In a market that’s saturated with multiple rifle variants chambered in all sorts of calibers, it’s nice to take a step back every so often to appreciate rifles based on older designs, especially when they’re chambered in affordable rimfire calibers.
Of the many rifles that fit this niche role well, lever action .22 rifles hold a special place in the industry. Simple, affordable, and fun, they’ve long been a staple offering in the firearm community, offering enthusiasts the ability to have a fun time at the range without breaking the bank.
To the uninitiated, they may appear as just a rifle for plinking, and while they certainly excel at that role, they’re great for other purposes too. However, like with any other type of firearm, it’s important to know what exactly you’re getting into before you jump headfirst into a search for a new rifle.
Lever Actions: What are They
At one point in time, lever action rifles were the end-all be-all of repeating firearm technology. Introduced in the mid-1800s, they revolutionized the firearm landscape by making it easier to fire rapidly instead of having to go through a long reload process. Prior to their creation, muskets and other types of muzzle loaders made up the majority of what was available—despite being effective, reloading one could take up to a minute, and if you weren’t trained to reload quick, it could take longer.
A lever action rifle didn’t have this problem. Instead of loading ammunition from the muzzle, they had a tube magazine attached under the barrel which could hold several rounds. After firing, pushing the lever down would eject a spent casing, and pulling back towards the grip would load in a new one, giving users the ability to fire multiple rounds in rapid succession.
Today, they’re an iconic piece of firearm history. Modern manufacturers still produce them, and they’re popular for everything from hunting and recreational shooting to cowboy action competitions. However, while they’re capable of chambering several unique calibers, .22LR is still one of, if not, the most popular options.
Why choose .22LR Lever Action
If you’re wondering what .22LR is good for, you may be pleased to hear that it’s more versatile than it appears. For starters, as you’re likely already aware, .22LR is an excellent caliber for plinking. Costing as little as $0.05 per round in some instances, it’s easily one of the most affordable cartridges on the market, making it easy to stock up on without breaking the bank.
Additionally, .22 LR is a solid round for introducing new enthusiasts to firearms and training them on the fundamentals of gun safety. By design, .22 LR produces next to no recoil when fired, making .22 lever guns extremely wieldy for both newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts alike.
Lastly, they’re a practical choice for hunting, too. Small game animals like groundhogs, rabbits, and varmints can be hunted with .22 LR as there’s a plethora of dedicated hunting loads available from multiple manufacturers. Just be sure to check your local and state laws regarding rimfire hunting before buying a rifle for such purposes.
Choosing a Rifle
Being as popular as they are, there are a lot of .22 caliber lever action rifles to choose from. That said, there are a few that stand out amongst the others. Rifles from brands like Henry Repeating Arms, Rossi Firearms, and Chiappa each offer a plethora of unique rimfire lever guns. So, if you don’t know where to start, the list below will get you up to speed on some of the top picks from each brand:
Henry Repeating Arms
Henry Repeating Arms is one of the most well-known manufacturers of lever guns. Getting their start in 1860 by producing one of the first successful and practical lever action rifles, simply dubbed the “Henry Rifle”, they’ve gone on to become one of the most recognizable lever action rifle manufacturers in the modern firearm space. Despite being integrated into Winchester for most of their lifespan, the Henry name and patents were acquired by Anthony Imperato in 1996, and since then, they’ve revitalized the Henry name, creating a vast lineup of lever action rifles, including many rimfire models chambered in .22 LR
Of the various Henry .22LR models, their Classic and Golden Boy series stand out. The classic series keeps the look of Henry’s full-size rifles, coming with a blued barrel and receiver, as well as walnut furniture. These rifles come standard with an 18.5-inch barrel and a 15-round capacity, making them a perfect rifle for plinking. Finally, just like their larger caliber counterparts, they come with a grooved receiver that can accept 3/8” scope rings, and they come equipped with adjustable iron sights.
The Golden Boy is largely like the Classic series rifle mentioned above; however, it has a multitude of notable aesthetic changes. Whereas the Classic has a black receiver and blued barrel, the Golden Boy, as its name suggests, has a polished gold receiver made from their brasslite finish. Additionally, it comes equipped with a 20-inch blued octagonal barrel, walnut furniture, and an adjustable rear sight. Lastly, they come with a 16-round capacity, and instead of having a grooved receiver, the top of the receiver is drilled and tapped to accept various scope rings.
Rossi Firearms
Rossi lever action rifles are another popular choice amongst enthusiasts. Originally established in 1889 in Brazil, Rossi didn’t enter the U.S. market until the 1970s, and since then, they’ve become one of the most popular lever action manufacturers around. Just like Henry, they have a plethora of rifles to their name, and their rimfire models are consistently among their top offerings.
The Rio Bravo is the main line of Rossi .22LR lever action rifles, that’s available in a multitude of configurations. In its most basic form, it’s available with an 18-inch barrel, wooden furniture, adjustable iron sights, and a 15-round standard capacity. Much like the Henry rifles mentioned above, they use a tubular magazine, and they come with a grooved receiver to accept scope rings.
As mentioned above, Rio Bravo rifles are available in an assortment of models that each come with their own unique features. The Rio Bravo Tactical comes with a larger lever wrapped in paracord, an upper picatinny rail, a polymer stock and handguard complete with M-LOK slots, and a threaded barrel. It does come with a shorter 16.5-inch barrel and has a decreased 10-round capacity, but the Rio Bravo is also available in a standard receiver configuration that comes with the Tactical model’s polymer M-LOK furniture, as well as upgraded fiber optic sights. Just keep in mind that you’ll forego the upper picatinny rail and bigger lever.
Chiappa Firearms
Hailing from Italy, Chiappa is a well-known name in the industry known for crafting rifles and pistols with unique designs, such as their Rhino revolver. However, they also produce an assortment of rimfire lever guns as well.
One such model is the LA322 Carbine, a rifle that blends modern features with the classic lever action design. Like the earlier models mentioned, it comes with wooden furniture, has an 18.5-inch barrel, a 15-round capacity, and a blued finish on the barrel and receiver. However, what makes this rifle unique is its takedown mechanism.
Unlike the other models mentioned, the LA322 can be separated into two halves, making it easier to store in smaller sized range bags, allowing it to take up less space when stored long term in a gun safe. Overall, it’s a solid pick that offers a similar level of performance as the previously mentioned models but comes with the bonus of being easier to store.
Conclusion
To put it simply, .22 caliber lever actions will always be a solid addition to any enthusiast’s personal collection. Reliable and affordable, they’re the perfect rifles for plinking targets at the range, small game hunting, and for training new enthusiasts in the fundamentals of gun ownership.
Being as popular as they are, there are a plethora of models to choose from. Even though the list above serves as a solid launching point for whenever you start your search, we still highly recommend researching each of the available models before pulling the trigger one.
Regardless of which you choose, you can’t go wrong with a .22 LR lever gun. Still, if you’re interested in getting into rimfire rifles, or just want to know what else is available, our guide, “What is a Rimfire Cartridge”, breaks down the basics of rimfire cartridges and the various rifles that chamber them.
