School Me on Henry Rifles

[az_imuth]

Purely on the topic of the Henry Rimfires

look around and talk to people in the real world who use them just about every day and then decide. i picked up a few used win. 94/22,s and marlin 39,s in very good condition for less that 400.00 over the last few years and i would put any of them up againest a henry any day of the week. eastbank.

I see this remark all of the time. Yes, you may be able to get a used Marlin (not likely a Winchester) for near the price of a NEW Henry. That's comparing apples to oranges (Used/New). I have picked up a like new Henry for $160 recently. Get any like new Marlins/Winchesters for that price lately? I certainly doubt it. Go like your Marlins, Winchesters and Brownings all you want. I certainly like mine. I also like the Henry's I own. They sell an enormous amount of them for a reason. They look nice, they function well, they're much less expensive than the alternatives, and they're the smoothest operating rimfire lever actions on the planet. Be happy with what you have. You don't have to knock other peoples choice just to make your rifles seem better.

 

[DM~]

you have to be kidding, ten years from now you may be singing a different tune. eastbank.

You may be right?? (i've had one of my Henry levers more than 5 yrs. now though)

BUT, until then, i'll keep shooting mine almost daily, like yesterday. I shot a tube full at my swinging targets, then an hour later dispatched a problem racoon! It just keeps working perfectly, no complaints from me about my Henry levers at all.

I really like the "lightness" and how handy they are......also how smoooooth they are, and you can buy a new one and it will work right out of the box!

DM

 

[Bushpilot]

I have a Winchester 9422 and a 39A. the Henry is equal in all respects.

The Henry 22 is far from being equal in "all respects." I bought a Henry .22 lever gun on a whim back when they were still reasonably priced, at about $180. I knew it wasn't a 9422 or a 39A but it had nice wood and it looked like it might be something cheap and fun to play with. The plastic front sight/barrel band wasn't molded correctly so it always leaned slightly to one side. Worst of all, the barrel actually "wiggled" in the receiver. You're not going to find issues like these that result from cheap materials and design on a 9422 or a 39A. The receivers on Henry 22's look like they are made from aluminum (standard) or brass alloy (Golden Boy) and "Zamack." The 9422 and 39A are made from steel. The barrel on a 39A is, I believe, threaded into the receiver, not pinned like the Henry. My Henry was quickly traded off and I was glad to be rid of it.

I am not sure how the Henry name was acquired, but Anthony Imperato has said countless times the That the Henry's today are not the same as those of yesteryear. In my opinion they are better.

First of all, the thought of comparing a real Henry rifle with today’s “Big Boy” is ridiculous. Real Henry’s were revolutionary, cutting edge technology and were made to a standard that was a good as could possibly be made at the time. A real Henry might cost the average worker or soldier the equivalent of 4 to 6 months wages but was deemed to be worth the price because it’s capabilities were so revolutionary that it might actually save the owners life. Today’s “Big Boy” is insignificant by comparison and is only “better” in that it is center fire and has benefitted from 150 years worth of advancement in metallurgy and manufacturing technology.

In the Henry H001 series owners manual it says "We are proud to have crafted this rifle for you in the great tradition of Henry Repeating Arms Company which dates back to 1860 when the first effective, lever-action repeating rifle was developed by our founder, Benjamin Tyler Henry".

That statement is a complete lie... The “Henry Repeating Arms Company” was founded in NY in 1996. The company Benjamin Tyler Henry founded was the “New Haven Arms Company” in CT whose name was changed to the “Winchester Repeating Arms Company” in 1866. The Folks at Henry must not have much respect for their gun buying customers to lie to them in this way... Or, they just assume that we are too ignorant to know any better.

BTW, name a firearms company that when you call and the president of the company answers the phone, it happens quite often at HRAC. Cliff

I care more about the lack of a loading gate, 3 extra pounds of useless metal and a company that lies to it customers than I do about who answers the phone.

 

[InkEd]

The current Springfield Armory has nothing to to do with the old government arsenal and new Rock Island stuff is from overseas. So, it isn't a new idea to use a defunct famous name. I don't care for the practice but it has become common.

Also, it's not like any of the "old regime" companies like S&W, Remington, et cetera are "really" the same companies anymore either.

In some ways, I think (if nothing else) it honors/keeps the history alive even if it is just in name only.

 

[BCRider]

You haters can hate all you want. In the meantime my two rimfire Henrys keep on shooting accurately and reliably.

I too had a thing about the Zamac alloy reciever. But based on the glowing reports from a couple of shooting buddy's I hesitently bought my H001.

Three years later and up around probably 3000 or more rounds through it I am one highly happy and enthusiastic camper. The Zamac issue has simply proven to be a non-issue other than the poor adhesion of the paint on the receiver. Somehow I've managed to produce two scratches in it. The feel of the action is as tight and smooth now as it was when it came out of the box.

To those reading in that want more opinions from the owners I'd suggest that they read the Henry subforum at Rimfire Central.

