Lever-action rifles have been extremely popular since they were first introduced to the market in the 1860s. While the bolt-action rifle became the firearm of choice for the world’s militaries in the early decades of the 20th century, the lever-action was still favored by most American hunters and shooters. The cowboy craze of the 1950s and 60s caused a resurgence of interest in lever-action rifles, and the recent popularity of cowboy-action shooting organizations like SASS have popularized Western-style firearms for a whole new generation of shooters.
We covered some of our picks for the best centerfire lever-action rifles in a previous article, but the popularity and innovation among rimfire lever-action rifles (mostly .22 Long Rifle caliber) over the past few years deserves its own discussion. Today we’re going to introduce you to some of the stalwart favorites on the market, and also clue you in on some new brands and models of lever-action rimfire rifles that you might not be aware of. Any of these rifles would be ideal for a Christmas or birthday gift for that special someone in your life, or just to enjoy hunting, target shooting, or plinking. It’s a fantastic time to be a lever-action rimfire fan!
Savage Revel
The Savage Model 99 family enjoyed over a century of popularity as a centerfire, lever-action hunting rifle. Still, Savage hadn’t offered a traditional lever-action, repeating rimfire rifle until the launch of the new Canadian-built Revel in 2024. (If you’re curious about the name, Revel is lever spelled backward. Cute, eh?) Rather than the expected cast zinc/Zamak receiver that has become common among today’s .22 leverguns, Savage says the Revel’s receiver is made of aluminum. Also of note is the Revel’s takedown feature: push out the two AR-15-style captive takedown pins, and the rifle can be separated into two smaller halves. The buttstock, trigger group, and lever comprise the rear half, and the outer receiver, bolt, 18” medium-profile barrel, 12-shot tubular magazine, and forend comprise the front half. The disassembled rifle can then easily be stored in a soft case or backpack and quickly and easily reassembled when you arrive at the range or in the field.
The Revel initially launched with a straight-stock, large-loop Classic model in .22LR caliber. Savage will also offer the rifle in 9-shot .22 WMR and .17 HMR variants, as well as an upgraded DLX (Deluxe) model with a textured, pistol-grip buttstock, shrouded front sight, soft buttpad, and modern-looking cuts and profiles in its satin-finished Turkish walnut furniture. To our eyes, the DLX’s angular cutouts and slots in the buttstock and forend look out of place on an otherwise nice-looking lever-action, but we do like the smaller lever of the DLX model.
The Revel weighs 6.1 lbs and has a quite substantial 14.5” length of pull, which makes it feel like a real gun but will likely have younger or smaller-statured shooters looking for a shorter buttstock, which we expect Savage may offer eventually. If not, cutting down a buttstock and trimming/remounting a buttplate is a fairly straightforward job for the home hobbyist gunsmith with the right tools. The Revel’s sights are typical for a basic lever-action, with the rear the ramp-type that is drift-adjustable for windage.
The Revel we tried had an exceptionally smooth lever action, resulting in low cycling effort and reliable functioning. Aesthetically we’d prefer either a longer magazine or a shorter barrel so the magazine tube lines up with the end of the barrel like on many classic Winchester and Marlin leverguns, but we can live with it. The Classic has a somewhat angular profile on its forend, which initially looks too short for the rifle but fits the hand well and enables easy handling. The more we shot and handled the Revel, the more we liked it. The fit of the buttstock to the receiver tang at the wrist was pretty sloppy but the edges were rounded and it didn’t feel bad in the hands.
We usually don’t prefer a cross-bolt type safety on a lever-action, preferring instead the historical half-cock safety, but the Revel’s cross-bolt safety isn’t as annoying as some other designs. Rather than being placed high on the receiver near the hammer, the Revel’s safety button is just behind and above the trigger, where it’s easily reached by the shooter’s index finger (similar to the Rossi Rio Bravo below). If we have to have a cross-bolt safety on a lever-action, this is the way to do it.
