Pump 22 Rifle Returned From Henry

[dh1633pm]

Got my Henry Pump 22 back from Henry on Thursday. I have to say I hate sending things back. Mental flaw or something. My Henry Pump has always been hard to cycle. Not like an old Remington 12. For me, it seemed you needed the arms of Hercules. Easy for me, but not for the wife. I took it apart and oiled things down, did the usual polish of ruff edges. Just not a smooth action. I sent it a couple weeks ago and just got it back. The invoice said they replaced the bolt assembly and carrier feed lever, and reamed the chamber. Said it test fired ok. Out of the box it cycles just as hard as before.

I emailed them, the reply was that I could trade it for a Golden Boy if I wanted. Back into the box it went. Will mail it next week.

Henry made good on their promise. I just wish the pump was a little smoother with a little less effort. Maybe comparing it to a Remington 12 is the problem.

 

[dranrab]

That is a common complaint with Henry pumps and is why I have avoided them so far. I have heard of some people bending parts through forcefully working the action. I wish they's do a little re-engineering. Good on Henry for working with you.

 

[dh1633pm]

I was happy with the end result.

 

[doubleh]

Maybe comparing it to a Remington 12 is the problem.

Yes, it was.

You made a darn good trade though.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Sucks that you couldn't get the rifle you wanted from the start.

BTW, I just joined the pump .22 club last week with my anything-but-new Winchester 1890 (with a 1906 barrel and replacement buttstock). Dad told me he always wanted a pump .22 and probably had the 1890 in mind. I shot a couple magazines through it without difficult on Thursday -- more complete posting to follow later.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have read that Henry basically used the lever action internals from the H001-series and fitted the pump mechanism to operate it rather than create a whole new set of internals designed from day one for pump operation. I guess that without the “leverage” the arcing lever mechanism creates, having to directly pump the action is more difficult than other “ground-up” pump action designs.

(My Win 1890-copy Rossi 62A is pretty smooth to operate, but the open-top mechanism makes anything other than open sights tough to do.)

Stay safe.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

The Henry pumps are dogs.

All the ones I’ve cycled were very ruff around the edges as far as in terms of product smoothness and qc.

 

[Poper]

I have read that Henry basically used the lever action internals from the H001-series and fitted the pump mechanism to operate it rather than create a whole new set of internals designed from day one for pump operation. I guess that without the “leverage” the arcing lever mechanism creates, having to directly pump the action is more difficult than other “ground-up” pump action designs.

(My Win 1890-copy Rossi 62A is pretty smooth to operate, but the open-top mechanism makes anything other than open sights tough to do.)

Stay safe.

Gave my dad one of those back in '95. He loved it because it reminded him of a his old Winchester 62 that was stolen in 1973. Dad passed in 2006 and left it to my nephew - a good kid that loves hunting and the outdoors.

Gotta say, though, I do love my old Remington 572!

 

[1KPerDay]

This reviewer mentions the fairly stiff action at about 4:30 but she says it did break in and was improving.

 

[blue32]

I picked up the Henry pump a year ago and it was a tad stiff. It took maybe 200 rounds to slick up. Hope you enjoy the golden boy. There's nothing like loading up the mag with 22 full power shorts and making soup cans dance.

 

[DM~]

My Henry pump was so bad, Henry bought it back admitting to me that there was NO WAY to make it a smooth operating pump, it just doesn't have the mechanical advantage to do so. (Owner of Henry, words to me)

Love their levers, pumps are junk!

DM

 

[dh1633pm]

I had mine four years. It never got better.

 

[Picher]

Sucks that you couldn't get the rifle you wanted from the start.

BTW, I just joined the pump .22 club last week with my anything-but-new Winchester 1890 (with a 1906 barrel and replacement buttstock). Dad told me he always wanted a pump .22 and probably had the 1890 in mind. I shot a couple magazines through it without difficult on Thursday -- more complete posting to follow later.

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I lusted after one of those that my cousin owned. It had been his dad's rifle for about 50 years before.

 

[Picher]

I picked up the Henry pump a year ago and it was a tad stiff. It took maybe 200 rounds to slick up. Hope you enjoy the golden boy. There's nothing like loading up the mag with 22 full power shorts and making soup cans dance.

Sorry, but the "full power shorts" comment made me chuckle a bit, though entirely appropriate.

 

[jmorris]

I think it took 2 or 3 nights of cycling/oiling the bolt on the last .22 I bought before it felt smooth.

If it’s a design issue, that’s not going to help though.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Sorry, but the "full power shorts" comment made me chuckle a bit, though entirely appropriate.

Like the terms 'jumbo shrimp' or 'working vacation'?

 

[Picher]

I think it took 2 or 3 nights of cycling/oiling the bolt on the last .22 I bought before it felt smooth.

If it’s a design issue, that’s not going to help though.

I used to do that to new rifles, but now try to buy the ones that work more smoothly from the first try.

 

[dh1633pm]

I used to do that to new rifles, but now try to buy the ones that work more smoothly from the first try.

That can be hard sometimes when your buying sight unseen. Your point is well taken. Being able to feel and touch a new firearms, makes any purchase easier.

 

[Picher]

That can be hard sometimes when your buying sight unseen. Your point is well taken. Being able to feel and touch a new firearms, makes any purchase easier.

When I had my FFL, I once bought three pump shotguns from a catalog store and when I got them, they just didn't work, so sent them back. I don't recall trying to buy another gun by mail.

 

[dh1633pm]

I once bought three pump shotguns from a catalog store and when I got them, they just didn't work, so sent them back. I don't recall trying to buy another gun by mail.

It's a pain not getting what you want via an order. Hence this post. I ordered this from an online store. I returned the rifle and wanted to share my experience with Henry Customer Service.

 

[I6turbo]

I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to those who will buy a Henry pump and leave the nice vintage Model 121s and Model 61s sitting for some of us to snatch up.

 

[dh1633pm]

Got word my new Henry will arrive tomorrow. Can’t wait.

 

[SwampWolf]

Like the terms 'jumbo shrimp' or 'working vacation'?

Or "government worker" and "speed strip" (calm down; I'm a retired government worker ).

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Or "government worker" and "speed strip" (calm down; I'm a retired government worker ).

Me too lodge brother [secret handshake].

 

[dh1633pm]

What’s funny, earlier this week they said shipping would be delayed do to production times.