Browning 22 rimfire models compared for Australian shooters

The .22 rimfire has shaped Australia's hunting and shooting culture for over a century. Light on recoil, modest in cost and versatile enough for rabbits, backyard plinking or training juniors, .22 LR remains the working horse of rural shootists from the Western Australian wheatbelt to Queensland's cane country. Within that category, Browning offers a tight trio of legendary designs: the SA-22 takedown rifle, the Buckmark pistol and the T-Bolt straight-pull. Each delivers distinct handling character, and choosing between them reveals as much about your shooting style as your intended quarry.

For Australian buyers comparing used and new listings, the Browning catalogue is organised by model line, action and condition. Shooters in Sydney, Melbourne and regional centres benefit from understanding how each rimfire handles before arranging inspection.

Why Browning still owns the rimfire category

John Moses Browning's late-Victorian innovations defined the modern centre-fire rifle, but his smaller rimfire work is where his name lives on in everyday use. The SA-22, developed in 1914, was one of the first commercially successful takedown rimfire rifles, prized by early Australian settlers heading out to stations where transport weight mattered. That heritage echoes through the modern recreation line, with the Buckmark target pistol and reissued T-Bolt drawing on those original notes.

Today .22 LR is the most widely produced rimfire cartridge globally, and Australia imports hundreds of thousands of rounds each year. Collectors and field shooters continue choosing Browning because parts availability, manuals and model recognition across Australian gun clubs remain strong.

SA-22: the takedown icon from outback to club

The SA-22 is the rifle many older Australian shooters first encountered through their father or grandfather, often in farm sheds of the Riverina or around Shepparton. Its lever action feeds from a tubular magazine, and the receiver splits in two with a single screw, allowing the rifle to fit inside a saddlebag or backpack. That takedown character suits shooters who travel between properties.

Modern SA-22 rifles range from utilitarian synthetic-stocked models to walnut-finished collector pieces. The 19-inch barrel keeps the rifle compact for stalking rabbits at close range. Iron sights are factory-graded for common rimfire ammunition, and used examples often retain the brass forend plate that defined the original design.

Buckmark: a rimfire pistol built for sport

Where the SA-22 leans toward field use, the Buckmark is unambiguously a target and plinking pistol. Its aluminium-alloy frame, fibre-optic sights and integral rail have made it a fixture at Australian indoor ranges in suburbs such as Belmore and Clayton, where local clubs run weekly rimfire pistol matches. The pistol weighs roughly one kilogram unloaded, suiting extended range sessions.

Shooters choosing between the standard 5.9-inch barrel and longer 7.5-inch match barrels will find the longer variants favour paper shooting, while shorter models handle more like a service pistol for steel-plate competition. Polymer grips and a crisp single-action trigger keep scores tight, and the Buckmark accepts red-dot optics and aftermarket triggers.

T-Bolt: the straight-pull that shoots like a semi-auto

The T-Bolt occupies an unusual niche. Its straight-pull bolt cycles with a short rearward and forward stroke, giving rapid follow-up shots that mimic the rhythm of a true semi-automatic. For Australian hunters chasing feral cats, rabbits or goats, that speed matters when multiple targets present within seconds, particularly around the edges of harvested crops with a dog working the line.

T-Bolt rifles come stocked in walnut or composite, in sporter, thumbhole or stainless-steel configurations. The magazine is a rotary half-moon design that drops free, and the rifle accepts scope bases without modification. Shooters around Townsville and Wagga Wagga often pick the T-Bolt as their dedicated rabbit rifle, valuing its crisp trigger when working scrub country without optics.

Stock and grip fit: the often-overlooked link

A rimfire can have the best action in the world and still shoot poorly if the stock doesn't fit the shooter. The merits of Browning's self-setting sporter stock design lie in how proper length-of-pull, comb height and cast-off transform handling. For Australians sharing the same rifle across family members or shooting in winter gloves around Ballarat, that adjustability pays off quickly.

For the pistol side, the Buckmark's interchangeable grip panels play a similar role, allowing larger hands to fit thicker aftermarket options. A small investment in fitting consultation returns many times over in tighter groups and a more consistent hold.

Australian legal context for rimfire ownership

In Australia, .22 rimfire rifles such as the SA-22 and T-Bolt sit in Category A on the standard firearms licence. The Buckmark pistol falls under Category H, provided barrel length and capacity requirements are met. NSW applicants apply through the NSW Police Firearms Registry, while Victorian applicants work through the state licensing authority; Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory each maintain their own paperwork trails. Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia membership is frequently cited as a useful pathway into licence upgrades and competition grades.

Customs and import regulations add another layer. Rimfire firearms imported from overseas need the appropriate state permit before a customs broker can finalise entry, and modification restrictions apply once an item is registered. Buyers should confirm current state conditions before any inspection or transfer, particularly when crossing state borders.

Sourcing a Browning rimfire in Australia

Australian buyers typically work through licensed in-country dealers holding factory or distributor arrangements. Searching overseas collector listings such as the broader US new and used market can sometimes surface rare SA-22 takedown grades not currently imported locally. Shipping between clubs for grade-matching remains common among collectors in Adelaide and Perth.

Local shooting clubs and Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia branches in Brisbane, Hobart and Geelong often post current stock through their classifieds. Many Australian dealers will layaway a particular grade for a serious buyer, and patience usually rewards collectors hunting a specific production year.

Choosing the right Browning for your shooting

• Pick the SA-22 if you want a takedown lever-action classic for farm, bush and historical enjoyment.
• Pick the Buckmark if you shoot indoor or outdoor rimfire pistol matches, or want a lightweight plinker.
• Pick the T-Bolt if you hunt active pest species where fast follow-up shots matter more than lever styling.
• Invest in stock or grip fit before chasing accessories, since a poorly fitting rimfire frustrates experienced hands.
• Confirm the relevant state licence category before arranging any inspection or transfer.
• Decide whether a new or used example suits your budget, recognising that collector grades hold value well in the SA-22 line.

Filter the catalogue by action type, model line and condition to lock in the rimfire that matches your patch of country, then walk through the current Browning Arms Shop listings to see what grades are in stock today.