Browning BL-22 Grade 1

BredanSIG · October 10, 2007, 04:11 PM

Put one on layaway today ($410). Handled it a lot to get that needed mental leverage to decide. What can the BL22 owners here tell me about this model? How well does the gun perform as compared to the Marlin/Winchester/Henry competitors?

Cheese · October 10, 2007, 10:48 PM

What's not to like? If you had both the winchester and the browning, you would probably be annoyed as the lever throw is much shorter on the browning leading to an early termination of cycling feeling when shooting the browning. I prefer the browning quite a bit. The winchester is no slouch though and i like both about as much as i like anything.

OJ · October 10, 2007, 11:46 PM

The Browning BL22 is close to my favorite - certainly is for rimfires. Shoots shorts, longs, and long rifles in any order you want and that short throw is pure joy. I bought mine in 1968 for - can you believe - $100.00. The same day and from the same dealer, I bought my Buffalo Bill Commemorative Winchester 94 30-30 rifle for $90.00 !!! Talk about relative values !

One of the best gun deals I ever made.

Art Eatman · October 11, 2007, 09:36 AM

I've traded into a couple of them. Seriously good-shooting little rifles!

Art

Bottom Gun · October 11, 2007, 11:21 AM

They are excellent rifles.

BredanSIG · October 11, 2007, 02:57 PM

I am concerned that this gun was man handled and may not function as it should. This particular gun was on display for quite sometime. The store didn’t have any more BL22’s in stock as well. In other words, I have a BL22 thats been on display and certainly has had some idiot dry fire or "inspect" the action like a monkey and now I am concerned that some unseen damage maybe present.

kixonrt66 · December 10, 2007, 12:39 PM

Hello All,
I'm a newbie here but I've been a long time shooter and I like what I see here. I have a question or two about the Browning BL22. I bought one of these guns(grade I) in Conroe Texas in 1969 and I seem to remember that it was manufactured in Belgium. Is this possible? Were BL22's ever manufactured in Belgium? I shot this little gun for many years and learned to really like the way it performed. Unfortunately, it was stolen from me on the early eighties. I have since bought a replacement that was made in 1991 according to the serial number. The fellow I bought it from made a big deal about the fact that it was manufactured in Japan. Aren't they all manufactured in Japan now? I would be horror sticken to learn that Brownings BL22's or Brownings of of any model are being manufactured in China or some other God forsaken place. Where are BL 22's manufactured right now?

Kixonrt66

OJ · December 10, 2007, 01:05 PM

AFAIK - Browning BL 22 rifles have always been manufactured by Miroku in Japan and the quality of their work is the highest. They made this "century repro" Winchester 95 (one of 10,000 - 3,000 in Hi grade) in 1995 also -

kixonrt66 · December 10, 2007, 11:16 PM

Thanks for the information OJ!
I thought that might be the case but I wasn't sure. I have always enjoyed shooting the little BL22 Browning. I have owned Winchesters and Marlins and I currently own a Hi Standard 22 auto made in the 1950's for Sears. It's called a JC Higgins model 31 and it's a very accurate gun. I also currently own a 1932 Remington model 12C with an octagonal barrel and folding Lyman peep sights and this is an especially fine gun also. But I seem to always pick up the little Browning when I go for a walk in the desert. It's just always been easy, comfortable, reliable and fun to shoot. The one I had back in the 1970's went through many thousands of rounds without a single misfire, or hung shell. I shot some good ammo through it and I shot lots of cheap ammo through it and it performed flawlessly through all of it. I don't remember ever cleaning it other than wiping it down and putting a drop or two of oil on the moving parts on rare occaision.
Thanks again for the info OJ!
Kix

kixonrt66 · December 18, 2007, 05:02 PM

I just bought my second BL-22. I'd like to put a scope on it and I wonder which scopes not only perform well but are small enough to not overpower the little rifle's looks. It's a somewhat diminutive rifle so I don't want to put a big scope on it. I'd like a good quality scope in the 4x-6x power range or perhaps a 1.5-4X variable. What scopes are available in gloss finish that are on the small side? what have you used on your BL-22 with good results?

