Henry Single Shot Break Action?

mgmorden said:

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.

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It's not the rebounding hammer safety feature that concerns me it's the fact that you can't open or close the action unless that hammer is resting adding an extra step to unloading (you have to lower the hammer first if it's not already lowered,) loading (you have to either fire, dry fire, or manually lower hammer,) and firing, Your know what ! this safety feature depending on the situation may not even be safer than breaking open the rifle first. I think one of the best ways to safely walk with a round in a break open gun is with it open.

This gun does not allow you to drop a round in the chamber close that action and immediately fire or immediately fire after snapping it closed because you always have to pull back the hammer after locking it closed.

A hassle if you ask me since I expect manual to be manual and for the most part under my direct control.

Break open shotguns without exposed hammers cock automatically when you open them and they are ready to fire when you close them unless they have an obnoxious auto setting safety switch. Either way I have not heard about any litigation concerning hammerless break open shotguns that that are not totally idiot proof.

This manual single shot action limits your options.

I don't like the idiot proof feature that doesn't allow me to decide whether to keep my hammer cocked and ready or not when unloading and loading. As I said before this feature is good for taking the edge out of corporate related lawsuits but bad for a user who may need the option

I see signs of people who don't shoot firearms themselves (bean counters,) who know little or nothing about the stuff they chose deal in being allowed too much input into how this firearm should be designed.

Simplicity, reliability, and full manual control are major if not the most major advantages of a break open.

For me it's not price. Quality costs but I do expect a simple manually operated device not a look alike loaded with automatic idiot proof lawyer friendly safety features that may hinder it's use in tight situations (gee making a single shot even slower to use is stupid) and may actually be more dangerous to the person who depends on the firearm.

What these safety features may actually be useful for is in a .22 or other low caliber training rifle but in shoulder kicking calibers like 45-70 I doubt this would be anyones first pick for a trainer.

Would I buy this if I could, yes I would, it's probably quality, fun, and useful but if wanted to hunt anything dangerous with a single shot these idiot proof features better be easy to remove making this a true manual single shot or I would find a different single shot to meet the need.

If Henry did not make these features clear on their website and let it be a surprise to buyers it may piss me off enough not to buy one.

I guess in a nut shell with this rifle if you are hunting any dangerous game you really better make that one shot count if you get the chance to use it.

I neither hunt or own any centerfire rifles (I live in Cuomo land (under Mario Cuomo his grand highness of NY) so roast me and fry me (just a figure of speech now) but that is still my opinion.

There's NO WAY I'm walking around with my single shot "open" and then have to close it to shoot it!!

Use the HAMMER at half cock, that's what it's for...

IF you can't do "that" don't blame the gun, that's on you not the gun!

DM

I guess I'll be one of the few interested in their single shot shotguns.
I like the pace a break action brings.
No I'm not old...yet. Working on it tho. Born in 1985. No nostalgia.
Already got a break action combo gun (two guns for the price of three!) that I like: Chiappa Double Badger. .22LR/.410. Paid over $320 for it IIRC. Would be willing to pay MSRP for a Henry .410 with choke options especially if beautiful. Made in USA unlike the Double Badger. Choke options too unlike the Double Badger.

Not being able to close the action while hammer back is a nice way to protect themselves & someone else too from those bubba gunsmiths who could create a pushoff issue with their "trigger work." Liability falls not always with responsible party (bubba) but those with assets to take.

In virtually all of the older single barrel, exposed hammer, single shot designs, (like the Savage/Stevens model 94), allowed the action to be opened with the hammer cocked. This means the chambered shotshell can be moved out of line with the firing pin before lowering the hammer. When properly handled in this manner there is no way to discharge the shotgun when lowering the hammer.

Even with Beretta tip-up barrel handguns, such as the .32acp Tomcat or .25acp Jetfire, the safe way to lower the hammer with a round in the chamber is to open the tip-up barrel first. This safely moves the cartridge out of line with the firing pin, just like the older exposed hammer single barrel shotguns did.

In later hammer guns, such as the late lamented NEF series single barrel shotguns, the action cannot be opened with the hammer in a cocked position. Ostensibly, this would prevent firing the shotgun with an unlocked breech. Nonetheless, these later designs require carefully lowering the hammer on a loaded round.

There are two types of single-shot shotguns. Trap guns, like the BT-99 and Ithaca 4, and 'knockabout" guns, often bought as a first shotgun for a kid. (even though this is not the best choice if you want the kid to want to keep shooting a shotgun) The Henry is right in between there in utility and price point. Good quality gun, as are all the Henrys, but I don't see it lasting unless they come out with an entry level Trap gun.

cal44mag said:

Here is info from the Henry site:

https://www.henryrifles.com/shotgun/single-shot-shotgun/

Henry is on a roll with new products.

I'm looking forward to getting a Henry Big Boy in 327 Federal as soon as it comes out.

Maybe a 41 Magnum also.

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Great link thanks!

kudu said:

I don't think they will sell a very large quantity with that price point. I understand the prices of guns and manufacturing rising, but over $400 MSR for a plain single shot is a bit steep, not even a vent rib. If they would of added a vent rib and chokes it could of at least been made into a trap gun. Like a BT99.


I had my local dealer look for one a few weeks ago, none available in the supply chain at this time.

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Well I'm thinking they will be about $300 in stores. Which most people are charging for used H&R's and I imagine they will probably be better quality and more accurate.. I wouldn't mind having one in a .44 mag and a .223

Also remember those $300 bolt actions available today have horrible ugly synthetic stocks on them, so by the time you buy a Boyd's stock for them you got $500 in them

Any word yet on whether the dupus stooge features can be easily removed making this a decent simple quality single shot. After some thinking I changed my mind and would not buy this if it turns out to be an unreliable laden with unneeded cumbersome safety features replica of a simple decent single shot.

I for one am tired of this type of stuff and don't want anything to do with it. We have vastly unwanted revolver keyhole locks (S&W,) proposed bump fire stock bans, magazine plugs.

These guys are beating the anti gun people in the area of stupid ideas. Are there any pictures of the inside of this thing ? Does the action even resemble that of a standard reliable single shot ?

I may not know the answers to these questions but I do know that anti gun people would love these unneeded tacked on safety features and would love to propose legislation to require them.

Stay tuned to your local legislation office for more to come. Firearms industry experts may testify explaining why we need have these safety features crammed down our throats.

Oh remember to politely ask to angry bear charging you to kindly wait until you finish fidgeting and fumbling with your single shot safeties before attempting to/successfully maul/mauling you.

In the absence of bear spray (the best stuff for bears and cheaper) you may wish you had a cheap imported asian pump action shotgun (cheaper and more practical.)