Chiappa Little Badger: A Survivalist’s Guide to Small Game Hunting

The Chiappa Little Badger has been making waves in the survivalist community since its release. This lightweight, single-shot .22LR rifle is not only affordable, but also incredibly versatile, making it a popular choice for field, youth, and survival use. While it may not be the weapon of choice in a post-apocalyptic scenario, it’s a perfect companion for the backwoods.

Weighing in at under 3 pounds and priced under $200, the Little Badger is an attractive option for many. It comes with military-style peep sights and a decent trigger. Although the factory sights are more than sufficient for most, some users have chosen to file the front sight thinner for a more precise aim.

The Little Badger features four removable Picatinny rails, which serve as a handguard and a place to mount a small optic. However, these polymer panels are unlikely to hold a hard zero with an optic. The skeletonized buttstock has an integral round holder, and there are several factory accessories available, including hammer extenders, buttstock pouches, pistol grips, and carrying cases.

However, we decided to take a different approach with our Little Badger.

Instead of trying to create a universal survival rifle, we decided to dedicate our Little Badger to small game hunting. We wanted a compact, efficient package that could serve as a reliable source of food in a survival situation.

The integral shell holder, while useful, exposes ammunition to the elements and isn’t very efficient. We opted for a pouch instead. While Chiappa offers its own buttstock pouch, we found it a bit clunky. We decided to mount an M16 cleaning kit bag, which we found at a local surplus store, on the stock. After shortening the pouch and installing eyelets, we secured it to the stock with zip ties, creating a dedicated space for ammunition.

We also attached a Wilmont Knives K23 small fixed blade to the stock, allowing us to quickly process game on the spot.

Despite the Little Badger’s already compact design when folded, we wanted to make it even more portable. We started by removing the lower Picatinny rail from the barrel, which allowed the rifle to fold slightly smaller. However, we didn’t stop there.

We decided to break the Badger down into two separate pieces to further reduce its size. We replaced the factory screw with a 1-inch, 5⁄16 diameter hitch pin, which not only made assembly and disassembly faster, but also allowed us to secure the pin to the rifle with a split ring.

To keep the two pieces together, we created a custom barrel bracket using a ½-inch cable runner from a hardware store. We heated it to make it pliable, allowing the barrel to fit more snugly. A wrap of electrical tape around the barrel increased the friction fit.

With the barrel holder and a thick rubber band, the disassembled Little Badger measures just around 17 inches long and 4.5 inches wide at its widest point.

While having the rifle in two pieces does slow down deployment, it’s important to remember that the Little Badger is not a defensive weapon—it’s a supplement to your main firearm.

As a single-shot break action rifle, the Badger won’t set any speed records. However, we can still strive for efficiency. We created a removable three-round holder using elastic, webbing, Velcro, and a needle and thread, and placed it next to the action for quick reloading.

The Little Badger is also compatible with silencers. It comes threaded in ½x28mm, but you’ll need to remove the plastic muzzle protector to access it. We chose the Bowers Bitty for our silencer, a tiny model that measures only 2.8 inches long and weighs just 2.6 ounces. We installed a Gemtech 22QDA to allow for quick attachment and removal of the silencer.

The combination of the closed action of the Badger, Gemtech subsonic ammunition, and the Bowers Bitty resulted in a remarkably quiet rifle. The sound of the round hitting the target was louder than the report of the rifle itself.

The Little Badger is incredibly accurate within 25 or 30 yards, making it an excellent choice for hunting small game. However, it’s important to note that dry-firing the Little Badger can deform the chamber, making rounds difficult or impossible to extract. This can be fixed with a round file, but it’s best to avoid dry-firing altogether.

In conclusion, the Chiappa Little Badger is a valuable addition to any survivalist’s arsenal. While it shouldn’t replace your main firearm, it’s an excellent tool for hunting small game and keeping your belly full in a survival situation.

Our Thoughts

We’re certainly impressed with the Chiappa Little Badger, a testament to the idea that simplicity and functionality can coexist in survival gear. Its lightweight nature and affordability make it an attractive option for those serious about survival, and its versatility only adds to its appeal.

We admire the ingenuity in modifying the Little Badger for small game hunting. The use of a surplus M16 cleaning kit bag for ammunition storage, for example, is a testament to the survivalist’s knack for resourcefulness and improvisation.

The addition of the Wilmont Knives K23 blade is a smart move, ensuring that users have an accessible tool for processing game. The decision to make the rifle more compact, despite its already small size, shows a dedication to optimization that we can respect.

We appreciate the honesty regarding the time taken to deploy the rifle when disassembled into two pieces. It’s a good reminder that, while the Little Badger is a fantastic tool, it should be a supplement to your primary firearm, not a replacement.

The addition of the silencer is a nice touch, creating a quiet and efficient hunting tool. However, the warning against dry-firing is crucial information for potential users, highlighting the importance of understanding the limits of our gear.

In conclusion, the Chiappa Little Badger is a valuable and versatile tool, a testament to the survivalist’s commitment to adaptability and preparedness.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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