Chiappa has all sorts of interesting stuff this year. In addition to their triple barreled shotgun, they’re showing off a rifle designed specifically for new shooters. The Little Badger is a folding rimfire rifle that is little more than a wire frame stock and a barrel, and folds in half to an overall length of a little over 16 inches. The single shot break action gun seems to function perfectly, with an easy to open action and a pretty nice trigger, and clocks in around $169.

 

The Man says its perfect for throwing in a backpack for camping, or in your private plane for survival hunting, or just giving to your child for their first gun. And since the thing is threaded 1/2-28, it is ready from the factory to take the silencer of your choice. The handguards are simply four standard Picatinny rails, meaning you can mount just about any small optic or other gubbins to the rifle to customize it to your requirements.

Its a nifty idea, and something I would definitely consider for my bug out bag, but for simply plinking around the range a Ruger 10/22 might still be king. We’ll see.

34 COMMENTS

  1. Is it single shot or mag fed? I see what looks like a 10/22-esque magazine release just forward of the trigger guard, but don’t see a magazine anywhere?

  2. It might be an ok survival bug-out gun. I would not buy it for a child’s first gun; the thing is hideous for a young boy or girl. For a child’s first gun I would buy a small simple single-shot blot-action with a real stock and forearm in a kid’s color. I find intriguing (though I wouldn’t buy it either) the gun below the Little Badger also marked ‘New’.

    From Chiappa’s site:
    “DOUBLE BADGER Over & Under rifle cal. .22LR/.410
    Item Number: 500-097
    Over&Under foldable rifle, with two different calibers (one barrel caliber .22LR and one barrel caliber .410). Folds to 19″ total length. Adjustable fiber optic rear sight, drilled and tapped for modern scope bases.”

  3. Now that is more interesting, Aharon. Except it’s still a Chiappa.

    I like the tri-barreled 12 gauge shotstrocity looming menacingly over the kiddie guns in the background.

  4. A lightweight all metal folding .22 with peep sights. For less than 2 bills. To hell with the kids, I want one. Why can’t they slap a .410 barrel under the .22. I would want either one.

  5. On the list of firearms related things I care about, Chiappa ranks somewhere near the VPC’s take on what point someone in their mid-20s is no longer classified as a child.

  6. Not super keen on the quad-rails, but I must admit I am highly attracted to this little thing.

    Looking closer though, why the hell is there a rail behind the trigger guard and why is does the reciever need to be so damned thick there too? Looks pretty damned uncomfortable to hold now…

    • Because if you wanted to put a grip on it? You can use any of the the grips they make for Picatinny rails.

      I was thinking the one with a hollow handle, and a cleaning kit would be nifty.

      Shoot! Put paracord around the stock, and that thing gets a bit nifty there!

  7. Now, I don’t exactly see why there is a pic. rail behind the trigger guard, right where your trigger hand is grabbing. I guess to attach a vertical grip, but I don’t know of any vertical grips that would serve well in that purpose. Anyone else?

    • Maybe a pistol grip, like you sometimes put on the forend on a 12 gauge? I think they make some of those that have the proper angle and are rail attachable. You’re right though, a straight vertical grip would suck there.

  8. Is it tactical? It’s all black, but it doesn’t specify if it’s a tactical assault weapon. I’d need to know that before I spent money on it.

    Actually, it looks like one of those things you use to stir the logs in a fireplace.

  9. Since it has a folding stock, does that make it an “assault weapon”? It has a “shoulder thing that goes up”.

  10. I like the idea of a basic single shot survival rifle for bug out bags and such but what is the little badger made of aluminium or steel ? and can those cheap plastic sights be changed to something more robust ?.

  11. This looks like a really good idea for a small carry arm in your pack. I wonder if it is depenable and will last for more than a few rounds put thru it? many good ideas have fallen by the wayside due to poor manufacturing techniques.

  12. One thing that’s really nice about a single shot .22 has nothing to do with the rifle. Because of the demand for it, .22 ammo has notoriously bad quality control, resulting in a lot of duds. I found that with my pistol, I could usually squeeze the trigger an extra time and fire the round, but with my semi-auto rifle, I was out of luck. With the Chiappa, you can just pull the hammer back a second time and take the shot.

  13. i just bought a little badger mag 22 from my local gun store and it did not have the threading
    1/2 x28 on the end of the barrel.will you add the threading if i send it back to yor compan representative in america???

    disappointed customer
    SING MARK LEE,RETIRED SMSGT USAF

  14. Own one in 17 hmr if you can hold it steady its a tack driver. too light for offhand shooting in my opinion. Wish the sights where steel but they aren’t as flimsy as they look throw in a decent scope bipod and grip behind the trigger guard and you’ve got a decent varmint gun

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