It Seems Few Like Henry Small Game Rifle

[Orion8472]

So I was on gunbroker seeing if people are bidding on any Henry Small Game Rifles, and with a bit over 100 there....no one was bidding. I'm assuming no one really cares much for these?

Do you like them....or not? Why?

 

[Milt1]

A friend of mine who passed earlier this year had a Henry lever action .22 that he loved. Not for me as it just seemed of cheap construction even though it functioned well. I was going to buy if from his estate until I handled it some and it just wasn't for me.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

For me the large loop and octagon barrel are hideous, especially together.

Add to that the pot metal receiver and I'm out.

I like some Henrys- own a single shot- but not that one.

 

[Mosin77]

I think people don’t bid because the vast majority of auctions are offered at a starting price that’s about the going retail rate, so out of dozens of auctions few get bids at any given time. The exception are for guns starting under going rate, or rare and hard to find guns.

 

[Orion8472]

I've had mine for awhile.....though haven't shot it much...and is basically like new...but would have to start it at a really low price...even if that would work.

But yeah, I get that people aren't a fan of the materials used.

 

[Tallinar]

I almost bought one, but decided on a 20 inch frontier model instead. The reasons were:

First, I like octagonal barrels, but not large loops. And if you put them together, that’s a complete non-starter for me.

Second, I read several reports online about folks having issues with elevation adjustment from the factory with the Skinner sights. Basically seemed to amount to the fact that the stock front sight elevation didn’t match the rear Skinner sight. This may have been on just the carbine model and not the rifle, but never quite could tell, so that made me nervous.

Ultimately, I decided the better play would be to just get the classier looking Frontier model and decide afterward if I wanted to do anything different with the sights.

I’ve been pleased with my Frontier. Just mounted a Simmons 4x fixed scope on it last week. Once I hit my stride, I was able to produce a sub-1 inch, 5 round group at 50 yards. My only concern now is whether or not I lose my zero when I remove the receiver plate (with scope attached) for cleaning. But I’m optimistic for now.

 

[Matthew Clark]

This one is a 22WMR Small Game Rifle. Wouldn't have ordered it with a 16 inch tube but it was just sitting at my LGS and needed an appreciative new owner. It's not my favorite rimfire rifle but it has its uses. Running trap lines during season it's pretty great. Short ,light ,and handy. I like my Golden Boy a lot better but it is heavier. The Small Game Rifle is very accurate with Hornady 45gr. FTX. The before mentioned "Pot Metal" reciever isn't an issue for me. They don't make anything like they used to. My 9422 is all metal but I grab this guy to run the trap line over it every time. No real reason, cept it works.
Happy shooting!
Matthew

 

[Old Dog]

For me the large loop and octagon barrel are hideous, especially together.

I freakin' HATE any lever-action with the large loop. Damn Hollywood for ever making people think that was a thing. No one shoots a rifle with ski gloves on (especially in the Old West, or especially a .22 LR).

I am a fan of octagonal barrels (old Winchesters or a classic Stevens Favorite) but on a .22? Uh uh.

I think people don’t bid because the vast majority of auctions are offered at a starting price that’s about the going retail rate, so out of dozens of auctions few get bids at any given time. The exception are for guns starting under going rate, or rare and hard to find guns.

This would be the reason. My local Bi-Mart sells these rifles for less than a bunch of the starting bids I saw on the just first few ads I looked at.

 

[LoonWulf]

I dont like the big loop or the straight stock, otherwise id think it was a cool little gun.

Friend of mine has henry .22 and ive shot it enough that if I know id be happy with one. Ive never really gotten the "eeewwww pot metal" response to these, you cant see it and it doesn't affect performance. But IMO 90% of firearms ownership is personal preferences, so i totally get that.

 

[Speedo66]

I like to think of firearms as something that will last forever if taken proper care of. I just bought a 99 year old revolver that’s still going strong.

While it’s possible pot metal guns may function for a long time, I can’t get the feeling that they are disposable junk out of my head, and couldn’t bring myself to buy one.

I understand not everyone feels that way, and have no problem with their choices.

 

[Orion8472]

The Rifle also shoots high. And I had a Carbine version years ago that also shot high.

I guess I'll low ball it on gunbroker and see if it sells.

