Chiappa Little Badger review: a folding .22 survival rifle

This review was originally published in 2022 and fully revised in July 2026.

Not every shooter goes in for the latest high-flying gizmos or high-grade walnut. To many a rimfire is simply a tool, and if it shoots straight and true it is more than good enough for vermin duties around the pens or the farm. That is clearly the ethos Chiappa channelled when it created the Little Badger.

As the firm is better known for high-quality rifles, it was interesting to see how this single-shot, folding .22 LR performed on pest-control duties – .22 WMR and .17 HMR versions are also available. It looks very handy and folds from 31in down to 17.5in, and at 2.92lb unscoped it is no burden at all. It makes a pleasant change to test something a little different, and it might just be the perfect gamekeeper’s gun: ideal for shooting from the truck or a tight corner of a barn.

Chiappa Little Badger specifications

Prices are RRP at the time of original testing and may since have changed.

First impressions and build quality

I have tested many rimfires over the years, including several survival-type rifles, and they are always intriguing because they are built to be functional firearms rather than flashy showpieces. As Chiappa has such a good reputation, it is no surprise that the Little Badger feels sturdy despite its diminutive size – a flimsy rifle would not inspire confident shooting.

With a fully ambidextrous design, this super-lightweight rifle is surprisingly well made and gives a comfortable, effortless hold. The skeletonised stock saves weight and is formed by two steel wires bent into a crude stock shape with a polymer recoil pad attached. At 13in it is a little shorter than I would like, but I do like the twin bank of six rimfire cartridge holders that straddle the rear of the stock. This feature is typical of the type and lets you carry spare ammunition, whether subs, reduced loads or high-velocity rounds.

There is no pistol grip as such, but there is a Picatinny rail to grasp, and a wood-stocked deluxe version is available for those who prefer it. The fore-end is clever too: it is essentially four 4in Picatinny rails fixed around the barrel shroud, offering grip, support and scope-mounting options all at once. It really is a one-size-fits-all solution.

Folding action and trigger

Folding rifles have always brought to mind clandestine forays by poachers, but this break-barrel system is genuinely practical. A short lever in front of the trigger-guard breaks the action and collapses the rifle. The action is aluminium with the pressure-bearing parts made from steel, and it is cocked using a neat ambidextrous hammer with an extended spur to the right and left – really handy when a scope is fitted. There is no half-cock for safety, but with the hammer back you know it is loaded.

The trigger was a pleasant surprise: light, with no creep, and breaking at 2.55lb, it plays its part in the rifle’s accuracy. The barrel helps too, at 16½in with a ½in UNEF threaded muzzle. Ejection and extraction are manually operated – simple, but it works every time.

In the field

Quirky rifles are always great fun to shoot, and the Little Badger was no exception – I soon had a large grin on my face. It makes you focus on your technique and trigger-pull more acutely than usual. I fitted a scope and an A-Tec Wave moderator to mute the report, which made for a very stealthy rimfire, and I had three rabbits on the first evening.

I ran the usual suspects of subsonic loads from Eley, CCI, RWS and Winchester. The Eley subs achieved 0.75in five-shot groups and 1,015fps for 87ft/lb at 30 yards, and would make a great all-round load. Upping the weight, the CCI suppressor load with a 45-gr hollowpoint was nearly as accurate, managing 0.85in groups with real clout at 968fps and 94ft/lb. The RWS High Velocity 40-gr loads shot really well as always, grouping just under 1in at 1,204fps and 129ft/lb, which makes them ideal for close-range foxes.

Funnily enough, some Winchester 42-gr Max subs tried at the last minute shot 0.65in groups at 30 yards, so, zeroed in, I headed to the grass field for another spot of rabbit reduction. The Little Badger is novel to shoot but it really does perform: I accounted for more than a dozen rabbits – and a rat – over two evenings. The trigger was very good, accuracy was spot on at sensible ranges, and it was so easy to shoot well. Don’t dismiss this rifle as a toy.

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strengths: Very light at 2.92lb and folds to 17.5in for easy carry and storage; surprisingly sturdy and well made; fully ambidextrous; clever quad-rail fore-end that doubles as a scope mount; onboard storage for a dozen rounds; light, creep-free trigger; accurate at sensible ranges; excellent value at £245.
• Weaknesses: Single-shot only, so no quick follow-up; the 13in stock is a little short for taller shooters; no half-cock safety; the skeletonised stock won’t suit anyone who wants a traditional wooden feel, and the deluxe wood version costs more.

Ratings

Verdict

The Chiappa Little Badger is far more capable in the field than its toy-like looks suggest. It is a rugged, no-nonsense rimfire that gets the job done with good accuracy, and it is best suited to the gamekeeper, pest controller or smallholder who wants a light, pack-away tool to keep in the truck or behind the barn door. If you miss the appeal of a wooden stock, go for the deluxe version at £295; if you fancy a 9mm smoothbore instead, look at the Little Squirrel. I haven’t had this much fun with a rimfire in a long while.