rc42 wrote:I picked up a stainless A22R on Tuesday, I have had a PTA at the dealer for a 22 lever action for the last two months waiting for delivery of a Browning BL-22 from the US. It was due in June but with the current crisis I don't think it will make it before the PTA expired so I chose from the 22 lever actions in the LGS as a pre-lockdown present. If I like the A22R I'll get a new PTA for the Browning, if not, I'll like for like swap it.
So far, it's a great little rifle, lightweight and reasonably finished and cycles with all ammo except CCI quiet (which I expected to not work) and can put bullets in the same hole at 25m. Feels odd to have the casing fly past your ear as you take each shot, with a bolt or typical lever you decide when the used case is ejected.
Trigger is heavy and not smooth at all, release point seems to vary so it's not for precision work but works well with a rapid pull and release. The bolt release leaver is also very heavy so you have to snatch at it rather then gently increasing pressure. You can actually use you middle finger for the trigger and index finger for the release and get into a rhythm to get a very high fire rate almost like a semi auto but certainly not as accurate because of the contorted hold.
Overall, I'm far more impressed with the A22R than I thought I would be, looks like it's a keeper
I Bought my A22R pretty much as soon as they came out. The trigger was as you described, heavy and gritty. BUT... i read a rumor that Nioa was fixing them under warrantee. And, well they did! Still heavy, but half what it used to be and not as gritty. Get in touch with them, see if they can have a look at yours.