I walked along the trail, Browning in my hand. It was the first one I had ever hunted with, an old 20 gauge semi auto that was twice my years. I was a beginner but I'd been taught the craft by those that loved me, passing down a tradition of survival and preparedness. At the end of the day, I could field dress the animal with coaching but no hands on assistance, there in the fading light, my bloody hands consecrating to us that which was, by God's will and man's patience, accepted as a gift.
With that first hunt, I grew up , in more ways the one, having learned and watched and waited, until I was ready to handle my firearm, ready to use it as a responsible steward of the land, looking at the deer on the ground, the first worthy blood I had been worthy to take. Sacrifice with grace, for which we are both thankful and repentant and respect for those things which are passed down from one generation to the next.
Today, there was no hunt, but there was still the excitement of holding something in my hand designed by John Moses Browning, himself. The Browning 22 Semi-Auto rifle, also known as the Semi Automatic 22 or SA-22, is a take-down produced by FN Herstal based on the John Browning patent. Still produced by Browning as the Semi-Auto 22, production began in 1914 and continued through 1974 in Belgium.. After 1974 they are produced by Moriku in Japan. In addition to the quality that is the trademark of Browning, the SA-22 itself is well known as the first production semiautomatic .22 rifle with some half a million produced since 1914.
What do they say about imitation and flattery? - A close copy made by the Chinese company Norinco was formerly imported into the US by Interarms as the Model ATD. Remington manufactured a lighter weight version under license early on as the Remington Model 24 and then replaced it with the Model 241 Remington in 1935. Except for the barrel locking mechanism the Remington Model 241 is very similar to the Browning SA-22 and quite popular. Some said that those first close copies didn't quite possess the fit and finish of the design on which it was based, one that had a history of reliability over the long term, and so the Browning continued to be a good seller.
Having hunted with a Browning firearm, myself, I had high expectations.
Yes, this firearm was not made in Belgium, but in Japan where production for the firearm continued by Miroku. Though it's hard to beat the Belgium model, the ones produced in Japan are by no means of poor quality, and for the price I'd say, worth considering.
It has been offered in several "grades" of engraving and gold inlay with the collectors being the Belgium models (I saw a fairly plain one at an Indiana gun show that was over $1000 FIRM). If you can find a Belgium one with a price that's not in the stratosphere, grab it, but don't overlook it's descendant.
These are sometimes found with a carry case, very nice leather that hold the rifle in its take-down form and some ammunition and which also adds value to the firearm.
The
light engraving is standard with finely detailed checkering on the walnut stock and grip. Some of the more recent engraved work looks to be machine-rolled and machined cut, then hand finished. It's quite nice, but I miss the hand-done loops and scrolls of earlier firearms. Still, it is a nice touch and some of the more ornate engraving on the earlier Belgium models is pure art.
You may also see some slightest of variances in the wood-tone on the later Japanese models, with some a bit lighter in color than older ones, at least in my opinion. They are all still tight grained and lacquered to a ultra-high gloss, certainly not like that light colored stuff that was plastered on some guns back in the "gun bling" era, where I first heard the term "
Balsa Wood Wetherby".
This firearm is certainly not a collectors edition and has some some gentle wear from the field. But this is a firearm, you CAN take out in the field. Unlike some firearms which act like spoiled debutantes when faced with some dirt, hard work and rough handling, the Browning will remain a trusted friend in the field, a favorite with small game sportsmen. Given its light weight, it would be an excellent choice for something to take along in the wilderness, not for large bears or the rabid Winnebago, but for when you might need something dependable for small game.
Pieces and Parts - The action, a John Moses Browning original design, is a take-down autoloader with a bottom ejection and rear magazine tube loading (more on that in a bit). The received is machine from steel, with the Grade I, like my piece, engraved with a scroll design and polished blued finish (The Grave VI models are available in polished blued OR satin grayed finish, which is particularly beautiful). The bluing is typical Browning, that is, a deep, rich polished blue that holds up well.
The butt plate is metal and is a comfortable fit whether you are man, woman, or youth starting out in the shooting sports. Certainly if one wanted to gently introduce a young or first time shooter to rifles, with the recognition and means to purchase quality, this would be a great choice. There is really no recoil and the report is no louder than a high powered pellet rifle. You're not going to spook cattle OR Aunt Marge with this firearm.
Golden Trigger - Not just Roy Rogers horse any more. If you get a Grade VI .22 the trigger is gold. On this particular grade it's blued, and feels as nice as it looks with a light trigger pull that can be pulled quickly and repeatedly.
