Rifles

Here's a shocker that's all too true: A relatively modestly priced rimfire beat out some very serious centerfire competition for Rifle of the Year in 2001.

What we're talking about is the Golden Boy .22 from Henry Repeating Arms. And even if there wasn't such a thing as Cowboy Action Shooting, it's not hard to figure out why things worked out the way they did. Retro frontier looks aside, this one proved to be a terrific shooter; 25 yard groups ran from one-half to three-quarters of an inch using Winchester Power-Points, Remington Subsonics and PMC Match ammo--even with those "historically correct" buckhorn sights. And the fancy little lever action cycled slicker than a greasy doorknob.

Speaking of brass, the Golden Boy .22 combines a brass buttplate, Brasslite receiver, blued octagonal barrel and a very nice American walnut stock. We did quite a bit of offhand plinking with our test sample and found it to be a natural pointer.

Thanks to its seven-pound weight and 38-inch overall length, it hangs steadier than less- substantial rimfires. The trend toward lightweight rifles is a fact of life in the centerfire world, but a bit of heft isn't a bad idea for a .22 hunting rifle.

There are a lot of small-game hunters who get most of their shooting opportunities at relatively close range, and who prefer the simplicity of open iron sights. The Golden Boy .22 is a natural for such shooters.

Although this elegant little rimfire would make an excellent companion piece for a centerfire Henry repro, it's definitely worth buying on its own merits--which are considerable. Brooklyn-based Henry Repeating Arms has been turning out extremely accurate and very economical .22s for the past couple of years, and they've certainly hit the jackpot with this one. It's a dressed-up variant on its "field grade" predecessor, the Henry Lever Action .22.

The Golden Boy .22's selection once again proves that--fad and fashion aside--there's always room in the firearms market for a good .22 rifle. This one's good indeed.