Gopher
Blackhawk
I'm not sure it's supposed to eject them. It pushes the brass about halfway out and it's easy to flick it out with your finger. I've never had anyone look at it but it's not a big deal. It would be nice if it did.
Lightweight .22 rifle recommendations.
- Thread starter Lt Choate
- Start date
A CZ 457 American would be my first suggestion.
KS25-06
Single-Sixer
I started with my Dad's Remington 511 clip feed 22 S,L,LR at age 10. First year he kept the clip. I think it made me a better shot. When my grandson was starting to learn to shoot, I gave him the same gun. NO clip. IMHO, they are hard to beat for a starter rifle, one that will last a lifetime, and are very accurate. I thought so much of them I started collecting the 500 series. Almost have them all, except the Nylon 10.
OP
Great story.
If possible, post pictures of the 500's that you do have.
kickingandscreaming
Bearcat
I had and would look for again, a Remington Nylon 66. It was the fastest, lightest, most accurate 22 sporting gun I ever owned. Had a Williams receiver dight with matching williams ramp front sight and gold bead.
The Browning BL22 is a decent lever action .22 rifle. It weighs 5 lbs and the lever throw is 33 degrees with the trigger moving with the lever. The Henry Classic Lever Action .22 Carbine is 4.5 lbs with a 16.125" barrel and large loop lever. The Henry Small Game Carbine is 5.5 lbs with a 16.125" octagon barrel and Skinner peep sights. All 3 are nice .22's and worth a look.
Attachments
Hankus
Buckeye
My father started my younger brother and me with my grandfather’s old Savage-Steven’s falling block single shot .22 Long (NOT LR!) made back in the early 19 oughts. It saw some rough years in my brother’s “care” but I have it way back in the back of my safe, waiting for me to resurrect it. That rifle took a LOT of rabbits and squirrels back in the late 60s and early 70s. My father did the same with it back in the 30s and 40s, and my grandfather back in the early 1900s.
bykerhd
Single-Sixer
My son lusted after my Marlin 39M for many years. I finally gave up and gave it to him in hopes he would also share it with his son and so on.
As a partial replacement I bought a very nice Remington Nylon 66.
If circumstances ever permit I would like to acquire one of the very fine Belgian Browning Auto 22s.
Assuming one can be found in decent condition and that is affordable, to me.
As a partial replacement I bought a very nice Remington Nylon 66.
If circumstances ever permit I would like to acquire one of the very fine Belgian Browning Auto 22s.
Assuming one can be found in decent condition and that is affordable, to me.
OP
I never dreamed that this humble thread would generate so many responses. There have been some real classics discussed here along with some beautiful photos and I have learned a great deal about not only models I had a familiarity with, but in some cases, models I had no knowledge of. Thanks for that.
When I was younger, I always wanted to shoot the larger calibers and the "kewl" guns. And while I still like taking some of them out now and again, I believe the .22 cartridge is now my favorite to play with.
Again, thanks for contributing so much to this thread.
When I was younger, I always wanted to shoot the larger calibers and the "kewl" guns. And while I still like taking some of them out now and again, I believe the .22 cartridge is now my favorite to play with.
Again, thanks for contributing so much to this thread.
I had a Browning SA22 made in Japan by Miroku. It was a great little rifle that made a friend of mine very happy. I gave it to him for his wife and she absolutely loves it. She is left handed and the bottom eject is perfect.
Rat76
Blackhawk
Here is the heirloom single shot 22 I grew up with. It was my uncles & I have no idea how many rounds it has thu it. I know I personally put at least 2,000 rounds thru it back in the 60's & early 70's. I shot it so much that after it sat for 30 years, I took it out & I was still so accurate it was boring.
Most of my life I thought it was my Dad's. Around 10 years ago I found out is was really Uncle Jim's, I sent it off to him, made his day.
No S/N of course.
Most of my life I thought it was my Dad's. Around 10 years ago I found out is was really Uncle Jim's, I sent it off to him, made his day.
No S/N of course.
I have a cheap 22 scope on my Norinco "knock-off"; and it is a tack-driver. Years ago, I found out that the Norinco and the Browning seemed to become more, or less accurate based upon how I adjusted the barrel fit. I can't recall all the details, but I do remember that there is a ball detent at the back-end of the barrel (large knurled nut) that seems to control the headspace (?) when the (barrel and fore-end) assembly is re-attached to the rest of the gun via the normal "take-down" reassembly process. Apologies for my lack of memory, it's been years......... IIRC the tighter the fit when reassembling, the better; so, I would adjust the barrel (back) to get a fit that required me to give it a bit of a snug torque when re-assembling.
