Anyone using a Browning BL-22 FLD, Grade II Octagon 24" for SB Cowboy Silhouette ? I would be interested in comments.
Thanks ppkny

I had one - it was my first smaller rifle. The issue is the trigger - it is quite heavy. Crisp, but heavy and difficult to work on. I loved the rifle, it was accurate as everything, it fit me well and I moved from unclassified to AA quite fast. Then I got a 39A and have not advanced...must be the gun!

If you find a gunsmith that can work on BL22s then you might have something. It is not drilled and tapped for sights, so you'll have to use a "rimfire" claw mount for Williams sights.

Very nice rifle, but the trigger is the downside of the Browning.

Michael

snaketail2,
Thanks I'm using a Henry Frontier currently and it also takes the dovetail top mount Williams rear sight so that's not a problem. I had a 39a but seems it was to sensitive to what position the gun was in when you were working the lever to load. I would like to go back to a longer barrel like the 24" the 39a has or this Browning.
Anyone else have any experience with the Browning ?
ppkny

I will be trying mine out for the first time on silhouettes this weekend. I have the 20" grade II version. The trigger was 8.5lbs when I purchased it. I had to change the sear geometry a little bit and smoothed it out but got it down to a nice 2.5lbs. My 20" is pretty light but i'll shoot what i've got. I really like the short lever throw.

Emietenkorte- Did you do all the work on the lever portion of the trigger? Or, did you have to go inside the rifle?

I'm considering going back to a lighter weight rifle and my BL22 20" was perfect. Maybe I should go back to the Browning - if the clean up and dressing can be done without going "inside."

Michael

I did go inside the rifle. Most of the work is done with the action parts. I didn't do anything to the lever. Here is a picture of the hammer and sear after I took them out, that is where most of the work took place.

Finally !! Someone with some Browning experience. Is that a simple thing to accomplish on the Browning ? I'm accustomed to the simple Marlins, but the Browning has been a mystery to me so far. Thanks for posting that pic.

Thanks guys, very helpful so far.
ppkny

It wasn't too difficult. It took me about and hour in total. I think the hardest thing was sliding everything together and making sure the ejector and ejector spring stayed in the correct spot. The sear to hammer engagement seems to have a hook that takes a lot of leverage to disengage it. I changed the angle on the hook a bit and polished it up. Works great!

Wish I'd seen this two years ago. I'd have kept the little Browning if I had.

Thanks,
Michael

Hi ppkny I running one of these here in Australia and getting great results ,had a local legend do some work on the trigger and this rifle is shooting the house down for me...
Have gone from shooting 14, 8 months ago when I started this bag to shooting AA and even a AAA/30 score last month with this rifle...

I couldn't be more with this little gun feels much nicer than my 94/22 to shoot IMHO

I'm Loving it

Well I think my first venture into lever action was a success using the Browning. It was definitely a bit challenging with it being so light but at least we don't have much wind at Pe Ell. I was able to squeak out a 35/40 with a 10 on chickens and pigs. Shooting the browning definitely made my 8.5lb hunter rifle feel heavier! It was great fun!! Now to find a pistol cartridge lever gun.... good thing my wife doesn't read this forum hahaha

Guys, Thanks. I'm currently checking on price and availability right now. This gun doesn't seem to be a common stock item. For my PC gun I'm shooting a Rossi M92 24" Octagon Barrel in 357 caliber and having great results. Very smooth action on the gun.
ppkny

I'm picking up my Browning BL-22 Octagon next week and looking for info on what front sight (Lyman17a Globe) height anyone has installed. I'll be using a Williams FP-GR-TK dovetail mount on the rear.
Any info would be appreciated.
ppkny

ppkny wrote:I'm picking up my Browning BL-22 Octagon next week and looking for info on what front sight (Lyman17a Globe) height anyone has installed. I'll be using a Williams FP-GR-TK dovetail mount on the rear.
Any info would be appreciated.
ppkny

Mine was the very small version - so your rifle may be different.
I used the medium height 17a and the same Williams dovetail mount. Worked well for me. (I still use the Williams GR on my 39a with the same front sight...I have a tip-off mount on the receiver with the Williams GR sight mounted on it - yes it is legal - passed inspection in Raton.)

I wish I had read this thread before I traded it off - the trigger was heavy and I felt it was holding me back (just an excuse I later discovered). If I could have had the weight/feel of the BL-22 with trigger of the my 39a I think (again my perception) I would have had a real winner. The BL-22 fit me very well and the 39A is an "it'll-do for now" fit.

Keep us posted on the results of your new rifle. Mine liked AutoMatch, but AutoMatch has changed since then.
I recently shot with Tommy Perry who had great results with Eley Force, 42gr High-Vel bullets.

Michael