Henry Golden Boy in .22 -- anyone got one?

[BHPshooter]

I've decided that I have a major niche that is unfilled -- the .22 rifle. My Dad has 2, a tube-fed auto and a mag-fed auto. The tube-fed is fairly reliable, but the mag-fed jams or misfeeds as much as it fires. Both are quite slow to reload.

I was out with his mag-fed the other day with a buddy "hunting" Mormon Crickets. Well, my buddy has a single shot .22 that, obviously, works just fine. I have decided, if I get one, I don't want an auto. A single shot would be nice, but I would assume that a lever would be both quicker to reload on-the-trot and wouldn't be plagued by misfeeds/jams.

So, naturally, I remembered handling one of these Henry Golden Boy's in .22 LR. I would have a hard time beating the looks of a Henry, but would like to know how they are.
I just can't deal with Jammers. Is this an answer?

Any and all opinions are appreciated.
Wes

*edited for clarity.

 

[redneck]

I haven't seen any .22's that didn't load either from a tube or a mag. The golden boy is tube fed I beleive. Centerfire lever guns have a loading gate in the receiver, but I'm guessing that doesn't work with a rimfire round since no one seems to make them that way

From what I've seen the golden boy has gotten very good reviews. Take a look here : www.henryrepeatingarms.com

 

[mohican]

I don't have a goldenboy, but I do have a Henry .22LR lever action. It is tube fed. My only real gripe is that the barrenband/front sight is plastic (nylon?) and the sight is somewhat canted.

If you are thinking about a .22 levergun, I'll give you a piece of advise - you can't be lazy about cycling the lever. If you go slow, and think you are taking it easy on the gun, you'll jam. You need to work the lever quickly and completely.

In my experience, tube fed 22 auto's jam more than magazine fed 22's do.

 

[Greg L]

I got a Henry (not the golden boy, just a regular one) for my boy a couple of years ago and it has been completely reliable with whatever he/we feed it. (including shorts and colibri's). Well worth the minimal investment.

Greg

 

[kotengu]

My bother-in-law just got one of these and has been very happy with it. No misfeeds that I know of.

 

[BHPshooter]

Well, I went and looked at some lever .22s yesterday, and all of the ones that they had in stock were tube-fed levers, except one weird magazine-fed lever. I really just want a .22 lever with a loading gate! Does anyone make one?

Thanks,
Wes

 

[W Turner]

Coupla things....

What kind of .22 semi's were you shooting? I have three and they are all different, with the 10/22 being utterly reliable and accurate. Maybe the one (s) you were shooting were old, dirty, etc.

If you have your heart set on a lever .22 you may also want to look at a Marlin, they are very smooth and hold resale value better than a Henry does.

Another alternative is one of the taurus pump .22's about the same price range as the Henry and just as much fun.

Mino

 

[Selfdfenz]

Don't think I've ever seen a lever 22 with a loading gate.
That doesn't mean they haven't been made but it seems like a lot of extra machining expense to a rifle that handles a relatively fragile round in the first place.
I have heard good reports on the Henry's but have yet to shoot one myself.

S-

 

[Doug444]

I, too, have never seen a .22 lever with a loading gate. Good luck.

As to the Henry, I've shot the Golden Boy, and it sure is a smoothe action! Accuracy seems fine. I own a Marlin. Not QUITE as smooth as the Henry, but overall a better gun for about the same $$. Your choice.

Did I mention that the Henry has a SMOOOOOOTHE action?

 

[Pat S]

I had a chance to run about a brick of ammo through a "Golden Boy" and I liked the gun. It shot well, had an acceptable trigger, and never had a malfunction related to the gun. The fit and finish of the action, stock, and barrel appeared to be first class. I wouldn't hesitate recommending one! A fun gun to shoot!



Pat S

 

[dickwholliday]

The $1,000 Sponsors to the Friends of NRA dinners this year may choose one as part of their sponsor gift package.......Since i'm the MFIC of the local committee......i'll get you one if you send a check made out to the Friends of NRA for $1,000.......DICK

 

[Ledbetter]

Doug444 is right

I own both as well. Henry Goldenboy is much smoother and better trigger, but has aluminum receiver. Marlin 39A not as smooth until well broke-in and the new triggers are sucky, but all-steel and built like a tank.

 

[goon]

I would suggest that you try a Winchester 94/22 Legacy. I had one, and it was a very good gun. Accurate, and I can only remember a few jams in all the rounds I put through it. And it is a full sized rifle, a .22 sized to a grown man.
I only sold mine because once I bought my CZ, the Winchester seemed crude. If you are willing to try a bolt action instead, I would suggest the CZ 452.
Mine rocks!
I now only take ten rounds with me when I go squirrel hunting. I almost always come home with two or three squirrels and seven or eight rounds left over. The thing is like a laser.

 

[Z_Infidel]

I've never had a single jam with my Remington pump .22LR. They still make a very similar model and the price isn't bad.

 

[williamcrane]

Henry Golden Boy .22 lr

I own and shoot one of these beauties. As a previous poster said, the action is smooth as silk. Trigger is good and it will feed anthing from .22 CBs (down in my basement - shh...don't tell my wife!) to Federal classic, Dynamite Nobel Subsonic, etc. The rifle is probably more accurate than I am. And even my wife thinks it is good looking.