J.
jgt
Buckeye
I too have owned a lot of 22 rifles. I started with a Remington 510 and they are so accurate I never needed but one shot to harvest game. Gave lots of them to other people over the years. I have a couple of the target versions of them with peep sights, 521T I think but too lazy to get them out of the safe to check. I also have owned some Winchesters that were light weight and accurate. I bought a model 290 in a pawn shop by redeeming a pawn ticket a guy gave me because he didn't want them to sell it for more than they gave him for it. It shot S, l, lr even though it was a semi-auto. Shot it for twenty years or so then gave it to my mother because she needed something light. I think my niece or nephew has it now. I have had some Marlins that were real accurate and light weight also. I too always wanted a Browning and a Winchester pump or clone. Never got either. Had the Ithaca single shot lever and it was accurate and lightweight. Lots out there to choose from. Good luck in your quest.
I prefer #'s 1 and 2 from this old ad. Number 1 in particular since the title of the thread is lightweight 22s.
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WV338
355th TFW
Ruger 10/22
Iroc
Bearcat
I've always liked the rimfire .22lr and I've bought and sold a number over the years. I currently own a Ruger 10/22 Carbine with the black plastic stock that I bought a couple years ago for my grandkids to shoot, weighs 5lbs 7 3/4oz with the Viridian scope. In my opinion the trigger as they come on these are a piece of junk, mine was right at a 6 pound pull, it took me some work but using all the original parts I finally got mine breaking at 3lbs. One .22lr I've never regretted buying is my Marlin Golden 39AS. I've been using it for the last 36 years, it has a clean breaking trigger and I've shot a lot of small game and pests with it over the years. At 6lbs 14oz it's not light but it's very accurate for killing things. With the 24" barrel and subsonic ammo it's also pretty quiet. I had a mil-dot Weaver K-4 on it till the cross hairs broke so I replaced that with a Williams peep sight that it still wears. I've read a lot of good things about the CZ457 and I'm currently waiting to pick up an American in a week, we'll see how that one does.
kickingandscreaming
Bearcat
What us the receiver made of? Pot metal or 6061, 7075 ?
Ruger 10-22 made from parts. The stock is an Altamont straight grip, the barrel is a 16.125" with fire sights and the trigger is a BX. The barrel has a threaded muzzle and I prick punched the protective collar in place so it doesn't come loose. I have not weighed it but it is easy to carry and points naturally. With the BX trigger it shoots like a dream. It cost a few bucks to make up but you won't find a nicer little carbine out there.
The Henry receivers are made of Zamak. Not sure about the BL22. I read somewhere that the Henry lever .22's are an updated Ithaca model 72 saddle gun which was made in West Germany by Erma Werke. The Henry versions are nice and I have never had a problem with the ones that I have.
I’ve got a couple of the Henry’s. I know the cover is made of Zamak, but I’m not sure on the actual mechanism. It’s not steel, that’s for sure. But-‘the Henry action is as smooth as butter. I haven’t put thousands of rounds through my .22LR, and only hundreds through the .22WMR. But there really isn’t any sign of wear yet. I did upgrade the .22LR to a large loop lever because of my Sasquatch hands. I also put on fiber optic sights. They may not be the lightest but they sure are slim and trim- I wish Henry would come out with a takedown version!
kickingandscreaming
Bearcat
Thanx, I always wondered. I knew it wasn’t steel.
Hankus
Buckeye
All, I have been back through this thread and can’t find specific mention of this. Are there any “full throw” lever action .22s currently available? I have realized I really want to add a new lever action .22 to my stable.
bykerhd
Single-Sixer
I'm a fan of the older Marlin 39M "Mountie" carbines. All steel, mostly anyway, and walnut. Not all that light though.
Older Winchester 9422 was a pretty decent lever action .22, not in the Marlin's class in my opinion.
Older Winchester 9422 was a pretty decent lever action .22, not in the Marlin's class in my opinion.
I think the Browning BL22 is the only short throw lever in the bunch. The Browning trigger travels with the lever in a 33 degree arc. The others have a longer throw and the trigger does not move with the lever. For the Henry you used to be able to get a piece that fit the lever to trip the trigger ala "The Rifleman"... It was made from plastic and slid onto the lever. The original concept as used by Chuck Connors was an 8-32 bolt and wing nut that could be moved to either allow the rifle to be used in the normal manner or be set to make it fire every time the lever was fully closed.
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2012
- Messages
- 10,896
As @Watertender said. Henry levers are full throw, and used Marlins 39’s are around they are also full throw.
Old and grumpy
Single-Sixer
Picked up a Henry AR7. Very light and I was surprised how well it shoots. They say they worked out the bugs the old ones made by others had. There are 15 rd mags out there. --- https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020115768?pid=523091
