Rimfire lever guns do not get much slicker than the Browning BL-22. The short lever throw is one of its best-known traits, and it makes the rifle quick to operate for plinking and small game. This Grade II version dresses it up with finer finish details and holds fifteen rounds of .22 LR under a 20-inch blued barrel.

Fifteen rounds in the tube means a lot of shooting before a reload. That suits a kid learning to shoot and an adult running steel at the back of the ranch. A .22 Long Rifle is quiet and cheap, and the gun is light enough for small hands.

Squirrel hunters like the BL-22 because it handles smoothly in the woods. The straight stock and compact action feel natural, and the blued barrel gives it a classic look. Grade II adds a bit of class for those who like nicer touches on a working rifle.

Keep the magazine tube clean and the action lightly oiled. A rimfire needs a little attention after wet days. It ships to your FFL dealer, and the background check is completed there before you take it home.