For a current MSRP of $439 for the Classic model, and $539 for the DLX, the Revel offers a lot of lever-action fun for the money. At a street price of around $400 to start, we think Savage has a winner on their hands.
Winchester Ranger 22
Modern lever-action rifles are all about achieving the look and feel of a historical Cowboy Gun, and the new-for-2024 Winchester Ranger .22LR rifle doesn’t disappoint. At first glance, it’s a dead ringer for the beloved lever-action rifles of yesteryear, including Winchester's own well-liked (but sadly discontinued since 2004) Model 9422. However, the Ranger has a couple neat tricks up its sleeve. The new 2-piece receiver is precision-machined aluminum rather than Zamak/zinc or other low-cost material used by some competitors, and the forward half of the gun (from the upper receiver to the muzzle) and the rear half (including the lower/internal receiver, trigger group and buttstock) can be easily separated by removing one screw at the left rear of the receiver. This results in a very handy, packable takedown rifle when disassembled. It also facilitates the easy removal of the bolt for cleaning, which is very important for .22 rimfire firearms, as they produce a lot of carbon fouling and powder residue. With the bolt out, you can then easily clean the 20.5” barrel from the breech, unlike most lever-actions requiring complicated detail stripping.
The 5.25-lb rifle utilizes a 15-shot tubular magazine, and its lever-action feel is satisfyingly smooth, particularly considering its very reasonable price ($419.99 MSRP). The satin oil-finished walnut buttstock looks as good as your grandpappy’s Model 1894, and with its flat plastic buttplate results in a useful 13” length of pull. This is short enough for all but the smallest youths, while still remaining shootable for full-sized adult users. The Ranger handles and feels much like its 9422 ancestor, which is high praise. Like its predecessor, the Ranger’s iron sights are standard for this market, with the rear buckhorn-type blade’s elevation adjustable via a ramped/stepped spacer, and drift-adjustable for windage. The front bead sight is shrouded for attractive looks and to prevent glare and dings from handling.
About the only thing we don’t like about the new Ranger is the receiver isn’t drilled and tapped for a scope/optics mount, though it is grooved to accept Weaver-type rings. However, this is a minor nitpick, since the vast majority of lever-action .22 shooters aren’t going to mount a scope anyway.
Those who mourn the passing of fine lever-action .22 rifles like the Model 9422 would be well-advised to take a close look at the new Ranger. It exhibits legacy looks and build quality, but with 21st-century design innovation and materials.
Browning BL-22
In continuous production since 1969, the Browning BL-22 is the premium option for rimfire lever-action lovers. The beautifully finished, walnut-and-steel rifle weighs only 5 pounds, which is remarkable considering its precision-machined carbon steel receiver and full-sized stocks. You can see your reflection in the glossy wood finish Browning is famous for and in the highly polished blue surfaces of the receiver and barrel. However, the top-tier, satisfying fit and finish isn’t the most remarkable thing about the BL-22. Probably its defining feature is its super-short, 33-degree lever throw, with the trigger group moving integrally with the lever. This means you will never pinch your finger between the lever and the trigger, as is somewhat common for untrained users of other leverguns with fixed triggers.
The 15-round (when using .22LR) tubular magazine follower is secured by a spring-loaded button on the knurled endcap, a premium touch that makes other makers’ twist-to-lock designs feel a bit archaic. You can also choose to load the magazine with .22 Long and/or .22 Short cartridges, as the BL-22 will happily digest and cycle them all. The standard 20” barreled Grade I model starts at $849 MSRP, though there’s a youth-friendly, shortened version called the Micro Midas available for $779. For the well-heeled Browning aficionado, Grade II models are available with checkered furniture, engraved/nickel-finished receivers, and even an octagonal barrel model, with prices ranging up to $1,329. You might find a BL-22 for sale at under MSRP, but you’ll be lucky if you do. These rifles have remained in high demand for over 5 decades.
