My dad has a browning from the early '80s. I think its a challenger II. That thing goes bang every time. Now I am biased but I would go for the browning for a .22. I have never had an issue out of a browning.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=006B&cat_id=051&type_id=448
Thats a dandy looking shootin iron for $379