I got to handle the "New" Henry 30-30 today and I must say I'm quite impressed. At an OAL of 39 inches and a weight of 7 lbs, it is a handy little
carbine that balanced well in the hand (as well as my Marlin 1895M) and the fit and finish is very, very good. The standard XS Ghost Ring sights and the
very spacious trigger guard area (great for gloved hands) are nice touches that I appreciate quite a bit. For the lever action purists out there, there is
"NO" safety: no tang safety, no cross bolt safety, not even a folding hammer safety like a Browning. Hell, it doesn't even have a half cocked hammer
position. What it does have, is a transfer bar system similar to a Ruger revolver and the trigger has to be held down, for the entire hammer fall, for the firing pin to be engaged.
To carry the rifle with a cartridge chambered, but in a safe condition, you lower the hammer down while your finger is OFF the trigger and the hammer
ends up protecting the firing pin from inadvertently being struck - it really is a pretty ingenious system, that I have probably done a lousy job of describing, so
you should check it out for yourself if you're the least bit curious.
The Henry 30-30 could probably be best described as a cross between a Marlin
336 and a Winchester 1894 carbine: it has the slim lines of a Model 94 and the receiver and action of a Marlin; which, when you think about it, isn't a bad combination at all.
Now, the traditionalists may point out that the Henry doesn't have the "Traditional" loading gate of the Winchesters, or the Marlins, but from what I understand,
the tube loading gate of the Henry is actually quite traditional for a Henry. So, if you got the hankerin' for a good ol' thurty-thurty, you should take a
peek at the "New for 2011" Henry 30-30's (Blued version), it may not be your cup of tea, but in my opinion, it's definitely worth a look see.
Oh yes, and the wood, better then Winchester, or Marlin!
carbine that balanced well in the hand (as well as my Marlin 1895M) and the fit and finish is very, very good. The standard XS Ghost Ring sights and the
very spacious trigger guard area (great for gloved hands) are nice touches that I appreciate quite a bit. For the lever action purists out there, there is
"NO" safety: no tang safety, no cross bolt safety, not even a folding hammer safety like a Browning. Hell, it doesn't even have a half cocked hammer
position. What it does have, is a transfer bar system similar to a Ruger revolver and the trigger has to be held down, for the entire hammer fall, for the firing pin to be engaged.
To carry the rifle with a cartridge chambered, but in a safe condition, you lower the hammer down while your finger is OFF the trigger and the hammer
ends up protecting the firing pin from inadvertently being struck - it really is a pretty ingenious system, that I have probably done a lousy job of describing, so
you should check it out for yourself if you're the least bit curious.
The Henry 30-30 could probably be best described as a cross between a Marlin 336 and a Winchester 1894 carbine: it has the slim lines of a Model 94 and the receiver and action of a Marlin; which, when you think about it, isn't a bad combination at all.
Now, the traditionalists may point out that the Henry doesn't have the "Traditional" loading gate of the Winchesters, or the Marlins, but from what I understand,
the tube loading gate of the Henry is actually quite traditional for a Henry. So, if you got the hankerin' for a good ol' thurty-thurty, you should take a
peek at the "New for 2011" Henry 30-30's (Blued version), it may not be your cup of tea, but in my opinion, it's definitely worth a look see.
Oh yes, and the wood, better then Winchester, or Marlin!
