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Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Paladin on April 07, 2012, 07:42:35 PM

Title: .22 Henry Lever action vs .22 Marlin Lever action
Post by: Paladin on April 07, 2012, 07:42:35 PM
I retired recently (and moved out of Ca. as fast as possible). I moved to Texas and my local gun club is as fanatical about the NRA small bore matches. I am considering a .22 lever action rifle so that I can compete in the small bore and lever action small bore matches. So which is more accurate the Henry .22 lever action or the Marlin? 8)
Title: Re: .22 Henry Lever action vs .22 Marlin Lever action
Post by: Majer on April 07, 2012, 08:54:57 PM
Paladin, see if you can find an older Marlin 39(Pre-Safety) I have 2 of them and they are very accurate.You'll want to try different ammo to see which one the guns likes the most.The Henry .22 is a good gun, but the Marlin is a gun that you can hand down to your grandkids.
Title: Re: .22 Henry Lever action vs .22 Marlin Lever action
Post by: sledgemeister on April 08, 2012, 09:02:49 AM
I have an older Marlin and its more accurate than me using pmc zapper ammo.
If I was to get another then I would consider a Browning BL22, theyre accurate but heaps lighter than the Marlin and way better quality than the henry. The Marlin weighs a ton.
Title: Re: .22 Henry Lever action vs .22 Marlin Lever action
Post by: CJS3 on April 09, 2012, 04:02:19 PM
I've got a Henry Golden Boy. It's very accurate out to 50 yards (I can't see the target much beyond that). The action is silky smooth, and both my older grandkids love shooting it. If you can't find an older Marlin, I couldn't knock the Henry as a replacement.
Title: Re: .22 Henry Lever action vs .22 Marlin Lever action
Post by: jaybet on April 10, 2012, 07:17:56 AM
Gotta go with CJS3...every Marlin I've touched is a nice gun, but I have a Henry Golden Boy as well and it's a solid, nice shooting rifle. AND it's American made. I don't understand so many people bagging on the Henry quality- I've never seen anything bad about them.
Title: Re: .22 Henry Lever action vs .22 Marlin Lever action
Post by: sledgemeister on April 10, 2012, 08:02:25 AM
Gotta go with CJS3...every Marlin I've touched is a nice gun, but I have a Henry Golden Boy as well and it's a solid, nice shooting rifle. AND it's American made. I don't understand so many people bagging on the Henry quality- I've never seen anything bad about them.

I can bag them quite easily, a while back a fellow club member got one, thing shot like #$#, at 25m would group less than 6" didnt matter what ammo. It was sent back, got another one as a replacement and it was just as crap. Not sure if they had a bad run or what the story was, but they was far from good. (thats not the only example I come accross either)  Even pulling it apart the quality was crap. Buying american is all good and hey I love ruger and S&W etc, but henry nah, you can keep that shite over there. New Marlins also fall into that category, ever since Remington took them over their quality has gone the way of the dodo.
Seriously a decent 22 lever action you cant go past a BL22, try one and tell me a henry is honestly better.
Title: Re: .22 Henry Lever action vs .22 Marlin Lever action
Post by: jaybet on April 10, 2012, 11:12:55 AM
Well, that's a bad experience. I have a friend with a Big Boy and that performs nicely as well. Maybe they're like the french with wine...they send all the crappy stuff overseas.
Title: Re: .22 Henry Lever action vs .22 Marlin Lever action
Post by: tombogan03884 on April 10, 2012, 12:57:10 PM
Well, that's a bad experience. I have a friend with a Big Boy and that performs nicely as well. Maybe they're like the french with wine...they send all the crappy stuff overseas.

Or like the Aussies with beer ? 
We get Fosters they get Coopers.   ;D
Title: Re: .22 Henry Lever action vs .22 Marlin Lever action
Post by: Timothy on April 10, 2012, 01:10:07 PM
Nearly all of the Browning products are now made overseas, mostly Japan!  I don't have a big problem with Japanese products made by Japanese companies but Browning has fallen off the "must have" list for nearly everything for me.  I looked at a BPS a few years back and the fit and finish were terrible. 

The Buckmark is still made here but that's about it...I've been looking at lever actions for awhile.  It's a pretty short list of guns for me and the Henry is still on it.

I know, I'm preaching again.....
Title: Re: .22 Henry Lever action vs .22 Marlin Lever action
Post by: PABLO DEL NORTE on April 15, 2012, 10:09:29 AM
 :)   WE HAVE TWO HENRY .22's & TWO MARLIN .22's.  DAUGHTER #2 LIKED THE HENRY SO MUCH, SHE TOOK ONE HOME.
DAUGHTER #3 LOVES HER HENRY AS WELL. THEY BOTH SAY THE HENRY IS SMOOTHER. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, THEY BOTH ARE GOOD GUNS. GET ONE, SHOOT A LOT OF ROUNDS THRU IT, & ENJOY!!  8) 8)   

Title: Re: .22 Henry Lever action vs .22 Marlin Lever action
Post by: blackwolfe on April 15, 2012, 10:38:33 AM
I have heard that the Marlins are very well made and usually accurate.  I think the Henrys Winchesters and Brownings look a lot sleeker and to me better.  If the Henrys had a blued receiver rather than painted or coated or whatever it is I would probably get one and still might.  There are some Marlin versions that are trimmer, but those models are not made at this time. They are harder to find on the used market and usually more dollars.  The Marlin TDS (Take Down System) comes to mind.  It has a 16 and 1/2 inch barrel, slimmer for end, straight butt stock, weighs about 5 pounds, and comes with a cases that the two pieces fit in.  Google Marlin TDS and you'll be able to find pictures and information about them.  If you are looking to buy one, make sure you are sitting down, as you can probably buy 2 new Henrys for what you'll pay for one used Marlin TDS.  There is also the Marlin Mountie.  I believe that at least some of the Mounties come with shorter barrels and strait stocks.