Marlin Golden 39A vs Henry Golden Boy vs Browning BL-22

I have to disagree with Old CW4, the Miroku made rifles and shotguns are some of the finest in the world. Trap shooters literally put 5 figure numbers of 12 gauge shells through Japanese made shotguns in a single season. I currently shoot a Browning model 71 made in Miroku. This is a Browning design originally made by Winchester. Mine not only shoots extremely well (minute of angle at 100 yards with iron sights) but handles a massive caliber change with ease. The 71 was originally chambered in .348 and so were the browning copies but mine has been rechambered for the potent 450 Alaskan which will duplicate the .458 Winchester Magnum. It is strong, accurate and very good looking.

450alaskan.jpg
 
Old CW4 said:
Speaking as a gunsmith with more years in the business than I care to remember, my first choice would be the Marlin, followed by a Ruger 10/22, and IF---IF--you can get a Browning made in Belgium and not in Japan, it would also be a fine rifle. I don't want to knock the Japanese because they make a lot of great products, however, IMO they have NEVER made good small arms! Again IMO Browning, Weatherby, and S&W all did a disservice when they licensed some of their products to be made in Japan.
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I have never heard anything about negative about Japanese gun or any other country's gun I didnt realize they were made in different locations. And if I were to get a ruger 10 22 I would want to make it a pack camping gun so probably add a folding stock but I'm not sure on the legality of such thus am unsure it it. I dont know of another way to make it convient to carry in the woods? I wouldn't mind the Compact version.
 
These days, and until the anti gunners take over again, a folding stock is perfectly legal so long as the rifle (or shotgun), with stock folded, is at least 26 inches long. Butler Creek Co. makes an excellent drop in folding stock for 10/22s and their products are available through most dealers.
 
Re Japan made Brownings, specifically the little take-down 22s. Those made in Belgium by 'sure nuff' Browning can be taken down and put back together unlimited times without loosening up. Try that with a Japanese copy and after four of five take downs and reassemblies your barrel wiggles and flops. I won't go into the atrocious shotguns S&W had made in Japan other than to say IMO the designs were bad and they break real easy---have had to fix too many of them. Plus, for sorry rifles and handguns, it's hard to beat Arisaka and Nambu. Sure, they were strong but also weird and dangerous, they still are and I advise would-be hunters with Arisakas to hang them on the wall.
 
Another vote for the 39a,

mine is older but deadly accurate. Have never thought of it as heavy.
 
I have the Henry H001T frontier model with the 20" Octagon barrel. It weighs in around 6.5 pounds, holds 16 rounds of .22LR and shoots better then me. I can hit little soup cans all day with it at 50 to 75 yards. The action is slick as can be and very fast.

It's not on your list but still a very good lever gun so I thought I would mention it. It's also less expencive then the ones you listed which would save some green. ;)

Have handled all 3 rifles you list and can't deside which one I like best. If you can handle them side by side in a store do so then deside. Good luck!!

Heber
 
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