I picked one of these up yesterday, on sale, couldn't resist. Anyone have anthing to say about these, good or bad? I have no experience with these rifles at all and always considered them pretty low end. The one I bought in 22 LR seems to be fairy well made and cycles quite nice and smooth. Not the 94/22 I am looking for but a lever 22 nonetheless.........................opinions and experiences welcomed.
Henry lever action rimfires
- Thread starter c-fbmi
- Start date
I had a Henry lever 22. It was the smoothest operating lever I ever had. The barrel bands are plastic, but I suppose that doesn't really affect the rifle.
I put a scope on it and was amazed at how accurate it was. Within the last year or two, I have used several better 22 rifles, to test lower priced ammunition. I used two different Brno rifles, a #1 and a #6, two well tuned Winchester 69As, a newer CZ and a Weatherby semi auto. All the testing, with several brands of ammo, was at 50 yards.
I had sold the Henry before these tests, but the shooting I did with the Henry at fifty yards would have put it right in there with the better rifles I used for the tests.
In my gun room is a Marlin 39A, Golden Mountie, which I bought for a son at least 35 years ago. It is my top choice in 22 lever rifles, but there was no scope on it, so it wasn't included in the ammunition tests.
Yes, I place the old Marlin ahead of the made in Japan Browning levers. Also, strictly my opinion, I would take the Henry ahead of the Winchester you mention!
And, before somebody asks, here is a quick rundown on the ammunition tests.
A very interesting point, and not in agreement with much of what has been written on these threads, was the fact that all rifles tested, with two shooters, came to the same conclusion on the ammunition! That is, CCI Blazer was the most accurate tested and Winchester Wildcat was by far the worst. Some half inch groups were made at fifty yards, with most of the test rifles, but all rifles used Blazer ammo to achieve their best groups. Very close behind Blazer was Federal Champion and various types of Winchester, including those in the big boxes.
I was later able to get CCI standard velocity cartridges and in limited testing, with two rifles, they may be a hair better than CCI Blazers.
Sorry for getting carried away, but trying not to hijack your thread.
I put a scope on it and was amazed at how accurate it was. Within the last year or two, I have used several better 22 rifles, to test lower priced ammunition. I used two different Brno rifles, a #1 and a #6, two well tuned Winchester 69As, a newer CZ and a Weatherby semi auto. All the testing, with several brands of ammo, was at 50 yards.
I had sold the Henry before these tests, but the shooting I did with the Henry at fifty yards would have put it right in there with the better rifles I used for the tests.
In my gun room is a Marlin 39A, Golden Mountie, which I bought for a son at least 35 years ago. It is my top choice in 22 lever rifles, but there was no scope on it, so it wasn't included in the ammunition tests.
Yes, I place the old Marlin ahead of the made in Japan Browning levers. Also, strictly my opinion, I would take the Henry ahead of the Winchester you mention!
And, before somebody asks, here is a quick rundown on the ammunition tests.
A very interesting point, and not in agreement with much of what has been written on these threads, was the fact that all rifles tested, with two shooters, came to the same conclusion on the ammunition! That is, CCI Blazer was the most accurate tested and Winchester Wildcat was by far the worst. Some half inch groups were made at fifty yards, with most of the test rifles, but all rifles used Blazer ammo to achieve their best groups. Very close behind Blazer was Federal Champion and various types of Winchester, including those in the big boxes.
I was later able to get CCI standard velocity cartridges and in limited testing, with two rifles, they may be a hair better than CCI Blazers.
Sorry for getting carried away, but trying not to hijack your thread.
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I had an octagon Frontier model a few years ago. It was very smooth right out of the box and very accurate. I have nothing bad to say about the Henry's. A friend of mine just picked up a Skinner peep sight for his Golden Boy and loves the set-up.
I sold my Henry because it was just collecting dust in the cabinet and taking up valuable space. I recently got the itch to buy another .22lr lever but decided to try another brand. With all the new "black guns/rifles" out there, I'm surprised at the attention my lever gets when I bring it to the range.
Enjoy your new lever.....
I sold my Henry because it was just collecting dust in the cabinet and taking up valuable space. I recently got the itch to buy another .22lr lever but decided to try another brand. With all the new "black guns/rifles" out there, I'm surprised at the attention my lever gets when I bring it to the range.
Enjoy your new lever.....
jester3006
CGN Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
Very happy with my Golden Boy .22. Fun to shoot, very smooth, and very accurate for open sights. I just can't put a scope on it, wouldn't look right
I put a full length butt stock on a Mare Leg, made a really handy carbine.
I would not put it at benchrest accuracy but then I am only using open sights (Marbles flip up tang) and not a scope. Love how smooth the action is, trigger is decent and it functions flawlessly.
We would all love to have a lever gun with a steel receiver but very few would like the price, the alloy Henry is just fine by me
I would not put it at benchrest accuracy but then I am only using open sights (Marbles flip up tang) and not a scope. Love how smooth the action is, trigger is decent and it functions flawlessly.
We would all love to have a lever gun with a steel receiver but very few would like the price, the alloy Henry is just fine by me
My wife bought one and puts up to 200-300 rounds through it every weekend and never fails, thing is a machine! I like shooting it a lot too, forend is a little small for my hand but it still handles nice, shoots accurately and the action as others have said is very smooth. worth every penny in my opinion. It doesn't out shoot my savage mk2 mako in accuracy but it's just as fun if not more fun to shoot.
