Most Henry levers will now have side gate loading too.

[DukeConnor]

Decisions decisions, do I jump on the Henry or wait for the Ruglins?

 

[chicharrones]

they need to go all the way and ditch the rimfire magazine tube before I buy one

no offense, but what does that have to do with what I said? The Henry magazine tube is an abomination in its current configuration. You added a King's gate, great, now finish the job and ditch the tube loading. It's ugly and unnecessary. IMO.

Considering how many rifle shooters these days go to public shootin' ranges and need to unload quickly during a called cease fire . . . I'm guessing the front loading tube might be as permanent a feature as all the detachable mag bolt action guns being made now.

Although, it would make sense to make "hunter" versions of the Henrys without the rimfire style mag tube. Ought to save on production costs as well.

 

[dranrab]

It is interesting that Henry developed Hammer Down 327 Federal ammo with Federal then dropped the 327 from their line-up. https://www.guns.com/news/2020/06/03/work-the-lever-on-federal-premiums-new-hammerdown-hunting-ammo

Upon further review it looks like they may have kept the 327 federal in their brass offerings. So they developed hunting ammo for their shiny brass guns.

 

[chicharrones]

It is interesting that Henry developed Hammer Down 327 Federal ammo with Federal then dropped the 327 from their line-up. https://www.guns.com/news/2020/06/03/work-the-lever-on-federal-premiums-new-hammerdown-hunting-ammo

That's the cartridges with the beveled rim for better side gate to tube loading? Honestly, all a lever gun maker has to do is chamfer key areas in the gun instead of chamfering the ammo. I sure hope Henry has now figured that out. I hope Ruger does something about Marlin's in that regard as well.

 

[HB]

no offense, but what does that have to do with what I said? The Henry magazine tube is an abomination in its current configuration. You added a King's gate, great, now finish the job and ditch the tube loading. It's ugly and unnecessary. IMO.

I misunderstood your post. Now I see you meant the front loading tube “feature” should be omitted from the centerfires. Not that the “rimfire” tube should be changed. I took rimfire as rimfire... not rimfire style on centerfire.

And I agree completely. Henry rifles are expensive/heavy/poorly done imitations in my eyes. High gloss polished zamak.

 

[Barbaroja]

I’d love to see a 20ga slug gun too. I’m sure it’s in the works.

 

[3Crows]

That's the cartridges with the beveled rim for better side gate to tube loading? Honestly, all a lever gun maker has to do is chamfer key areas in the gun instead of chamfering the ammo. I sure hope Henry has now figured that out. I hope Ruger does something about Marlin's in that regard as well.

I have been doing that modification to my Marlins since I got my first one NIB Marlin decades ago. The Hammer Down ammo is nice, shoots good, but all of my Marlin loading gates are slick, no need for special ammo. As long as Marlin was hobbled by lack of funds and worn out equipment and then after the sale Remington's steep learning curve, the faux Henry company could get by with tube loaders but I suspect the wholesale adoption of a loading gate is, while it has been in progress, was hurried along by the reasonable expectation that Ruger now owns the real thing, Marlin, and thanks to Remingtons efforts they can load their CNC mills with forgings and get back to business quickly. And as Ruger has said, long live the lever gun, long live Marlin! Marlin was a working mans gun and I think Ruger knows exactly how to build that sort of gun and do it proud. If Henry does stainless steel, it will be game on-----.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Glad I got a .41 when I did! Don't care for the brass frame.
Bummer about the .327.

I do wish they would thread their single shots. Would cost them little and likely increase sales for those who will use the threads. Others, can just ignore them

 

[Mars5l]

I have to decide now whether to get an All Weather or Case Hardened in .357. Im sure it will be sometime before they make it to retailers

 

[375supermag]

I assume this is an attempt to challenge Ruger/Marlin lever action rifles in the marketplace.
Be interesting to see if or when Marlins under Ruger's ownership will start to appear in the marketplace. If Henry and Ruger both offer quality lever action rifles with side loading gates it can only be beneficial to consumers. The marketplace will determine which is the better value.
Personally, I want a Marlin in .41Magnum with a side loading gates but if it is available from Henry then I will take a good look at their offering.

 

[Dunross]

With Winchester having priced themselves out of reach of most who are interested in lever actions and Marlin being a complete mystery until Ruger shows us what they are going to do with them I think Henry is well placed.