The manual safety is above the trigger guard. It's pretty intuitive and easy to use.
The
sites are adjustable, the front one being a gold "bead" type that's highly visible in daytime and can be adjusted for windage.The adjustable folding leaf rear site also easily folds down for a slightly lower profile.
A cantilever scope mount(for 22 style grooved mounts) is available separately. The barrel (not the receiver) is drilled and tapped for these special mounts, on the later firearms, at least..
Take me down to the gun range. The Browning auto is one of the quickest .22 repeaters to take-down, though there are other single shot .22s that come apart easily as well. The classic Marlin Model 39A comes apart by removing the large knurled screw head - so did over a million of Remington's M-12A pump. But I found the Browning .22 particularly easy, even for a first timer, adding a portability feature that's handy on any .22 rifle.
In the most basic terms, the two halves assemble by way of half threaded barrel and receiver. The slim, forged steel receiver and slender barrel takes down into two compact units without any tools nor brute strength. To disassemble, you simply push a lever forward, give the gun a twist and the barrel will separate from the action.
This works with or without scope, and doesn't impact scope/barrel alignment as Browning mounts the scope to the barrel, not the receiver to optimize accuracy. Additionally, once the barrel is removed, the trigger assembly can also be slid out, to where the firearm is stripped to the point where all the components are easily to access for cleaning and lubrication.
The tubular magazine is in the butt stock of the rifle, pressure provided by the magazine spring in the rod in the back of the rifle to feed the rounds (just shy of a dozen Long Rifle cartridges) into the chamber. The magazine is loaded through a port in the side of the stock -- and the magazine follower is pulled back for loading (or removed entirely) from the butt stock itself. A key on the end of the follower is turned to unlock and the follower pulls back. When pulled back about two-thirds of the way you can drop your rounds into the port on the side of the butt stock (see photo above) where it feeds directly into the magazine tube. You then return the follower tube into the magazine tube, lock the key with a quick turn and you are ready.
I Said Dance! - Empty shell casings are ejected from the bottom of the receiver, chambering the next round by elfin magic. The design was intended to keep the user's face "
protected from gasses and flying particles while firing" as well as leaving room for the beautiful engraving. Designed this way, it's a great ambidextrous firearm but make sure you wear long sleeves and keep your off hand sufficiently far forward or you will end up with a half moon shaped 22 caliber burn from the blazing hot empty case that ejects down one's left shirt sleeve. (If you think the "
hot brass down the shirt dance" is a riot, try that tender skin with all the nerve endings on the inside of the wrist). If you have loose sleeves, a simple rubber band can prevent some pain and embarrassment (and is slightly more discretely fashionable than duct tape)
Ammo- This fired best with good quality ammo, NOT the super cheap bulk stuff that you wouldn't give to your ex. And you don't want to put shorts in the LR guns, they won't even hand cycle because the guns are set up for LR only
At the range At 5.2 pounds (2.4 kg) this is a lightweight rifle, one easily handled by all sizes and builds of shooters. At 37 inches of length (94 cm) with 19.24 inches of that being barrel, it's not cumbersome in the field. What struck me most about it was how perfectly balanced it was, making for a totally enjoyable shooting experience, sitting OR standing.
Accuracy was good and typical of the Springfield M-187N and Marlin 39A (though I've seen some jamming with the both the Springfield and the Marlin after extended running of semi-auto which the Browning .22 does not appear to display). Even standing, accuracy was very good. It's quick to the shoulder and points like the best black lab I've ever had.
When I think of hunting, I think of big guns and bigger game, the heft of the firearm, the knockdown power of a .30 cal carbine. Certainly the memories of those first hunts and the skills I learned will stay with me always. But don't dismiss this as a "beginners" gun for adolescents, even if small rimfires don't get the appreciation they deserve among some rifle aficionados. It is deadly accurate and a joy to shoot (even if fuzzy squirrel target looks suspiciously like hairy bad guy target).
Certainly, there are cheaper rimfires out there. But I carried a Browning in my hands when I first took up a firearm. Now, I have in my possession, a humble sporting rifle that is one of the last masterpieces designed by John Moses Browning. It is a simple weapon, one worn from years of carriage. But in it remains the remnants of history, there in that design of wood and wonder, there in the science of brass and gunpowder, those precipitates of earth and air's elemental movements that discharge their duties today as they did a hundred years ago. I am as proud to own it as I will be to pass it on to yet another generation.
-Brigid
