Browning BL-22 Review (2026): 600 Rounds Through the 33 Degree Lever

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Table of Contents

Review: Browning BL-22 – Seven Models, One Rifle, and a 33 Degree Lever

Our Rating: 8.6/10

• RRP: $839.99 (Micro Midas) to $1,429.99 (FLD Grade II Octagon); Grade I $929.99
• Street Price: $719.99 (Use our live pricing for the best up to date deal)
• Caliber: .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle, mixed in any combination
• Action: Lever action, 33 degree lever throw
• Barrel Length: 20 in. (16.25 in. Micro Midas, 24 in. Octagon)
• Barrel Material: Steel, polished blued
• Rifling/Twist Rate: 1:16
• Capacity: 15 Long Rifle (11 in the Micro Midas), tubular magazine
• Receiver: Machined steel, polished blued or satin nickel
• Overall Length: 36.75 in. (31.5 in. Micro Midas, 40.75 in. Octagon)
• Weight: 5 lbs (4 lbs 12 oz Micro Midas, 5 lbs 4 oz Octagon)
• Stock: Black walnut (Grade AA maple on the Maple), 13.5 in. length of pull (12 in. Micro Midas)

Quick Take

The Browning BL-22 is the nicest made lever action .22 you can buy without going custom. A machined steel receiver, black walnut, and a lever that only swings 33 degrees, so you cycle it with a flick of the fingers instead of a full stroke of the hand. Our Grade I ran 600 rounds without a feeding problem and shot sub-inch groups at 25 yards over the factory irons.

The catch is the price, and the names. Browning lists seven current BL-22 models from $839.99 to $1,429.99, and five of them are the same 20 inch, 5 pound, 15 round rifle on Browning’s own spec sheets. What changes is the finish, the wood grade and the engraving. Trusted sellers start the Grade I at $739.99, about 20 percent under its $929.99 list.

Best For: Shooters who want a lever .22 that feels like a fine rifle, and parents buying one to hand down. Not for anyone on a budget, because a Henry Classic does the job for less than half the money.

Seven Models, Identical Rifles

Browning’s BL-22 page lists seven current production models. Read the spec tables side by side and the five 20 inch guns match to the last line: 36.75 inches long, 13.5 inch length of pull, 5 pounds, 15 rounds, 1:16 twist, steel receiver. The price climbs on finish and wood alone.

Model	Item	Barrel	Weight	What changes	MSRP
Micro Midas	024115103	16.25 in.	4 lbs 12 oz	12 in. pull, 11 rounds	$839.99
Grade I	024100103	20 in.	5 lbs	Polished blued, gloss walnut	$929.99
FLD Grade I	024107102	20 in.	5 lbs	Satin nickel receiver, straight grip	$949.99
Grade II	024101103	20 in.	5 lbs	Gold trigger, scroll engraving, cut checkering	$1,049.99
Maple	024125103	20 in.	5 lbs	Grade AA maple stock	$1,059.99
FLD Grade II	024108102	20 in.	5 lbs	Grade II walnut, engraving, satin nickel	$1,139.99
FLD Grade II Octagon	024105155	24 in. octagon	5 lbs 4 oz	Engraved silver nitride receiver	$1,429.99

So the question is never which BL-22 shoots better. They are the same rifle. The question is whether a gold trigger, scroll engraving and cut checkering are worth $120 over the Grade I, which is exactly what Browning’s Grade II page says you get.

FLD Means Full Line Dealer, Not Field

Retailers routinely list the FLD guns as “BL-22 Field.” Browning’s own pages say otherwise: FLD stands for Full Line Dealer, and those models are only sold through a select group of Browning dealers. The FLD Grade I is the value pick of the family if you like the look, a satin nickel receiver and a straight grip for just $20 over the Grade I at list, and Browning notes the receiver is grooved for scope mounts.

The FLD Grade II Octagon is the one that looks the part. A 24 inch octagon barrel, an engraved silver nitride receiver and Grade II walnut, at $1,429.99 list, $290 over the FLD Grade II with the round barrel.

The Micro Midas for Smaller Shooters

The Micro Midas is the real BL-22 scaled down: a 16.25 inch barrel, 31.5 inches overall, 4 pounds 12 ounces and a 12 inch length of pull, against 13.5 on the full size guns. It holds 11 rounds instead of 15. At $839.99 list it is also the cheapest BL-22, and trusted sellers start it at $716.99.

For a young shooter who will grow into a full size rifle, it is the one to buy. The action, the lever throw and the build are identical, so nothing is lost but length.

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How We Tested It

Our rifle was a Grade I, 024100103. We shot it over three sessions at an outdoor range between 58 and 76 degrees, 600 rounds in total, all over the factory iron sights.

Ammunition Log

• CCI Mini-Mag 40 gr .22 LR: 200 rounds
• Federal AutoMatch 40 gr .22 LR: 200 rounds
• CCI Standard Velocity 40 gr .22 LR: 100 rounds
• CCI .22 Long 29 gr: 50 rounds
• CCI .22 Short 29 gr: 50 rounds

Phase 1: Break-In and Feeding

The first 200 rounds were CCI Mini-Mag, loaded 15 at a time through the port in the magazine tube. The inner tube twists to lock and pulls out to load, which is slower than a side gate and the one thing I would change. The lever felt a little stiff for the first box and was silky by the end of the session.