In my opinion having a side loading gate AND the ability to unload the magazine without having to manually cycle each round through the chamber is a great idea. Wish there was a way to retrofit the earlier non-loading gate guns, but probably not possible.

 

[bernie]

I am almost happy about this. I was waiting to purchase a .41 Big Boy until they came out with the side gate. We have the side gate now, but the .41 big boy is gone!

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Riomouse911 Post #3: "All of my Henry’s are rimfires, it doesn’t look like they’ll switch those ..."

Marlin started their .22 leveraction with tube magazine with a side loading gate (Model 1891) and switched to a front loading tube magzine a year later (Model 1892) due to the difficulties of receiver feeding .22 rimfire rounds, even .22 Long Rifles but especially .22 Shorts.

Sidegate is great for loading or adding centerfire rounds, but the front loading tube also allows unloading without working all the rounds through the action.

 

[BreechFace]

Smart move on Henry’s part the lack of side loading gate was ridiculous, I would go the whole way and get rid of the detacheable tube, just a crucial part to get lost in the field.

I’ll be waiting for a Ruglin, very excited for the potential.

 

[Crosshair]

It is interesting that Henry developed Hammer Down 327 Federal ammo with Federal then dropped the 327 from their line-up. https://www.guns.com/news/2020/06/03/work-the-lever-on-federal-premiums-new-hammerdown-hunting-ammo

Upon further review it looks like they may have kept the 327 federal in their brass offerings. So they developed hunting ammo for their shiny brass guns.

Wait... WHAT!?!? Well crap. So much for getting one of those. I don't want a brass one.

 

[WrongHanded]

I would really like to see checking on the stocks of the "all-weather" version. I handled one and it is simply too slick for my liking.

If they could address that, and make one chambered in .41 Mag, I'd be very tempted to buy one with this new loading gate. Retaining the tube loading function is a very practical choice.

 

[Dunross]

No mention of a 327 lever action on the Henry site now. "Discontinued." Sigh...

 

[John#2]

Smart move on Henry’s part the lack of side loading gate was ridiculous, I would go the whole way and get rid of the detacheable tube, just a crucial part to get lost in the field.

I’ll be waiting for a Ruglin, very excited for the potential.

I do believe with Ruger buying Marlin and Henry offering more side gates the best days for lever rifles are in front of us, not behind us.

 

[NuclearMeltdown]

I agree with the seemingly relative minority who saw no issue with the loading tube. You can unload without cycling rounds through the action, and it's easier on the fingers. I never knew that style was so terrible until I saw it viciously attacked on internet forums.

Good to see the best of both worlds though.

 

[ECVMatt]

Hallelujah!

 

[mjsdwash]

damn.... I will probably save for one

 

[mjsdwash]

I agree with the seemingly relative minority who saw no issue with the loading tube. You can unload without cycling rounds through the action, and it's easier on the fingers. I never knew that style was so terrible until I saw it viciously attacked on internet forums.

Good to see the best of both worlds though.

I had thought the same until I tries loading a henry in the snow, and needed to rest the stock on my foot to keep it out of the snow, use one hand to hold the muzzle, hone to hold the plunger in place and the third to put the bullets in the tiny hole which I could not do with gloves. Realizing this was impractical, I pulled the tube, and balanced like a clown and loaded through the top. Sure its not too hard, but it is certainly harder than a loading gate.
Also, in ranges where pointing a barrel straight up while handling live ammo, people look at you funny.
But the tube is nicer for unloading. I still think they look a lot better with the gate, and that may be enough for me.

 

[HngMnHnryDvdsn]

I've been waiting for an all weather .357 with a side gate to go with my big boy x. As soon as these become available its game over for my wallet!

Personally I love having both the side gate AND tube loading feature. Neither really take away from each other and both come in handy!

 

[Barbaroja]

Very disappointed about the .41 if I thought they were going to drop them so soon I would have made it more of a priority for me

 

[cfullgraf]

Interesting to hear that Henry is converting to side gate loading. I understand their decision.

Side gate loading on a lever action is a love/hate relation for me. I like being able to load the rifle without reaching up to the muzzle but the side gates are hard on my thumb nails. My thumbs always hurt after shooting my Marlin 1894C or my Winchester 73 357 Magnums.

I guess I'll cherish my Henry 327 Magnum with the front load tube magazine.

Maybe I'll get a Henry 45 Colt side gate when they become available.