.22 Lever and Pump Rifles

A lever-action or pump .22 is the classic American rimfire: a walnut stock, a tubular magazine, and a manual action that runs whatever you feed it. Manual actions don't depend on recoil energy to cycle, so they're far less fussy about ammunition than semi-autos. Many tube-fed models also handle .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle interchangeably, which opens up quiet backyard loads. Here's how the listed options compare.

This is a buyer's guide from manufacturer and retailer listings, not a test. Capacities come from listing names and differ between .22 Short and .22 LR.

Henry Golden Boy: the icon

With its polished brass receiver and walnut stock, the Golden Boy is the rifle many people picture when they hear "lever .22." The listing shows it handling .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle, with capacity depending on cartridge length. That flexibility makes it an ideal partner for quiet loads like .22 Short. See our quiet rimfire guide.

Henry Pump Octagon: gallery-gun style

Pump .22s recall the old shooting-gallery rifles, and they're fast to run once you learn the stroke. The Henry Pump Octagon combines that action with an octagon barrel and, per its listing, S/L/LR feeding. Pick the pump if you like working an action with your support hand, or if you want something different from the lever crowd.

Chiappa LA322 Takedown: the practical one

The LA322 is a .22 lever carbine that breaks down for storage and transport. That suits boats, cabins, backpacks and trucks. Per its listing, it's an 18.5-inch carbine with a 15-round tube. It's less ornate than the Henrys and more practical.

Using a tube magazine safely

• Point the muzzle in a safe direction whenever you load or unload the tube.
• Unload fully by removing the inner tube and letting rounds slide out, then cycle the action and visually confirm the chamber is empty.
• Don't mix cartridge lengths unless your manual says it's allowed.

Who should buy a manual .22

A manual .22 is a strong first rifle for a young shooter. The deliberate action slows things down and makes the shooter think about every round, and tube-fed levers are simple to supervise at the bench. It also suits the hunter who wants a quiet, reliable squirrel rifle that will fire standard-velocity hollow points without cycling problems. Collectors like them too: a polished brass Golden Boy or an octagon-barreled pump holds its appeal long after a plain plinker is forgotten. If you want the fastest follow-up shots or plan to shoot rimfire competition, a semi-auto or bolt gun is the better tool. Our bolt vs semi-auto guide covers that choice.

What to feed it

Manual actions run almost anything, so pick ammunition for the task: standard-velocity or match loads for accuracy, hollow points for small game (see our small game guide), and .22 Short or Colibri for quiet shooting. Zero with the load you'll use. Our zeroing guide explains how.

For centerfire levers, our sister site LeverGuns.co covers the .30-30 to .45-70 world.

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