Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Best (affordable) .22 Lever Action

Perzactly. There have been several similar "Henry versus Marlin" threads here on the Campfire over the past year or so and, for good or ill, I always put my two cents worth in.

Having owned both a Henry and a Marlin Model 39, I am of the opinion that, for the $$, the Henry is superior. Yes, it's got a zinc receiver cover, yes the barrel band is plastic. So what? The same bunch of hypocrites that decries the "plastic" Henry throws a hip out to buy Glocks by the bag-full.

My Marlin 39 suffered from such chronic extraction problems that I finally sold it in disgust, and bought a Henry. Not only is the action on the Henry far smoother than that of the Marlin, it's lighter and just as accurate. And, if I beat the hell out of the Henry, I couldn't care less.

Buy a Henry and use the $$ you save by not buying a Marlin to purchase a boat-load of .22 bricks.

Happy shooting.

Okay, about these Henry plactic parts... does someone make replacement parts/upgrades for them that are not plastic? Not that I would worry about them breaking, but if they did i would certainly want to replace them with a stronger part. Are they available?

I seem to remember reading in a gun magazine somewhere that, due to all the complaints from purists, Henry now makes its lever action .22's with steel barrel bands (rather than plastic). My Henry is an older model with a black plastic barrel band; if you didn't know any better, however, you'd simply assume that it's steel. I've put about a zillion rounds through my Henry without a hitch, irrespective of the barrel band material.

To inquire about after-market parts, check out Henry's website or give them a call. Henry is justly famous for its excellent customer service.

The Marlin, no doubt is an excellent rifle. Downside is they are pretty hefty to carry, and not cheap, at least in Canada. If the Ruger 9622 shoots anything like its semi-auto brother, that may be a good one, but I don't see many for sale. I have never shot a Henry, and although they are a lot lighter than the Marlin, I did not see the quality in the rifle, and the interior parts lack the finesse I see in others. Ihave never even handled a Winchester 9422, but am willing to bet they are a serviceable rifle, and good quality. I have owned a BL-22, and bought one for my daughter. Both samples were very accurate, durable and functional. If they have a negative it is the shiny lacquer hi-gloss stock. No liking that, but the rest of the package is good -- love the short throw lever, and the good trigger. You can get them used even in Canada in very good condition for about $350-400.

To each his own. Marlin 39A is nice, and from all reports, accurate, just heavier than I like in a rimfire rifle.

I have never owned a Marlin Mod 39, but I have shot enough of them and read enough about them to believe that they may be the best and most accurate bang for the buck in a .22 lever. I do own a Win 9422Mag and a Rem Nylon 76 and can attest to them being outstanding and they could be your best investments. FWIW, I prefer .22 autos or target bolts. Good luck.

Tyson,

If you're married, especially with children, get the Ruger 96/22 because;

Years ago I purchased a gorgeous Grade III Winchester 9422 and my young at the time daughter claimed it for herself. I went along with it being hers because I didn't look into the future. Yep, she married, moved off and took it with her.

I replaced it with a Browning BL22 which was promtly claimed by my wife. I get to oil it once in a while.

Replaced it with the rather homely Ruger 96/22 and low and behold it's still mine! Sure it's a bit ugly, a bit bulky compared to others and was very inexpensive, but man does it shoot.

Honestly, the Ruger is an underappreciated sleeper IMHO, shoots even the cheap ammo well and scratches and dings just don't matter.

Wish I could find one up here, but they're scarce as hen's teeth.

Was watching a 1970�s vintage NIB 39M Mountie on gunbroker last week. It was offered at $675 to start and had no bids over the course of the auction, so I figured, yeah, the seller is too proud of it.

Checked it a day after it ended and apparently more than one person was watching, as in the last bit of the auction the price went up to $735.

$735

The Marlin is a great rifle, but come on. $735 for a .22 rifle � no fancy wood, no super match grade barrel or trigger, no megabuck zero backlash target sights � just a shootin� rifle.

I�d love to get a nice older Marlin but that�s just too rich for me.

