The Henry Golden Boy Youth is the compact variant of the Golden Boy line. It has a 16.3-inch barrel and a 33.75-inch overall length, which makes it proportioned for younger or smaller-framed shooters. It's chambered in .22 LR and also accepts .22 Short and .22 Long from the same tube magazine. Capacity is 12 rounds of .22 LR or 16 rounds of .22 Short. 
 

Key Specifications: 

• Model: Golden Boy Youth 
• Caliber: .22 LR (also .22 Short and .22 Long) 
• Action Type: Lever Action 
• Capacity: 12 rounds (LR) / 16 rounds (Short) 
• Barrel Length: 16.3 inches 
• Overall Length: 33.75 inches 
• Weight: 6 lbs 
• Receiver Finish: Brasslite 
• Barrel Finish: Blued Steel 
• Stock Material: American Walnut 
   

Detailed Features: 

The Brasslite receiver and blued barrel are the same aesthetic combination used on the full-size Golden Boy. American walnut stock. Sights are a fully adjustable semi-buckhorn rear with a brass bead front -- functional for small game distances. The half-cock (hammer) safety is standard on Henry's lever rimfires. The shorter 33.75-inch overall length and shorter length-of-pull make this manageable for youth shooters without requiring stock modifications. 
 

Target Audience: 

Younger shooters learning on their first firearm, or adults who prefer a shorter stock for a better fit. The reduced length makes it easier to mount and swing on target for shooters under roughly 5'4". It also doubles as a small game rifle where the shorter package is practical in brushy terrain. 
 

Usage Scenarios: 

• First rifle for youth shooters who need a proportioned stock length 
• Small game hunting where a shorter, lighter .22 lever is practical 
• Range training and plinking where the lower weight reduces fatigue for younger users

Owner feedback on the Henry Golden Boy Youth is consistently positive, following the pattern of the full-size Golden Boy with the proportions being the relevant differentiator.

Fit for youth and shorter adults is the primary selling point. Parents buying this for their children note that the 33.75-inch length and reduced stock length-of-pull let kids mount the rifle properly rather than struggling to reach a full-size stock. This is a practical consideration that's easy to overlook when buying a first rifle.

Build quality receives the same praise as the full-size Golden Boy. The walnut stock and Brasslite receiver look and feel noticeably better than comparably priced youth rifles from other manufacturers. Several owners note that children who received this as a first rifle take better care of it because of the quality.

The lever action is smooth and the reliability with .22 LR ammo is good. Henry's rimfire levers have a strong track record and owners of the Youth version report the same function.

At 6 lbs the rifle is manageable for most youth shooters while still having enough mass to absorb the minimal .22 LR recoil. Some adults who bought this as a woods carry rifle also note it's light enough for all-day carry.

Henry's customer service gets specific positive mention from owners who needed warranty support or had questions.

The 12-round capacity is adequate. Some owners mention having to load more frequently than they'd like during extended range sessions, but 12 rounds is standard for this tube magazine length.