22LR Lever Action Advice

cbxjeff

My grandson wants his first rifle.  I would like to get him a starter 22 and am looking at something not too expensive.  It needn't be new but in VG condition.  I have looked at Henry's on the auction side.  Any others in the same price range I should check out?

Thanks guys,

Ricci.Wright

Nope. 

mac10

a nice marlin 39 ,browning bl22, or henry

chme

A lever action .22 is NOT going to be cheap.  The BL 22 is an excellent rifle, so is the Henry- and the ORIGINAL Marlin 39A- but it is no longer being produced.  For a first rifle, would make it a bolt action, not a lever. Even an auto like the Ruger 10-22 will probably be less $$$. 
  How old is grandson?  Mine range from 13 to 32.  

JasonV

I have been able to pick up Browning BL22s used at much less than a new one.
The Marlin 39s are very high priced but amazing.

savage170

I don't know about the quality the Rossi Bravo is less than 300.00 otherwise the Henry is the way to go the Marlin 39a have gotten outrageous in price

mjrfd99

I'm  a 9422 fan.   They have become expensive but give this a shot.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/880415778

hillbille

another vote for browning Bl22, shortest throw of the bunch, you can work the lever by opening and closing your hand, also short and light, good for small kid or starter, you can usually find one of the japenese brownings used at a reasonable price.  Henry is nice but HEAVY, but may be easier to come by, and great service/warranty if something should happen down the road. will say my only hands on with a Henry was with a golden boy in 357, got for grandson, it was heavy for me, way to heavy for kid, 22lr may be different story....

Knifecollector

Ithaca .

Sam06

I would try to find a Browning BL-22.  I have one I got from Ricci and its one of my favorite rifles.

savage170

Here is something a little different A marlin 56-22 I have the center fire version in 30 carbine
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/879886068

Grasshopper

Ok your son, Marlin to big, heavy for 1rst rifle, Henry, ok, but my choice would be the Browning. Plus discontinued rifle as above as I am sure he will keep it if any parts are needed would factor in the decision. imo

Geri

For all of my grandchildren and my children, I started them with the 10/22 and fitted with a tapco stock.

The six position stock makes  the length of pull adjustable for all sizes, me included.

Ricci.Wright

My first when I was nine years old was a Marlin 39A. To my way of thinking the very best of the lever guns in .22 LR. They are expensive though. Looks like a decent vintage JM Marlin will be $500.00 and up. It feels like a "real rifle" and will last several lifetimes. 

SCOUT5

I've bought two of the Henry .22 rifles.  The first one I bought 14 years had issues jamming with several brands of ammunition,  It actually feeds shorts better than long rifle.   That one put me off of Henry.   But a lot of people told me their rifles ran well so I decided to give them another try.  I bought another Henry and gave it to my son a couple of years ago.  It has ran well and he really enjoys it.

I considered getting my son, 12 at the time, a CZ bolt action.  But after thinking about it he isn't really interested in hunting but likes to shoot.  I figured a lever action is a lot more fun to shoot than a bolt action when you're plinking, busting rocks, or making tin cans scream.    Just a couple of days ago we were out shooting and set out some swinging .22 targets.  He ran about 200 rounds through the Henry without issue.

Fun guns and reactive targets are great for kids and the lever action .22 is a fun gun.

toad67

KenK/84Bravo said:

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That is a very nice rifle and an excellent deal for the BIN of $375.

Very nice post Savage.

Yo, cbxjeff...........................I'd be all over that.

It is, and is testing my ethics.....

JimmyJack

I love Henry and have a couple of them,  but I hesitate a bit giving a hammer gun to a kid for his first gun.  l would look for a Marlin bolt, or the Glenfield.  They are cheap,  shoot great,  and safe.

TRAP55

savage170 said:

Here is something a little different A marlin 56-22 I have the center fire version in 30 carbine
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/879886068

That's a steal on a Marlin right now, especially compared to a 39A.

asop

I collect Rossi's so thats what the 1st two got.  JFYI-I opened a charge act. at a new Farm & Fleet that opened in the area, offered a 20% discount on first purchase.  Additionally a coupon in the local paper offered a 12% discount at the same store.  Bottom line I bought a Henry carbine  for $225 out the door!  

Riomouse911

I bought my son a Henry youth .22 lever gun as his first rifle when he turned 12.

He and I liked it so much I bought myself a Henry .22 Mag and a Henry .22 LR to match. You just can’t beat a lever action rifle for fun plinking.

He is 15 now. I bought a Ruger Wrangler for him, he really loves shooting “the cowboy guns.” He has to be 21 here to own a handgun, so it’ll officially be his when he gets older.

Stay safe.

Wild Turkey

Bought my Marlin 39A Mountie when I was 11.  Still have it and love to shoot it and will pass it on to my son one of these days.

wolfpack

Buy the Henry you won't regret it

truthful

Hard to beat a quality magazine fed bolt action .22LR such as a Savage. Likely way more accurate than any lever gun, easy to properly clean, very easy to adapt to various types of sights, etc. Also, as a learner's gun, it is super easy to ensure it is safe by simply dropping out the mag and opening the bolt making it totally clear to the shooter and observers that the gun is safe. Not true with a lever gun or tube fed bolt.

mohawk600

My first gun was not a lever action, but a pump action, Winchester Model 1906 that my dad gave me when I was 12 yo.......the Christmas before he died. Of course, I still have it and it is smooth as butter and extremely accurate for a rifle that is almost 100 yo (made in 1921 I think). Nobody makes guns like that anymore.

He Dog

Jeff, the Henrys look and feel cheap to me, but your grandson will not have the same comparisons.  They are by all accounts quality rifles, even if not 1960 Wins.  It will be hard to beat them unless you spend weeks looking for cherry Wins or Marlins or Brownings.