SHOT Show 2020 ended up being a great time for those heavily invested in the 22 LR community. It seemed as if almost every exhibitor had something in 22 LR. Chiappa Firearms didn’t fail to bring their own 22 LR offering to the table with the Little Badger Rifle. The Badger is a small, light and inexpensive 22 LR foldable single-shot rifle.

[SHOT 2020] Chiappa Firearms Little Badger 22 LR Folding Rifle

Specifications:

Caliber:	22 Long Rifle
Action:	Folding Break-Action
Barrel Length:	16.5″
Capacity:	1
Feed:	Manual
Trigger System:	Single
Stock:	Wire Steel
Forend:	Quad Picatinny
Front Sight:	Fixed M1 Military Style
Rear Sight:	Adjustable M1 Military Style
Safety:	Half Cock Hammer
Weight:	2.9 lbs
Length:	31″
Material:	Alloy Frame / Steel Barrel
Finish:	Blued
Extraction:	Manual
Notes:	Includes Backpack, 1/2″-28 Threaded Barrel w/ Protective Plastic Cap

 

The gun is extremely light! only weighing a scant 2.9 lbs and being just a touch over 20″ in its folded configuration. Its appearance is very minimalist. The wire stock doesn’t offer a very comforting cheek weld but it does save the carrier a ton of weight and also features a 12 round ammunition reserve for the break-action single-shot rifle.

The foldable rifle also has a slightly heftier brother – the Little Badger Deluxe, which features a wood stock but weighs 1/2 a pound more than its wire stocked counterpart. Although it looks nicer in some respects, it does come at a slightly increased cost as well as the added weight you’d have to carry.

With both a Picatinny rail for mounting primary optics as well as M1 style Iron sights, the Badger makes a great case for a lightweight survival rifle when paired with the backpack, throw on a suppressor for that added performance and I think this would make a great little rifle for some backcountry camping.

The Little Badger 22 rifle is available now through firearms dealers, MSRP on the Wire Stock Little Badger Folding rifle is $216, and $273 for the wood stocked version.