The 223 is considered a Short Action rifle.
It depends on the particular model of the rifle, not the caliber it is in. What model and make is it?
What caliber is it? The length of the rifle cartridge determines if it is a long or short action.
It depends on what caliber it is chambered in.
Length, not caliber, determines action size
25-06 is a 30-06 necked down to .25 caliber. Like it's parent cartridge it is long action.
I am 45 years old. When I was ~10, or in 1973 my father purchaced a lever action Ithaca 22 caliber rifle for me. I still have the rifle, It is one of our familys favorite guns.
Browning only lists two action lengths for the BLR, standard and long. The 257 Roberts is in the standard action. It can legitimately be used in a short or long action depending on the bullet used and the maker of the rifle.
Short action
If the rifle is chambered for the .308 Winchester cartridge, then long or short action can safely fire it. Long or short refers to how far the bolt travels when opened. The .308 is typically a short action- the 30-06 and longer cartridges cannot cycle thru a short action, and must be used in a long action rifle.
Need to know who made it, how long the barrel is, exactly what 22 caliber it is (short, long, long rifle, etc.) and overall condition before being able to help with an answer.
Neither.