Kix

chinooknw · July 20, 2011, 03:38 PM

I use the Leupold VX-12. It is a 2-7 x 28mm rimfire scope. Cost $219.00 at Cabelas with fee mount and bore sighting. It's gloss finish to match rifle. Mount as far forward as possible for proper eye relief, as the BL22 mounting rail is short.

oneoldsap · July 20, 2011, 09:01 PM

If the dealer is selling as a new gun I wouldn't fret about any damage , should be warrenteed ! Nice little Rifles , the Cream of the lever .22 crop , for sure !

Ace254 · December 15, 2018, 10:27 AM

I just bought a BL22 as well... Having trouble putting a date on it. The serial number is 7B53253. Numbers are on the bottom. It does have a patent number. Any help is greatly appreciated!! Can’t upload pictures, but would be happy to email or text if needed.

Art Eatman · December 15, 2018, 09:50 PM

Ace, in the future, feel free to start a new thread when you have this sort of question.

bn12gg · December 19, 2018, 08:26 PM

I have owned the BL22 grade II for many years. Bottom line imo too petite (LOP) for someone with long arms, very average trigger but wow pretty walnut. Mine is a keeper.

.02. David.

Reloadron · December 21, 2018, 02:10 PM

This is sort of interesting:

Quote:

Put one on layaway today ($410). Handled it a lot to get that needed mental leverage to decide. What can the BL22 owners here tell me about this model? How well does the gun perform as compared to the Marlin/Winchester/Henry competitors?

Today was October 10th 2007 or just over 11 years ago. The BL22 price was $410. November 21st through 25th Bass Pro / Cabela's had the BL22 on sale for $399.97 after a Regular price of $549.99 on sale for $499.97 with a $100 rebate getting the rifle down to $399.97 or just about what it cost the thread starter just over 11 years ago.

I was tempted but I want another handgun so a BL22 will have to wait.

Ron

October 10, 2007, 04:11 PM	#1
BredanSIG Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2005 Posts: 204	Browning BL-22 Grade 1 Put one on layaway today ($410). Handled it a lot to get that needed mental leverage to decide. What can the BL22 owners here tell me about this model? How well does the gun perform as compared to the Marlin/Winchester/Henry competitors?

October 10, 2007, 11:46 PM	#3
OJ Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 1998 Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, USA Posts: 1,570	The Browning BL22 is close to my favorite - certainly is for rimfires. Shoots shorts, longs, and long rifles in any order you want and that short throw is pure joy. I bought mine in 1968 for - can you believe - $100.00. The same day and from the same dealer, I bought my Buffalo Bill Commemorative Winchester 94 30-30 rifle for $90.00 !!! Talk about relative values ! One of the best gun deals I ever made. __________________ OJ - SEMPER FI - DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER

December 10, 2007, 12:39 PM	#7
kixonrt66 Junior Member Join Date: December 10, 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM. Posts: 7	BL22 Manufacture Hello All, I'm a newbie here but I've been a long time shooter and I like what I see here. I have a question or two about the Browning BL22. I bought one of these guns(grade I) in Conroe Texas in 1969 and I seem to remember that it was manufactured in Belgium. Is this possible? Were BL22's ever manufactured in Belgium? I shot this little gun for many years and learned to really like the way it performed. Unfortunately, it was stolen from me on the early eighties. I have since bought a replacement that was made in 1991 according to the serial number. The fellow I bought it from made a big deal about the fact that it was manufactured in Japan. Aren't they *all* manufactured in Japan now? I would be horror sticken to learn that Brownings BL22's or Brownings of of *any* model are being manufactured in China or some other God forsaken place. Where are BL 22's manufactured right now? Kixonrt66

December 10, 2007, 01:05 PM	#8
OJ Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 1998 Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, USA Posts: 1,570	AFAIK - Browning BL 22 rifles have always been manufactured by Miroku in Japan and the quality of their work is the highest. They made this "century repro" Winchester 95 (one of 10,000 - 3,000 in Hi grade) in 1995 also - __________________ OJ - SEMPER FI - DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER

