An octagon barrel and a brass-trimmed lever gun in .22 LR make for a rifle that gets picked up just to be held. The Henry Golden Boy American Rodeo Tribute carries a 20" barrel and holds 16 rounds in a tube magazine, which is a long afternoon of plinking before you reload.

The lever action is what makes it fun. Cycle it, feel it lock up, and you are shooting in a rhythm that no bolt gun gives you. Rimfire recoil is close to nothing, so kids and first-time shooters can learn trigger control without flinching.

Around North Carolina, a rifle like this earns its keep on squirrels in the hardwoods, rabbits along a fence line, and tin cans behind the barn. It is not a deer rifle, and we would not suggest it for one. It is a good trainer and a good keepsake that still shoots.

The Tribute is listed new. Like every firearm we sell, it ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer near you, and you complete the background check there when you pick it up. Pick a dealer before you order so the transfer goes smoothly.