That is the problem I am finding, in looking at a suitable shooter Lever .22 rifle. The "nice" ones are CRAZY expensive, and if I do find one at a reasonable price its a beat-up POS. So now I'm not sure what to do? I'm leaning toward new again, but have got a good offer/deal from another campfire member too.

I have a 1960 Mountie in excellent condition. No way no how would I sell it for only $735. Yes I'm biased as I have had it for a long time, but it's like a pre-64 action. If you don't run one then you don't know what you're missing!

Tyson - might want to look this over very soon.

I am wavering myself...

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth.../1/Marlin_39A_with_Weaver_V7_Scop#UNREAD

My first gun was a Marlin 39A. At that time I had to decide between the 39A and 39M. Five years ago I found a very nice �69 vintage 39M and grabbed it for $300. I have since found a pretty good early Winchester 9422. The same store that had the 39M and 9422 currently has a Browning for $450. I am thinking about it.

Which is best? I don�t know. I think it is a matter of personal preference. I have a sentimental warm spot for my 39A, but these days I tend to favor the straight grip of the 39M and 9422. I haven�t really taken the time to do a real accuracy comparison among them. In a few years when I retire I should have time to do it.

The latest round of price hikes just put a lot of stuff over the top for me.

In the last two years or less I�ve watched decent S&W revolvers go from the mid-$300 or $400 range to up over $600 and even $700. Model 34�s are a case in point. Nice guns, but you can�t hardly find one now for less than $600 unless it�s showing a lot of wear. Vintage Marlin 39s were going for the same range and now this.

Generalizing here, but these nice older guns have shown about a 30% price hike overall, and my income sure hasn�t jumped 30% in the last two years.

Of course, given what the future will probably bring, we should just grin and pay the price. Then three years from now when these Marlins are going for over $1000 we can brag about how we got a good one for a mere $575.

You know my first model 39 Marlin was in the 1960's and my latest was in the 1990's. I find that any other lever Acton .22 is just a waste of money. The Marlin .22 lever is the best .22 rimfire ever made and you only need look no further.

There is a thread in Ask the Gunwriters asking how powerful gunwriters are.

Well, I don�t know how powerful gunwriters are but the power of suggestion in internet forums is pretty strong. This thread in particular has made me start scanning gunbroker for any decent deals on Model 39�s.

Own a fairly new M39A. Have shot lots of other M39s and a few Winchesters over the years. Wouldn't take a Henry if someone left me one on the front porch.

One of my huntin' buds bought a new Browning years ago. Purty little thing. Never shot worth a rat's arse, with any sort of ammo we ever ran through it. But it is purty.

As for affordability, paid $300 for my used M39A a few years ago. At the time, the new ones were going for around $400 at the same gunshop, which is why I bought the one I found in the used gun rack. It's as close to new as possible, for alot less money. Even came with the box, paperwork and Marlin scope base.

It now has a Williams peep on it, shoots very well with a variety of ammo.

I have collected, shot and hunted with .22 rifles and handguns for close to fifty years. I have owned most of the quality .22 rifles including pumps, bolt actions, semi-autos and levers. I agree, 39s are quality rifles, I've owned two, probably shot ten others. I prefer the 9422. If I ever buy another, it will be a model 57. Having said all that, I believe a Henry will run just fine for thousands of rounds. My life long hunting and fishing partner has owned one of the Henrys for years. I'm sure he has gone through 15 or 20 bricks of long rifle ammo, maybe more and he has never had a problem. I owned almost 100 .22s at one time, so I've really seen the value of many models go sky high. I have a model 250 Winchester that looks like new.

Why not? What SPECIFICALLY is wrong with a Henry? I have no quarrel with someone who, for a rational reason, dislikes a particular product. But what's your specific gripe about a Henry? Mind you, I'm not a Henry apologist and have no dog in this fight. However, your premptory dismissal of Henrys is curious.

I understand there isn't much love for the standard Henery rimfire, BUT what are the feelings regarding the constructin of the Yellow Boy? Thanks! I saw one in 22wmr

I personally would spend the extra cash and buy the Marlin 39. I would also look for a older model without the stupid cross-bolt hammer safety, believe me you want be sorry buying the Marlin over the others unless you can find a reasonably priced Winchester 9422, which is one of the best lever rimfires ever produced.