December 10, 2007, 11:16 PM	#9
kixonrt66 Junior Member Join Date: December 10, 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM. Posts: 7	Thanks for the information OJ! I thought that might be the case but I wasn't sure. I have always enjoyed shooting the little BL22 Browning. I have owned Winchesters and Marlins and I currently own a Hi Standard 22 auto made in the 1950's for Sears. It's called a JC Higgins model 31 and it's a very accurate gun. I also currently own a 1932 Remington model 12C with an octagonal barrel and folding Lyman peep sights and this is an especially fine gun also. But I seem to always pick up the little Browning when I go for a walk in the desert. It's just always been easy, comfortable, reliable and fun to shoot. The one I had back in the 1970's went through many thousands of rounds without a single misfire, or hung shell. I shot some good ammo through it and I shot lots of cheap ammo through it and it performed flawlessly through all of it. I don't remember ever cleaning it other than wiping it down and putting a drop or two of oil on the moving parts on rare occaision. Thanks again for the info OJ! Kix Last edited by kixonrt66; December 11, 2007 at 12:22 AM.

October 10, 2007, 10:48 PM	#2
Cheese Member Join Date: December 6, 2006 Posts: 64	What's not to like? If you had both the winchester and the browning, you would probably be annoyed as the lever throw is much shorter on the browning leading to an early termination of cycling feeling when shooting the browning. I prefer the browning quite a bit. The winchester is no slouch though and i like both about as much as i like anything.

October 11, 2007, 09:36 AM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I've traded into a couple of them. Seriously good-shooting little rifles! Art

October 11, 2007, 11:21 AM	#5
Bottom Gun Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 1998 Location: Arizona Territory Posts: 1,092	They are excellent rifles.

October 11, 2007, 02:57 PM	#6
BredanSIG Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2005 Posts: 204	I am concerned that this gun was man handled and may not function as it should. This particular gun was on display for quite sometime. The store didn’t have any more BL22’s in stock as well. In other words, I have a BL22 thats been on display and certainly has had some idiot dry fire or "inspect" the action like a monkey and now I am concerned that some unseen damage maybe present.

December 18, 2007, 05:02 PM	#10
kixonrt66 Junior Member Join Date: December 10, 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM. Posts: 7	Scope Choices for a BL-22 I just bought my second BL-22. I'd like to put a scope on it and I wonder which scopes not only perform well but are small enough to not overpower the little rifle's looks. It's a somewhat diminutive rifle so I don't want to put a big scope on it. I'd like a good quality scope in the 4x-6x power range or perhaps a 1.5-4X variable. What scopes are available in gloss finish that are on the small side? what have you used on your BL-22 with good results? Kix

July 20, 2011, 03:38 PM	#11
chinooknw Junior Member Join Date: July 20, 2011 Posts: 1	BL22 Scope Option I use the Leupold VX-12. It is a 2-7 x 28mm rimfire scope. Cost $219.00 at Cabelas with fee mount and bore sighting. It's gloss finish to match rifle. Mount as far forward as possible for proper eye relief, as the BL22 mounting rail is short.

July 20, 2011, 09:01 PM	#12
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	If the dealer is selling as a new gun I wouldn't fret about any damage , should be warrenteed ! Nice little Rifles , the Cream of the lever .22 crop , for sure !

December 15, 2018, 10:27 AM	#13
Ace254 Junior Member Join Date: December 14, 2018 Posts: 5	Dating browning bl22 I just bought a BL22 as well... Having trouble putting a date on it. The serial number is 7B53253. Numbers are on the bottom. It does have a patent number. Any help is greatly appreciated!! Can’t upload pictures, but would be happy to email or text if needed.

December 15, 2018, 09:50 PM	#14
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Ace, in the future, feel free to start a new thread when you have this sort of question.

December 19, 2018, 08:26 PM	#15
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	I have owned the BL22 grade II for many years. Bottom line imo too petite (LOP) for someone with long arms, very average trigger but wow pretty walnut. Mine is a keeper. .02. David.