Then we mixed it up, because Browning says the tube takes any combination of Short, Long and Long Rifle. We loaded magazines alternating CCI .22 Shorts, .22 Longs and Mini-Mags, 50 of each length. Every one fed, fired and ejected.

Phase 2: Reliability

Two stoppages in 600 rounds, both light strikes with bulk Federal AutoMatch that fired on the second hit. No failures to feed, no failures to extract and no doubles. The 33 degree lever throw makes fast strings easy, and short stroking it never caused a jam because the stroke is so short you complete it without trying.

Phase 3: Accuracy

Five shot groups from a rest at 25 yards over the factory irons. The best was 0.8 inches with CCI Standard Velocity, and the average across the Long Rifle loads was 1.2 inches. At 50 yards the average opened to 2.3 inches, which is excellent for iron sights and a lever gun. The trigger broke crisply at about 4 pounds 12 ounces on our gauge.

What This Means for You

• Ammo: Standard velocity .22 LR shot tightest. Shorts and Longs run fine for quiet plinking.
• Loading: Practice the tube twist and pull. It is the slowest part of shooting this rifle.
• Accuracy expectation: About an inch at 25 yards over the irons with good ammo.
• Model choice: Buy the grade you want to look at. They all shoot the same.

Performance Results

Reliability (9/10)

Two light strikes, both the ammo, in 600 rounds across three cartridge lengths. It is about as reliable as a rimfire gets.

Accuracy (9/10)

0.8 inches at 25 yards with iron sights is squirrel head accuracy. The crisp trigger and the steady five pound weight help as much as the barrel.

Ergonomics and Recoil (9/10)

The short lever throw is the headline. You work it with your fingers and the rifle barely moves off target. At five pounds it carries all day, and the 13.5 inch pull fits most adults.

Fit, Finish, and Quality Control (9/10)

The polished bluing is deep and even, the walnut meets the steel with no gaps, and the action feels like a Browning. This is where the extra money goes, and you can see it.

Technical Deep Dive

Component	Specification	Why it matters
Lever	33 degree throw	Fast, short stroke, easy for small hands
Receiver	Machined steel	Rigid, durable, takes deep bluing
Magazine	Tubular, 15 LR (11 Micro Midas), locking inner tube	Takes Shorts, Longs and Long Rifle mixed
Barrel	20 in., 1:16 twist	Standard rimfire twist, stabilizes 40 gr loads
Stock	Black walnut, 13.5 in. pull, 7/8 in. drop at comb	Fits most adults, good for iron sights

How It Compares

Our best lever action rifles guide covers the centerfire guns, and best .22 LR rifles covers every action type.

Henry Classic Lever Action .22 ($346-$370)

The lever .22 most people buy, from about $346 on the card above, less than half the price of a BL-22. It is a good rifle with a simpler finish. If you want a lever .22 to shoot, buy the Henry. If you want one to keep, the Browning is a different class of object.

Henry Golden Boy ($444-$581)

Henry’s dressier lever .22, with a brass receiver and an octagon barrel, from $503.99 at a trusted seller. It is the one to buy if you want the classic Western look for less. The BL-22’s steel receiver and short lever are the reasons to spend more.

Verdict: The Henry Classic is the value pick and the Golden Boy is the Western look for less. The BL-22 is the one with the short lever, the steel receiver and the finish of a much more expensive gun.

Upgrades Worth Making

Upgrade Category	Recommended Component	Why It Matters	Cost Estimate
Sling	A leather sling with swivels	Carry it in the woods	$30 – $70
Ammo	A brick of standard velocity .22 LR	The tightest groups we shot	$35 – $60 per 500
Case	A padded soft case	Protects the bluing and walnut	$40 – $90
Cleaning	A .22 cleaning rod and bore brush	Keeps the bore clean between sessions	$20 – $40

Leave it stock. Our best .22 LR ammo guide covers what shoots best in it.

Common Problems and Fixes

• Slow loading: The tube loads through a port, not a side gate. Practice the twist and pull.
• Stiff lever when new: Normal. Ours smoothed out within the first box.
• Light strikes: Almost always cheap bulk ammo. Rotate and strike again, or change brands.
• Paying for the wrong model: The 20 inch models shoot identically. Check what the extra money buys before you pay it.

Who Should NOT Buy This Gun

• Buyers on a budget: The Henry Classic Lever Action .22 does the job for less than half the price.
• Shooters who want a magnum rimfire: The BL-22 is .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle only. A Henry Golden Boy comes in .22 WMR.
• Plinkers who want high capacity: Fifteen rounds is fine, but a semi-auto like the Ruger 10/22 reloads faster.

Final Verdict

The Browning BL-22 is the best made lever action .22 you can buy off the rack. The 33 degree lever makes it fast and easy, the steel receiver and walnut make it a pleasure to own, and ours shot 0.8 inch groups at 25 yards over irons while feeding Shorts, Longs and Long Rifle without complaint.

Buy the model you want to look at, because Browning’s own specs show the 20 inch guns are the same rifle. Trusted sellers start the Grade I at $739.99, and the Micro Midas is the one for smaller shooters.

Final Score: 8.6/10. A lever .22 built like a much more expensive rifle, priced to match.

FAQ: Browning BL-22