Now, I DO have a golden boy that I plan on keeping. It seems to be better than the Small Game.

 

[larry7293]

I guess I am in the minority, but I love my Henry 22 with the skinner peep sight, octagon barrel, and large loop. A very accurate rifle.

 

[zaitcev]

The before mentioned "Pot Metal" reciever isn't an issue for me.

The receiver of Remington Nylon 66 was made from Nylon. But it had a thin tin shell around it, which made it look like made out of a more traditional steel. They sold millions of those rifles, and many continue to work even today. Any material has its uses and smart design can often come handy. Imagine the outrage in military circles about the aluminum receiver of AR-10 in 1952.

 

[drobs]

I don't own any Henry firearms. I would take one if it were given to me but wouldn't buy one.
At least they finally added a loading gate to their pistol / rifle caliber lever actions.

 

[Frulk]

Have a first year issue Henry .22 lever I bought new for my youngest daughter. Don’t remember exact date that Henry started making them. I was put off more by the ‘plastic’ barrel band than the pot metal receiver.

Over the years it hadn’t been shot much. Gun has beautiful wood and functions flawlessly.

At its price point I’m a happy customer. I really should replace that barrel band with a metal one.

 

[Tallinar]

Here is my Frontier 20” with a Simmons 4x, for aesthetic comparison.

 

[tactikel]

Ever hunted small game in northern Wisconsin, shot varmints, In the fall/winter? A big loop lever fits gloves and mittens just fine.

 

[jmr40]

Those rifles have been around long before the current Henry rifle company. I can't find a date when they were 1st introduced but at least since the 1960's, maybe in the 50's. The design came from Erma in West Germany and they have been imported under several other names including Ithica and Iver Johnson. They were always considered a budget gun and were somewhat popular but were out of production for quite a while before Henry bought the rights to make the design.

Henry makes a quality rifle and they tend to use better than average wood on most of them. But I simply don't care for the designs.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I guess I am in the minority, but I love my Henry 22 with the skinner peep sight, octagon barrel, and large loop. A very accurate rifle.

Im a minority as well I guess.Mine shoots straight a great squirrel gun and in winter plenty of glove room in the large loop.

 

[trackskippy]

It looks like the front sight is dovetailed. Should be an easy fix if it bugs you.

I had a Skinner rear sight on my one Marlin for a short while. Was not at all impressed with it, or their CS. It too was shooting high with the aperture screwed all the way down and I didnt want to make the front sight stupid high just to make it work.

I always preferred the old XS ghost rings on my lever guns. They went right on, and zero was never a problem swith the factory front sights. Quick and easy to pick up too.

 

[doubleh]

It was proved many years ago that zamak is perfectly capable of standing up the the rigors of 22LR duty. I bought a long barrel frontier Henry several years ago and it has proven to be a durable and accurate gun. I also owned a Marlin 39A and the Henry was more accurate, had better balance, and operated smoother. I had a friend that wanted to get into the lever action chicken killing game and asked me if I knew of someone with a 39A for sale and I sold it to him. He has been happy with it and I am happy for him. I don't miss it at all.

As to the big loop levers I am one that wouldn't have one. Don't want any leather wraps either, just the plain lever. I did cave to a 4x scope because I always shoot more accurately with a scope.

 

[Tallinar]

Has anyone else found the front brass bead style sight to be an issue?

I don't have the SGC, but I find that the front bead on my 20" Frontier is larger than I'd like it to be for precision. If I were to move from a scope back to iron sights, I'd want to move to a thinner patridge sight.

 

[Orion8472]

This is my Small Game Rifle.



This is my "Golden Boy"....though to me, it doesn't look as "gold" as other "Golden Boy" rifles I've seen....and doesn't look like a "Silver Boy" either.

Took both at the same time....not sure why the second image came out darker. :-/
But what's interesting about the "Golden Boy" is that it doesn't have the typical wood color of any other Henry I've seen. More brown. The wood looks better in person than what I can get out of my phone camera.

 

[Orion8472]

 

[tarosean]

It was proved many years ago that zamak is perfectly capable of standing up the the rigors of 22LR duty.

I can remember some absolutely crap zamak guns in the 80's/90's. So what decade are we talking about?