The price may sound ridiculous for a backyard plinker, but like many legacy Browning firearms, the quality, fit, and finish of the BL-22 makes for a truly heirloom-worthy rifle. The shorter lever throw means that the force required to cycle the action, particularly with the hammer down (as it is after you fire a shot), is significantly greater than with other lever-action .22 rifles. However, most adults are not going to have any issue with it, and it makes for a very fast-shooting, easy-handling hunting rifle or plinker. The steel receiver and quality barrel produce excellent accuracy as well, particularly for a lever-action rimfire. If we had to pick only one of these lever-action rimfire rifles to live with and pass down to our children, it would probably be the Browning BL-22.
Armscor/Rock Island Armory TM22-LA
Armscor/RIA is a Philippine firm known for making low-priced, high-value firearms and innovating in many areas. However, Rock Island Armory doesn’t manufacture the TM22-LA lever-action rifle. It’s made by Derya Arms in Turkey and imported by RIA. Turkish-made guns have exploded in popularity over the past decade, primarily because of their very low prices and the features they offer that other manufacturers may not. The LA in the new TM22-LA stands for Lever Action (pretty much all Derya Arms .22LR rifle models are designated TM22, and it isn’t very clear). However, unique among modern .22LR leverguns, the TM22-LA feeds from a detachable box magazine, released by a clever extended mechanism close to the right index finger. Two 10-round aluminum mags are included with the rifle, but 15- and even 25-round magazines will eventually be available. This feature means that reloading the TM22-LA is faster than any tubular-magazine-fed lever-action. The obvious downside is that if you lose the detachable magazine, your rifle is effectively useless, as feeding .22LR cartridges into the chamber via the small ejection port with the feeding mechanism in the way is a hassle. So, hold onto your TM22-LA magazines.
Despite its black polymer stock and forend, the TM22-LA looks fairly conventional in profile, with a faux tubular magazine below the barrel (18” or 20” long, depending on the model you select). You get an integral, adjustable cheek comb for use with optics and included spacers for adjusting the length of pull. Optics are easy to install on the included picatinny rail, integral to the factory rear sight. The barrel is threaded for muzzle devices or suppressors, and a thread protector is included.
The rifle offers some pretty innovative features, and if you’re a tacticool-levergun lover you’ll likely find the TM22-LA to be right up your alley. However, it gets even better when you hear the price… MSRP is $348, and we’ve seen them at the usual retailers for $289.
Henry Golden Boy
Henry Repeating Arms’ motto is Made in America, or not made at all. This commitment to US-sourced materials and US-built firearms has helped the new Henry company develop a large and loyal fanbase among US shooters and enthusiasts. Their flagship model is the Golden Boy, a traditionally styled lever-action rimfire rifle available in .22 Short/Long/Long Rifle and .17 HMR and .22 Magnum. The internal receiver is made from Zamak-5, a zinc alloy, and the attractive, polished Brasslite receiver cover is affixed. The styling of the rifle mimics the Winchester 1866 Yellow Boy, with a rounded hump below the receiver where the lever pivots. The Golden Boy’s barrel is also octagonal, contributing to the rifle’s 6.75-pound heft. Combined with the brass- or silver-colored receiver, many find this nostalgic and attractive, and the Henry Golden Boy is known for its smooth, low-effort action and reliability. The company also has award-winning customer service, so if you ever have a problem with your lifetime-warranted Henry firearm, the company will make it right.
MSRP starts at $648 for the basic 16-shot, 20”-barreled Golden Boy, but multiple variants are available in different finishes, checkering options, engraving, and barrel profile and length. There are youth models and commemorative models, and if you wish, you can specify up to 20 words of text on your unique, personalized Golden Boy custom receiver cover for $150.
If you prefer a lever-action that visually hearkens more closely to the Winchester 1892 or 1894, Henry also offers its Classic Lever Action rifle series starting at $425. This price is more in line with the competition in the .22 lever gun market, and we expect the Classic line to sell very well. However, the attractive looks and premium feel of the Golden Boy might make the upcharge worth it.
