Henry new single shots look interesting
- Thread starter Hitzy
- Start date
I was on an American forum and guys were saying you could get an Axis cheaper. To get a bolt gun of similar quality to the Henry you would be paying well North of $1000. I paid $580 all in for mine and don't feel cheated at all.
Yup I look at it the same way.
My new Henry .308 came in today, luckily before my wife got to the mail. Thanks Hitzy for alerting me to them at Dante’s. I received fast and professional service from them, and the box was wrapped very well.
I had read three main complaints about these guns on line. Some had complained about lose and shattered butt stocks. Others had complained about the hammer being very hard to pull back, and most people seemed to think the trigger was way to heavy. So I checked the stock as soon as it was out of the box, everything seemed good. My gun was made in January of this year, so I think the initial bugs have been dealt with.
It really is a thing of beauty, and will appeal to those who like simple beautiful things.
Naturally, I wanted to shoot it immediately. We still have lots of snow up here, so I went to one of my usual spots and had to be happy with about 50 yards, didn’t feel like doing the hundred yard test today.
I picked up some Remington 180’s at the local hardware store, the only .308 they carry, but at the same price as a much better brand, lol. I’m not much of a paper puncher, so I just use aluminium pie plates to see if the gun can shoot. I’m not a scope guy either, especially on a sweet little gun like this. My idea is that this will become my main moose rifle, with all shots under 100 yards.
The sites are similar to ruger 10/22, with the rear site being a flip up. Took me about 3 shots to figure out what worked best, and then I became a “minute of pop-can” killer. I don’t have long arms, and the rifle fit perfectly, feeling very natural to bring up to the shoulder. I don’t bench rest unless I have to adjust the sights, and that was not necessary for this little beauty. It seemed to be sited in very well from the factory.
I found the hammer to be smooth with a good tension, certainly not to heavy unless you have the thumbs of a pre-teen girl. Likewise, the trigger seemed fine to me, certainly didn’t hamper accuracy for me. This rifle is kind of like a shotgun, you pop it up and shoot on the fly, so it’s hard to even notice the trigger.
I had a couple of baikal single shots, and they do not compare. The baikals had crappy sites, and you had to eat a gallon of borscht to just crack the barrel. The action on the Henry is incredibly smooth, and lock up is solid.
I went through all 20 shots, pretty much nailing everything I pointed at. I realize it is only .308, but there is really no noticeable kick to it. There is a very nice recoil pad on it. Here’s a ten second video of pop cab destruction at 50 yards.
https://youtu.be/YZYnTKwkJfw
It’s my new favourite gun, probably not for every one, but very fun, compact and light. A super bush gun!
I had read three main complaints about these guns on line. Some had complained about lose and shattered butt stocks. Others had complained about the hammer being very hard to pull back, and most people seemed to think the trigger was way to heavy. So I checked the stock as soon as it was out of the box, everything seemed good. My gun was made in January of this year, so I think the initial bugs have been dealt with.
It really is a thing of beauty, and will appeal to those who like simple beautiful things.
Naturally, I wanted to shoot it immediately. We still have lots of snow up here, so I went to one of my usual spots and had to be happy with about 50 yards, didn’t feel like doing the hundred yard test today.
I picked up some Remington 180’s at the local hardware store, the only .308 they carry, but at the same price as a much better brand, lol. I’m not much of a paper puncher, so I just use aluminium pie plates to see if the gun can shoot. I’m not a scope guy either, especially on a sweet little gun like this. My idea is that this will become my main moose rifle, with all shots under 100 yards.
The sites are similar to ruger 10/22, with the rear site being a flip up. Took me about 3 shots to figure out what worked best, and then I became a “minute of pop-can” killer. I don’t have long arms, and the rifle fit perfectly, feeling very natural to bring up to the shoulder. I don’t bench rest unless I have to adjust the sights, and that was not necessary for this little beauty. It seemed to be sited in very well from the factory.
I found the hammer to be smooth with a good tension, certainly not to heavy unless you have the thumbs of a pre-teen girl. Likewise, the trigger seemed fine to me, certainly didn’t hamper accuracy for me. This rifle is kind of like a shotgun, you pop it up and shoot on the fly, so it’s hard to even notice the trigger.
I had a couple of baikal single shots, and they do not compare. The baikals had crappy sites, and you had to eat a gallon of borscht to just crack the barrel. The action on the Henry is incredibly smooth, and lock up is solid.
I went through all 20 shots, pretty much nailing everything I pointed at. I realize it is only .308, but there is really no noticeable kick to it. There is a very nice recoil pad on it. Here’s a ten second video of pop cab destruction at 50 yards.
https://youtu.be/YZYnTKwkJfw
It’s my new favourite gun, probably not for every one, but very fun, compact and light. A super bush gun!
Thanks for the mini-review. But, I dunno...all that money, and you only get one shot? Not only would the Axis have been a repeater for the same or less cash, but you would have gotten that nice smooth black plastic stock instead of the weird brown stripey thing on your Henry. 
That's a nice rifle.
That's a nice rifle.
Have you tried it yet?
Nice specimen memaquay. Congrats. Your real world pics are very convincing.
Any thoughts on scoping the Henry? It would appear that the hammer might interfere with the rear scope bell especially if you use a two slot Weaver base. One would have to mount high and lose a good cheek weld?
Any members scope theirs yet?
Any thoughts on scoping the Henry? It would appear that the hammer might interfere with the rear scope bell especially if you use a two slot Weaver base. One would have to mount high and lose a good cheek weld?
Any members scope theirs yet?
On that note: memaquay... how was the cheek weld with iron sights? Did you have to mash your cheek into the stock to get a sight picture?
Scope interference with the protruding hammer spur was always a problem with the H&R guns. A choice had to be made between a ridiculously high-mounted scope with the attendant cheek non-weld, or the use of a scope designed for shotguns or scout rifles that had the extra long eye relief needed to mount it forward of the hammer.
The new Henry rifles look good in a lot of ways...I know I'll have to try one out...but it's hugely disappointing to see that they came up with a new design in 2019 and still have that hammer spur sticking up there like that. I like exposed hammers, it's one of the charming things about single shots, but surely these could have been set up with a lower hammer spur, more angled to the rear, that would allow mounting a standard scope nice and low.
The new Henry rifles look good in a lot of ways...I know I'll have to try one out...but it's hugely disappointing to see that they came up with a new design in 2019 and still have that hammer spur sticking up there like that. I like exposed hammers, it's one of the charming things about single shots, but surely these could have been set up with a lower hammer spur, more angled to the rear, that would allow mounting a standard scope nice and low.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
Too easy to fix the spur with a careful heating & forming over a dowel to get a lower & more pleasing profile. That's the 1st mod I'll be doing on my one when I get 'er.
Some of the guys on line who scoped it said they had bought a hammer extender that was either a Henry product or recommended by Henry, and that it was a piece of crap. I don't intend to scope it though. As for cheek weld, I'll have to pay more attention the next time I shoot, it's a very instinctive gun, like a shotgun, so I wasn't thinking much when I shot it, just kind of point and shoot, lol.
nomad 68
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
They are head and shoulders above the handi rifle imho. At this price point , you're getting much more for your money than you would for a handi .....even when the handi was selling at or below $300 just prior to discontinuation.
