There are countless options to choose from but our team feels we can make a strong case that a lever action rimfire rifle is the best first firearm. Need to be convinced? Read on…
Gun ownership is experiencing a Renaissance of sorts. Americans are rediscovering firearms as a means of self-defense, food provision, or just plain old recreation. But where should new gun owners start? Experienced shooters often recommend that novices start slow, working up to larger, more powerful options. For those seeking long gun proficiency, I usually suggest a rimfire rifle, and, more often than not, I default to my favorite rifle platform: the lever gun.
The first rifle I ever fired was a lever gun, though it was a centerfire Marlin 336. My Dad taught me to be a deer hunter early on, and I’ve never been recoil-sensitive. But that experience won’t be for everyone, and they might not have an experienced mentor right there helping like I did. But I’ve loved lever guns ever since, including my favorite rimfire, a .22-chambered Henry Golden Boy.
Quality lever action rimfire options abound, and I can’t think of a better way to introduce new folks to the fun, and responsibilities, of gun ownership and the shooting sports. I’ll be referring to my Golden Boy as we go, but I’ll also list some of those other options so you can check them out for yourself.
What Makes Rimfire Lever Guns A Great First Firearm?
Lots of reasons. Thanks for asking. Here’s a list that lays out my case. We’ll address each one individually.
- Low Recoil
- Easy Operation
- Affordability
- Versatility
- Fun!
Rimfire Rifles Have Low Recoil
Even the most powerful rimfire rifles, like those chambered for .17 HMR or .22 Magnum, don’t really kick. Not like the .35 Remington rifle I learned on. They are very pleasant to shoot, and the recoil certainly won’t intimidate anyone. In fact, I’ve found that my Golden Boy’s almost complete lack of recoil has helped instill confidence in new shooters who were unsure of themselves.
The lack of recoil takes away some of the scariness, allowing new shooters to focus on fundamentals and hitting their target. A pleasant experience, coupled with early success, encourages new shooters to come back. I hate seeing those videos of people handing new shooters a gun that’s clearly too powerful for them, then laughing when the inevitable happens. That’s not only dangerous and irresponsible, but it likely means that person will never want to shoot again.
A rimfire’s low recoil will help provide a good experience they will probably want to repeat.
Easy Operation
Being easy to run is perhaps the lever gun’s greatest strength. The are easy to load, if not especially fast, and the lever itself is maybe the most satisfying charging action in the firearms world. I know that I often pick up a lever gun just to run the action. No other reason. I just like it. My Golden Boy, with its small bolt and robust lever, is the slickest lever gun I’ve ever run. I love it, and I really can’t get enough.
The lever gun’s simplicity is a big plus for new shooters. No complicated manual of arms. Just load, run the lever, point, and shoot. Repeat. The only real trick is learning not to short stroke the action, but that’s not hard. It helps that lever guns are built to be run robustly, so that’s easy to teach, thus building confidence from the beginning. That lever guns are essentially ambidextrous doesn’t hurt either.
I’m fortunate that my outdoor club has a dedicated .22 range with steel targets, including spinners. Early success encourages new shooters. That pairs well with an easy-to-run lever gun.
Affordability
Rimfire rifles are generally less expensive than their centerfire counterparts. You can spend a lot of money if you want, but it’s unnecessary. I spent a little more on the Golden Boy because I wanted the extra features, and some brands cost even more than my gun, but a basic rimfire lever gun will run just as satisfactorily.
A new gun owner may not want to drop a lot of money on a first rifle, but good rimfire lever guns can be had for around $400, or sometimes even less. Not bad in today’s market.
That affordability also extends to the ammunition, especially .22 Long Rifle ammo. Rimfire ammo is widely available and easy to stock up on. You can literally buy 1,500 rounds of .22 LR for just over 100 bucks. That’s a lot of range time for not much money. .17 HMR and .22 Magnum admittedly cost more, but they still run far less than centerfire ammo.
Versatility
Rimfire rifles aren’t just for the range. They can also put food on the table. Rimfire rounds are perfect for small game like rabbits and squirrels. Some hunters use .22 Magnum and .17 HMR for turkey, though that topic is sometimes hotly debated. Let’s just say that you better be accurate, but that’s the case with any game animal.
But a lever action rimfire will get the job done, whether you’re just plinking, or stalking the woods and fields for game. I carried a single-shot 20-gauge shotgun on my first squirrel hunt as a teenager. My friend’s grandfather upbraided me for that choice, telling me a real hunter would carry a .22 rifle. I honestly hadn’t known any better. My Dad never hunted small game, and he didn’t know I was hunting that day, anyway. But I accepted the challenge and hunted with a .22 from then on.
My own grandfather was an avid rabbit hunter, and he always carried a .22. He used that same rifle on groundhogs who dared to invade his garden. He would call his shots to me and my brother, sitting on his back porch. I remember he once pointed out an especially brazen fellow who was looking straight at us from about 60 yards away.
“Watch boys, I’ll hit that one right on the nose.”
And he did. His rifle choice? An old but well-kept lever action Marlin 39A.
Lever Guns are Fun!
I said before that lever guns are my favorite rifle platform, and they are. I really don’t think I can own too many of them, though my bank account would disagree. Still, I don’t think any other rifle consistently matches the satisfaction and just plain fun of running a good lever gun. And rimfire options mean you can do it affordably.
Fun, simplicity, satisfaction, and affordability add up to a powerful experience for new gun owners entering a sometimes confusing world. I think those of us who have been around for a while sometimes forget that not everyone was raised on firearms. I, for one, can’t remember not being around guns. They were just always there, and my Dad was a diligent and stern teacher regarding their care, safety, and use. But most folks aren’t like that anymore, if they ever were. I grew up in a small Appalachian town, but most of my peers’ families either didn’t own guns or they didn’t actively use them for hunting or anything else.
Pushing a new gun owner into something for which they aren’t ready is not only irresponsible, but it may drive them away from the shooting sports entirely. It’s also disrespectful. Gauge that person’s attitudes and readiness before handing them a firearm. You’ll certainly want to provide some instruction as well.
When I work with a new shooter, my Golden Boy always makes the trip. Sometimes that person advances to other firearms. Sometimes they just stay with the Golden Boy and a couple other rimfires I bring along. Either way, the Golden Boy has never failed to elicit a smile and a comment about how much fun it is. Never. My Golden Boy has always been a great ambassador for the shooting sports, and I think rimfire lever guns, as a category, will usually do the same.
Rimfire Lever Gun Choices
You can choose from several good rimfire lever action rifles with varying features and price points. These rifles are making a comeback, with Henry set to release a whole new line of them this year, and several other manufacturers feature recent releases. Here a list of the major names, alphabetically. Some brands will have multiple variants, and some are more expensive than others: