to a fine rifle.

It's even more rude to miss stuff...I simply cant see sights anymore. Even the peeps are almost unusable. That said, I agree that a scope on a BL22 destroys the balance. That isn't true with my 96/22, Marlin 56 and 57m, or my Savage 99.

I have leupold rimfire scopes on my BL-22 and 9422. It may be sacrilegious to some, but I like being able to hit what I aim at out to 50 yards or more. My 39AS and Henry 22lr have iron sights only.

[quote=Gibby]I can't stand any optics on lever guns. [quote]

the hell ya say.....

Nice, Don.

Well, since this would strictly be a gun I shoot from the comfort of my couch, the tender part might not matter. 😁
I like the 39’s, it’s just that the BL-22 just appeals to me in feel. It’s as much a nostalgia/history thing as anything else. I do like the red dot that Don has on his. I’m long past being concerned about how things look proper or not on a particular style/type of firearm.

I should have said scopes

I'm with Stevenson! I have and love my BL22 but if I want to be accurate I'll use a 22 with a scope. The 39 is a fine gun, but I like the BL22 better for plinkng.

Some of are lucky enough to grow wiser with age even though our eye sight has faded.

Hint...........

I've handled 39A's that had different barrel weights . Noticeable difference in handling.

Then there are the 20 inch and 16 inch 39's which feel like a completely different rifle. Probably more like the BL22

Bruce

Athlon 2-12?

Huntsman helped me with putting a green dot on a .22 rifle. Not a scope, but wonderful for older eyes that struggle with irons.

I have four FF3s and an original, but I’m liking the Romeo 5s these days for the 2moa dot and auto on. Where available, the direct-mount FF bases do make for a very low and clean setup.

As a boy, I was gifted a new BL22 back in the mid 80’s from my grandfather. I still have it today. All my kids learned to shoot rimfire on it. It’s never been scoped. I don’t ever recall having any problems with this fine quality 22 lever.
The 39A has a 24” barrel I believe. The std grade 1 BL22 came with a 20” barrel.