Henry lever action 22

[EricF]

Wal-Mart has a Henry lever action 22 for around 200 bucks. I have been wanting a lever action 22 for some time and this is the cheapest price that I have found for a new one. can anyone tell if this rifle is any good or is it not worth messing with?

 

[Third_Rail]

It's a pretty gun....


But largely, it's made of horrible materials.

I'd pass.

 

[MLC]

The finish on the receiver is terrible.
The barrel is like a pencil and has a steel sleeve to make it look more sizeable.
The front sight is made out of plastic and other parts are suspect as well.
That being said, I love mine and it has take quite a few squirrels at respectable ranges with CB's and regular 22lr.
You are getting what you pay for.

 

[Preacherman]

I've owned one, and traded it on on a better .22.

The Henry shoots well, as well as any other lever .22 that I've handled, so that wasn't the problem. I had difficulty with the plastic front sight and barrel band (be warned that the plastic is quite brittle, and will break if you knock it against anything hard while walking around). Also, the magazine spring was not the world's greatest, and sometimes I'd have misfeeds which were attributed (by my gunsmith) to that weak spring. Also, the trigger was not very good on my example, and couldn't be improved much by my gunsmith.

For those reasons, I can't really recommend the Henry. I would suggest buying a Marlin Model 60 (for about $100 at Wal-Mart) to play with, and save your money to buy a Winchester 9422 or the Marlin 39A. Sure, they cost more money, but you're getting a rather higher-quality gun.

That's my $0.02 worth, anyway... YMMV.

 

[DF357]

I just bought the Henry .22 and think that is an excellent gun for the money. The finish on the metal is great, and the wood is as good as you'll ever see on any rifle. The overal fit and finsh is very good. The action is VERY smooth.

The plastic sight and barrel band can be replaced by calling Henry. They have the metal ones available as it appears that quite a few people weren't happy with the plastic. I got the metal ones in 3 days after I called.

I am very pleased with this little gun.

 

[theCZ]

I bought one for my sister a few years back for her high school graduation. Out of the box we couldn't hit a 2' square box at 15 yards, and drifting the rear sight until it almost fell out didn't help either. Soon after, it would not eject rounds, or feed properly. Henry said I could sent it back to get worked on, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. The Golden boy is a great gun though.

 

[shermacman]

I am with Preacherman. My Henry is the most expensive gun I own; here's why: I can't stand using it. All of my other other guns have cost more, but all of them are worth it. So even though I only paid 200 bucks at Wally World, it is the only gun that I have ever considered selling/throwing away.

The rear site is unusable. Mine is jammed in place with a sliver of copper, the only way I could get it to stay in place. I can not get through a tube of ammo without a failure to extract. Doesn't matter what I feed it, Federal cheap stuff on up to CCI fancy stuff. You get what you pay for.

 

[JohnBT]

I've never shot one and don't need one because I have a Mountie, but I've got to say that I've been really impressed with the posts made on various boards by company president Anthony Imperato. They may not make a $400 or $500 Marlin wannabe, but he cares, he's involved and he has taken care of the guns with problems.

John

 

[tech]

I have a yellowboy and love it.
Slickest lever action I have ever handled.

Mike

 

[Byron]

My local gunstore ordered me one. I am very pleased with all aspects of the rifle,finish as well as smoothness of the leveer action(smoother than Marlin or Winchester).I use the Federal bulk ammo and it will shoot a consistent group of 1 1/2 or less inches at 25 yards.No feeding or ejection problems.To those having a problem e-mail them as the company president answers all e-mail.I had a problem with their survival rifle.He sent UPS to pick it up. It was repaied and using break free to clean, it is a good rifle. Byron

 

[CZguy]

I also like my Yellowboy, I've had it for three years and have never had a problem of any kind.

For not that much more money you might want to take a look at a CZ 452 Lux, one of the best .22s going!

 

[EricF]

Thanks for the input guys. From what I'm hearing I think I'll pass on this one.
I think I would rather put the money into tricking out my 10/22 right now. Not to mention that I'm trying to save up for a new Anschutz target rifle. I'll just hold off on the lever gun for now until I can get a better one for my collection. I'm hearing good things about the yellow boy, think I'll give it a look when I'm ready.

 

[Bullet]

I don't believe Henry makes a Yellowboy but they make a Golden Boy.

 

[Turkish]

Hmmm, from some of the posts in this thread I must have gotten a fluke. My Henry is a great guns, one of my favorite actually. Not to mention it was my second rifle, given to me by my parents like Ralphy got his Red Ryder in everyones favorite Christmas movie. I have had no problem with the plastic front site, and can easily make a soda can dance at 50 yards using iron sights. Had a FTF with cheapie ammo two or three times, nothing a Swiss army knife couldn't unjam. Overall I think it's a great gun for the money.

 

[jojo]

Your right Bullet, the name is Golden Boy not yellow boy. I hadn't thought of it before, but just think a gun named "Yellow Boy" just doesn't work for me.

jojo

 

[tech]

"Yellowboy" you guys are right must have been the eggnog talking.

Mike

 

[CZguy]

Oups, and I went right along with him.

My mistake. Golden boy

 

[xena]

I just got the Henry lever action lr22 - basic model for Christmas. So far I really like it. Took it to the range and had lots of fun... it was accurate and easy to use. For now I won't spend twice the money for the Browning or Marlin - maybe someday!

 

[TNT]

When I hear about the Henry H001 all I can think about is how big of POS it really is. Mine is a turd and so is my friends Henry. Buy a Marlin or Winchester.