HISTORY
Well known for his military firearm designs that may have tipped the scale in the Allies’ favor in the Second World War, John Browning had a fun side, too. Introduced in 1914 and produced by FN of Liege, Belgium, this rifle has been in constant production ever since. In 1976, production was transferred to Miroku Firearms of Japan where it remains today. Can you believe that 109 years later, you can still buy a brand-new one?
Designed in a time when most .22 rifles were either single shot, pump action, or lever action, Browning followed his instincts to design a different kind of gun. Check it out!
Related: A very special Browning SA22 plinker (VIDEO)
MY IMPRESSIONS
When I pick up this beauty, I notice how light and skinny it is! At just over 5 pounds, it reminds me of a single-shot rifle. The lack of an obvious operating mechanism is deceiving at first. Browning was very clever in his designs – never wasting space nor incorporating too many parts. The rifle points naturally and commands to be aimed at a distant soda can or squirrel hiding behind an oak tree limb.
Quality is apparent. Everything is tight on this rifle. I like to check the buttstock and forearm for wobble, and there is none on this petite rifle. The bolt draws back smoothly without a hint of drag. This is very important for a semi-auto action. Checkering on the pistol grip and forearm feels good and aids in my shouldering the gun to aim.
The sights are simple but precise. I like the way the rear sight folds down for storage. The barrel is an understated, thin round tube fixed to the swollen wood forearm. Nothing is wasted when John Browning designs a gun.
This is a modern version of the design, and I like the smooth glossy stocks. They make the gun jump with class. Also, note that the top of the barrel is drilled and tapped for a scope mount. Just drift out the barrel-mounted rear sight and attach your scope mount and scope for precise shooting or to help old eyes. I like that.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 5 pounds, 3 ounces
- Overall Length: 37 inches
- Barrel: 20 inches
- Length of Pull: 13.75 inches
- Trigger: 3 pounds, 13 ounces
- Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
- Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds
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MSRP: $799.99
RANGE TIME
What a great day for a felt cowboy hat and a .22 rifle to shoot! There are many targets, and I will try different types of ammo in the Browning today. This rifle loads differently than any other I have fired. John Browning correctly reasoned that .22 ammo should follow a straight line from the magazine into the breach. Therefore, the tubular magazine is in the buttstock and loaded through a slick hole in the right side of the stock.
Pull the magazine spring tube from the butt plate and drop in 10 rounds of .22 LR. Cock the bolt located under the forward receiver, and the gun is ready to shoot. All empty brass ejects downward and out of the way.
Shooting a few rounds on paper tells me that the gun is accurate and has virtually no kick. The recoil spring absorbs that. It is easy to group nicely from 15 yards out to 30 yards on steel, as well. Its factory trigger breaks cleanly under 4 pounds. These first 10 rounds were inexpensive bulk-packed .22 LR. They functioned well, but the last round did not quite eject as expected.
Now it is time to bust some root beer jugs, my favorite! For this, I use CCI Stingers. They are high-velocity light hollow pointed bullets that open on contact. Perfect medicine for pop cans, too. Each 2-liter bottle explodes and waters the desert. Those Stingers are great for this, and no jams are encountered. This gun is light and handy and makes me confident in my shooting ability.
THE FINAL TEST
My final test for any semi auto is a mag dump. For this, I will use CCI Clean ammo. These are red polymer-coated bullets that allow no lead to contact the barrel of the rifle. Cool idea, CCI! I found that it is best to count 10 rounds out prior to loading the Browning SA. If I load 11 rounds or more, I cannot close the magazine tube and the gun will not fire.
With 10 rounds loaded, I find no problems emptying the gun into the steel target at 15 yards, yielding a tight group to boot. No matter if fed inexpensive or high-priced ammo, the Browning eats it up!
PROS & CONS
Pros:
- Lightweight and trim
- Takedown feature
- Reliable and accurate
- Downward ejecting brass
- Nice, light, and crisp trigger
- Scope mount available
Cons:
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Limited to 10 rounds in magazine
FINISHING UP
This is another gun that I will hate to send back to Guns.com. I love it! Though not a competition target gun nor highly customizable, it was designed with fun in mind. I believe it could be a great rifle for new or young shooters not able to hold a heavy rifle.
Its trim lines, light weight, and takedown feature make it ideal for canoe trips, backpacking, and small game hunting. Available in six different grades, you can customize it with gold engraving and stand out at the range. The Browning SA is a 109-year-old modern rifle that you can buy today.
