Henry Single Shot Break Action?

Status
Not open for further replies.
They're not directed at the "kid" market. :)
And they've got a decent weight & good rubber on the back end.
Denis
 
Didn't expect it to.
Couldn't care less if you buy one or not. :)
Just trying to put these guns in perspective.

Better quality than the H&R.
Prices reflect that.
Not intended to be a "kid" gun, not strictly intended to be an "entry level" gun.

Actual parts & service, if needed.
Can't say that about a hundred-dollar foreign version that some seem to compare the Henrys to when discussing single-shot shotguns.
And some people happen to like steel & walnut single-shot rifles.

If there's enough people who do look beyond the price, the guns will sell.
If not, the guns will disappear.

These are not built to sell on cheap pricing as the primary determinant.
Denis
 
Seems to me if a company can put together a pump action shotgun for less than $400, Mossberg, Remington, that someone can make a quality hammerless single shot with a vent rib barrel and chokes for about the same price point. If the Henry had these features I would buy one and set it up as a trap gun.
 
Anyone who spends that kind of money on a single shot probably has a bad case of nostalgia and is probably a member of this forum.
Aside from specialized trap guns, quality hammerless folding single shot is practically an oxymoron.
 
That still changes nothing for me.

In retrospect Denis the post comes off as rude and wasn't intended that way. What you said is true and a Henry single shot is going to be better quality than an H&R and others of similar ilk just by the fact it is a Henry.

I grew up hunting with an ancient single shot 12 gauge of indeterminate origin, an ancient Montgomery Wards 16 gauge SxS and a single shot 20 gauge Beretta takedown that my uncle brought me when he came back from Vietnam of all places. I don't have fond memories of single shots and would rather use a stack barrel or a semi. So no matter how nice I won't buy a single shot.

My apology if I came across as a smart aleck.
 
No, you weren't rude.
I was just trying to say that I wasn't attempting to persuade anybody to buy one of the guns, just emphasizing they're not budget entries & not kids guns. :)
Denis
 
Cheap pumps seem to have killed H&R completely. Rossi also seems to be backing off from their single shots. Heck, they are also trying a cheap pump.

It's difficult for a cheap single shot to compete with a cheap pump. I'm not convinced that a more expensive single shot of exemplary quality is a correct response.

For example, the price range puts it into used Wingmaster or new 870 Express territory.

I'd love to be wrong, though. I want Henry to do well. I hope they don't lose much money on these.
 
I have a fondness for single shots.
Decent wood, pretty finish, screw in chokes and a vent rib on a quality action would be a pretty interesting gun.

I like the idea of a QUALITY 20ga single shot. I spent a fair amount of time with a 20ga H&R and liked the form factor, but would like a little nicer firearm for my safe.
 
I'd love to see the Chinese come out with a super cheap H&R clone now that H&R single shots are dead and buried. I think if they can sell an 870 clone for $200 they could get a single shot down to below $150 NIB, maybe less.

The world has a place for the single shot shotguns. No lighter or handier a shotgun made. Great for woodsman's survival, a modern fusil de chasse if you will.
 
Going by memory here, but weren't the H&R's cast iron frames? Or at least on some of them?

Really want to shoulder one of these at the store when they come in. Also look forward in seeing how they hold up.
 
I don't think Henry will get hurt on these, even if they aren't big sellers... Why? Because they share MANY of the same parts with their new single shot rifle, and I bet you THAT will sell well...

DM
 
Hey Cooldill- what's a fusil de chasse? Chase gun?

I had to look that up to see if I was right. I was wrong. It's been a long time since my last French class. I thought it was a 'chair or couch gun' literally translates as 'gun of the hunt'. Cooldill has a point but, the original fussil de chase would cost the equivalent of about $40 in today's money.

Putting this in perspective the gun may be on the pricey side to consider it a true fussil de chase but, maybe add a wide rib and at least an stock easily adjusted for LOP and you've got a good starter or youth trap gun.

Now that's an affordable option for a parent or new shooter IMO. Especially when the next cheapest new trap gun option is at 12 hunskies.
 
I remember asking about all the love people had for the Winchester 37. People were paying a premium for the used ones. I was told that the Win 37 was the first quality steel frame singleshot shotgun offered to the general public and people looking for something better than the usual farmer's special liked it for that reason.

