The first rifle many people ever owned was a .22, and a lever-action version is a lot of fun to learn on. The Henry H1 Classic is a .22 rifle that accepts .22 Short, .22 Long and .22 Long Rifle ammunition, so you can feed it whatever you have in the cabinet.

That flexibility is handy. Short rounds are quiet and mild, ideal for kids and for shooting around the barn. Long Rifle loads reach out farther and hit harder for small game. Because it runs all three, it is a good choice for a general-purpose farm and backyard rimfire. Wipe it down after each outing and keep a light coat of oil on the steel, and it will look good for the next owner too.

Henry builds a smooth lever action, with a short stroke and a feel that suits young hands. The H1 is the plain, no-frills model, so you pay for function rather than fancy trim.

Use it for rabbits, squirrels and cans. Teach someone to shoot with it, or keep it in the truck for rat control around the corn crib. The rifle ships to your FFL dealer, where the background check is done.