re: Would a lever action 22 rifle make a good home defense gun?

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Would a lever action 22 rifle make a good home defense gun?
No. If you must defend your home with a .22LR, it should absolutely be a semi-automatic, either a Ruger 10/.22 or equivalent OR an AR platform in .22LR.

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I'm gonna disagree here...

the biggest gripe about .22lr is that it's rimfire, and the dud rate (failure to fire) is high compared to centerfire. Depending on which ammo, you get to 2-3%.

If using in home defense, if you have to shoot you will likely need to shoot multiple times. That's great with a semiauto, until you hit the dud. Which might be the 1st or 2nd shot. At least with a revolver or lever gun, your natural action of shooting will clear that round and you will be on the next, before you realize what happened. With a semi, you have to realize during the moment (high adrenaline and panic) and actively clear it.

I've shot a fair bit over my life, and have come across duds in 22 in multiple brands, including CCI, Norma, Winchester (not just their bulk packs, some of the dedicated stuff), hell I have even had Eley do it.

With centerfire, NEW FACTORY ammo, I think I've had about 5 across all calibers. Remington UMC in 9mm was 2, WWB in 9mm was 1, Tula steel cased 1 in 9mm, one in 223. Wolf steel (I think it was Ivshmek) one in 7.62x39.

With SURPLUS ammo, I've had a few. Santa Barbara 9x23 Largo, has about a 30-40% dud rate. Turkish 8mm Mauser is about 20%, with hangfires at closer to 50% or higher.
Now, surplus 7.62x25 from both Yugoslavia and Romania have been golden.

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I’m not arguing for anything. Use whatever you feel most confident with.

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Advocating? Semantics. You seem to have specifically recommended the second most difficult type firearm to clear a home with.

Very few people can instinctually shoot a handgun. I would say less than 5% of owners.

Inside of 30 ft a silhoette should be point click. The gun an extension of your arm.

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I would not recommend any type of rifle for the interior of a home. Definitely a shotgun or handgun.

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Terrible take.

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This is such a fudd trope.

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Clearing the streets post hurricane Andrew, I can tell you from first hand experience, the racking of 12 gauge rounds makes the roaches scurry.

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Nothing will scare the piss out of an intruder like the sound of someone racking a 12 gauge.

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My shotgun would be loaded with one in the chamber well before the intruder was within hearing range, and I damn sure ain’t going to “rack” my shotgun just for the sound effect and loose a round

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A polished greased mp22 AR with a drum mag, suppressor, red dot and strobe light might be the funniest home defense gun I can think of.

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Drum mag on order…almost ready to protect

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Yep. An 18" 12 ga with #1 buckshot is what sits next to my wife's side of the bed. I have a handgun, rifle with suppressor and an Estwing double bit axe (I can throw it like a champ if I need to be quiet or not light myself) within arm's reach of my side of the bed.

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Dang, must be tough living in Fallujah.

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I even keep ear protection by my bed lol. If someone sees me slipping up my hallways with orange in my ears they better realize I’ve prepped for the moment

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You should get some electronic earmuffs, they give you some supersonic hearing as well as protection.