The Henry catalog MSRP is hefty. The photos do show a singlebarrel with a pretty good looking stock compared to my New England SB1. The MSRP Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price is not always same as the dealer's price (wholesale + dealer's profit). The Henry catalog says "Ask a Henry Dealer to Quote: You should expect to receive some discount from our M.S.R. Price"
 
i dont think that the 45-70 is that bad. Henry rifles usually have pretty good triggers. Their fit and finish is also nice.
H&R rifles, well their single shot shotgun that i looked at and almost bought, did not have the greatest of triggers. I wont buy a marlin right now. I am not sure i wouldn't buy a Henry other than in .22 or another rimfire round because i believe a lever gun should have a loading gate if its centerfire.
All that being said, i think their single shot 45-70 would be a fine gun. I am a trigger snob and if you want a single shot rifle in 45-70 with a factory trigger that isnt crap then you are going to have to pay money for one. Ruger isnt making one currently and anyone else who is making one will be foreign made and a little rough.
For around 400 bucks i think this is a good deal considering how Henry usually makes their guns, well.

Not interested in the gun in any other calibers, there are other guns for that. I live in a shotgun state and their shotguns are not what i need. If i could rifle hunt in my state then i would look at a lot different options. But i do want to shoot a 45-70 because they are tons of fun and i wont be shooting it often so i dont want to pay a lot for a lever action model in that caliber. I want a fairly nice trigger as well as fit and finish.
This henry looks to fit that bill but i will wait to handle one in the gun shops.

I think it looks like it will be a nice gun.
 
I've never met a Henry that didn't have a comb that was too low for me to actually use. I hope that these are different.
 
I love singles. My first shotgun was an NEF .410 I credit that gun for making me more effective as a hunter. I think 400 dollars is high as all get out. But if I had it to spare I'd buy one. I'm betting it's a smooth runner. But economy of price was always a big pro. I'm down to only two singles. its far down on my buy list. But one day if they still make them I might buy one
 
I like them and if they are well made they are worth the price in my opinion. My opinion is people who gloat over the low prices of imported guns are not willing to pay realistic prices for items made at home and/or without sweat shop slave labor.

Differences with this one is the break open lever can be moved left or right for opening meaning it's ambidextrous.

I has no external safeties which I like but is also has other lawyer safety features that may make thing worse or better depending on the situation.

A feature I am not sure if I like is these guns cannot be opened or closed if the hammer is cocked. I see this feature as a safety feature that can make things safer or more dangerous. It may help reduce negligent discharges which in turn may reduce successful lawsuits against the company but not so good for the shooter if the need to quickly reload and fire while a large animal is charging arises.

It also has a mechanism (rebounding hammer) that does not allow the hammer to make contact with the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled back.

All these features are sure to make the inner mechanics less simple which to many is a large part of the appeal of a single shot break open (simplicity.) Will it still be simple enough ?

I have a feeling it will be reliable since it's probably simple enough but what about in extreme cold if you for example put too much oil in it by accident will those extra parts be more likely to freeze and cause problems I don't know since I have not seen the inside of one.

I like the idea of a rebounding hammer safety feature but would like to ability to open and close this thing with the hammer cocked.
 
Last edited:
It also has a mechanism (rebounding hammer) that does not allow the hammer to make contact with the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled back.

You won't find any modern hammer fired gun that doesn't include some similar system. The Rossi's and H&R's used a transfer bar - the CVA's use a rebounding hammer. Remember "lawyer features" aren't always just there because lawyers are picky - they're there because the lawyers know that any company that doesn't include certain features in today's world will be sued into oblivion.

As to the Henry shotguns - not gonna happen for me. I grew up on a single shot (an NEF/H&R), and it served me well, but there's little reason to limit myself to one these days when good repeaters are available. For shotguns in particular, to me personally the ONLY reason to buy a single shot is if it's cheaper. I understand that these may be of higher quality, but that's like trying to sell me a finely hand-crafted buggy whip with Corinthian leather handles. Doesn't matter how nice it might be, if I'm not in the market for a buggy whip then the quality isn't a factor.

Their rifles on the other hand I may look at. For MOST of the chamberings they list the same problem persists: I can get a budget bolt action for cheaper and if I want a "fancy" gun I'm not going to get a single shot. The exception is .45-70. There are no .45-70 bolt guns (at least not new, common ones) and the lever guns start at nearly twice this much. If I do get one I'd like to get one in .45-70. They don't list a .30-30 but I'd personally look at one in that chambering too if I didn't already have an H&R in .30-30.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top