Uberti/Taylors & Company Scout .22
The Uberti Scout rifle, sometimes called the Silverboy, is probably the most faithful visual reproduction of the Winchester 1866 Yellow Boy rifle, at least in a rimfire chambering. The Henry (above) is close, but the Uberti is nearly indistinguishable to the casual eye. Uberti says it utilizes an aluminum alloy receiver, chrome plated in a very nice, even finish. It shows fingerprints like nothing else, but when it’s wiped clean with a soft cloth, it’s a very attractive rifle. The magazine tube holds 14 rounds of .22LR ammunition, and unlike some others in this market, the Scout is designed to function only with .22 Long Rifle ammo reliably. If you try .22 Shorts, you’ll get nasty double-feeds as two cartridges fight for position on the lifter. In our view, this isn’t a huge downside since 99.99% of people who shoot .22 rimfire ammunition don’t care for or use .22 Shorts, which are almost always significantly more expensive than the common .22LR.
The Scout’s action is buttery smooth, and Uberti says the rifle’s mechanism uses controlled round feeding throughout its cycle, which means the firearm will reliably function even if cycled at odd angles or upside down. We haven’t tried that, but haven’t experienced any jams or misfeeds, either. The hardwood (beech) furniture is attractively finished in a satin sheen. The wood stands somewhat proud of the receiver near the wrist, but it’s not a huge deal, and you don’t notice it when firing. A round, rather than octagonal profile on the 19” barrel helps keep weight fairly low, at 5.8 pounds.
Like the 1866 and 1873 Winchesters, the Scout has a much more dramatic drop at the comb of the buttstock compared to later models like the 1892. This means you don’t really get a solid cheek weld if your eye is lined up with the sights, but if you’re used to an 1873, it’ll feel right at home. MSRP for the Uberti is $723.99, but when you can find it in stock at Taylors & Company (an importer and distributor of Italian old-West replica firearms), you might find it for less. Additionally, Palmetto State Armory usually has them in stock for around $630.
Another thing we like about the Uberti Scout is there’s no kludged-together added safety button or switch… just the time-tested, proven half-cock hammer safety the way God and John Moses Browning intended. This further connects the shooter with the history of the lever-action rifle, with the additional benefit of keeping that beautiful receiver free from modern buttons, levers, and cutouts for an added safety mechanism.
If you’re a stickler for visual accuracy and want a .22LR lever-action that hearkens back to the Old West, the Uberti Scout might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Rossi Rio Bravo
Rossi is a Brazilian firm known primarily for making quality Western-style firearms at very reasonable prices and has recently been acquired by Taurus. Taurus USA now sells many Rossi-built lever-action rifles under its Heritage Manufacturing brand, including the .22LR Settler, starting around $500 MSRP in a unique blackened-brass finish. However, for now, Rossi is still producing and marketing its 1892-styled Rio Bravo .22LR lever-action rifles for a fantastic price, starting around $356 for the polymer-stocked base model. Several variants are available in the different receiver and wood finishes, including a Tactical model (rare for .22LR leverguns). Still, our favorite is the 5.2-pound Gold model pictured above, with a polished, gold-colored PVD-finished receiver cover and lever, blued 18” barrel, and hardwood furniture. This handsome 15-shot rifle has the right amount of bling to look tastefully attractive without being gaudy. MSRP for this model is $469.99, but you can usually find it for less at larger firearms retailers. We’re not a fan of the Phillips-head screws used to secure the receiver cover to the cast aluminum alloy internal receiver, but for the price we can live with it.
That’s right, we said cast aluminum alloy receiver. While several competitors use zinc/Zamak for their .22LR lever-action receivers, Rossi elects to use cast aluminum alloy for its vital internal receiver, which, in our view, is a good thing. Modern Zamak-5 can be perfectly acceptable when used by a well-known and well-practiced firm such as the Henry Repeating Arms mentioned above. However, poorly made zinc firearms can suffer from internal corrosion and breakage if the casting material is contaminated during production. This has scared many firearms owners away from any firearm made using zinc or Zamac. With the Rossi, you don’t have to worry about it!
Secure your .22 lever-action rifle in a Liberty Safe
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