 

[eastbank]

my oldest 39 marlin made in 1957 shot several hundred rounds a week,week in and week out when my two boys were growning up and it still works like it should with no problems. very seldon did a brick last a week. being very conservitive i would say it shot over 3000 rounds a summer. eastbank.

 

[DM~]

my oldest 39 marlin made in 1957 shot several hundred rounds a week,week in and week out when my two boys were growning up and it still works like it should with no problems. very seldon did a brick last a week. being very conservitive i would say it shot over 3000 rounds a summer. eastbank.

Sounds like around here, when friends/family show up with a pile of 22 ammo and no guns. They all know i don't care how much they shoot mine, so when they show up, they grab the Henry 22 off the ATV, and then it's time to break out the second Henry too, and let them all get after it. lol

The one on the ATV get's shot the most, and neither one has ever been cleaned since new, so we will see how they do as the years pile up! At this point, they still work like new...

Only one that's needed anything is the one on the ATV... I shot a racoon with it the other day and when i got up to it to poke it, it came to life and chewed the 0 ring off the end of the removable tube for loading. I got a finisher in before any more damage was done... lol I bought another 0 ring from NAPA.

BTW, the factory replaced the nylon/plastic front sight/bbl band with steel ones long ago, my ATV Henry has plastic and it still works just fine, so i never bothered to replace it.

DM

 

[crestoncowboy]

Growing up i used to shoot a brick every sunday through one of the west german Ithaca 72 rifles that got henry on the map, they last. however comparing one to the browning, marlin, or Winchester is laughable. Also I wouldn't go to a henry forum to ask about a henry, (or a glock forum to ask about a glock, or a Camaro forum to ask about a Camaro etc...) as someone suggested, you will most likely get a biased opinion,
In the book to one of my h001 rifles it says the new rifles draw from the heritage of the rifle given to president Lincoln. So yes they blatantly lie about their name, and that is my biggest problem with the company. However If you buy one im sure it will be a decent shooter, and give very little trouble.

 

[BCRider]

My "problem" is that I've simply got too many fun .22 rifles. Not to mention a bunch of other guns. And not to mention other hobbies that keep me away from the range. And they all need some time. Otherwise I'm sure that my Henry would see 3000 a summer.

Yes, the special intrest forums are biased. Asking how everyone likes their guns, motorcycles, cars, boats, etc is the very LAST thing you want to do. When I look at these forums I tend to look at the ratio of thead postings related to problems or difficulties vs happy experiences. One has to read between the lines a little with this sort of thing.

 

[shafter]

In the Henry H001 series owners manual it says "We are proud to have crafted this rifle for you in the great tradition of Henry Repeating Arms Company which dates back to 1860 when the first effective, lever-action repeating rifle was developed by our founder, Benjamin Tyler Henry".

That statement is a complete lie... The “Henry Repeating Arms Company” was founded in NY in 1996. The company Benjamin Tyler Henry founded was the “New Haven Arms Company” in CT whose name was changed to the “Winchester Repeating Arms Company” in 1866. The Folks at Henry must not have much respect for their gun buying customers to lie to them in this way... Or, they just assume that we are too ignorant to know any better.

Quote:
BTW, name a firearms company that when you call and the president of the company answers the phone, it happens quite often at HRAC. Cliff
I care more about the lack of a loading gate, 3 extra pounds of useless metal and a company that lies to it customers than I do about who answers the phone.

My sentiments EXACTLY!

 

[Bushpilot]

The current Springfield Armory has nothing to to do with the old government arsenal and new Rock Island stuff is from overseas. So, it isn't a new idea to use a defunct famous name.

Very true, but Springfield Armory (the company) goes on to explain what the original Springfield Armory was, that it closed in 1968 and that in 1974 the Reese family resurrected the name and the "philosophy" behind it. They don't however claim that George Washington and Henry Knox (who ordered the creation of Springfield Armory and chose the site) "founded" their company in 1777. Big difference compared to Henry...

 

[eastbank]

i don,t knock any one for buying what rifle they want and when the henry,s were cheaper by alot it may have made sense to some,but when they are as high or higher than other named rimfire or centerfire rifles that are made of steel the shine on them dims. eastbank.

 

[jolly roger]

I have an octagon 22 that is wonderful for it's purpose. I don't get the Big Boy either though. For something that heavy I want a cartridge with thump..like a Guide Gun

 

[DM~]

i don,t knock any one for buying what rifle they want and when the henry,s were cheaper by alot it may have made sense to some,but when they are as high or higher than other named rimfire or centerfire rifles that are made of steel the shine on them dims. eastbank.

I looked at 39's before buying a Henry, but one thing about buying a new Henry, at least i didn't have to go to the Marlin 39 forum to get the info to make it work RIGHT, right out of the box.

All three of my Henrys worked perfectly right out of the box and still do. Also, the Henrys are trimmer, lighter and smoother too and i like that a LOT.....so do the smaller kids that shoot them.

If i wanted to carry a tank around, i'd carry one of my 22 target guns...

DM

 

[Hagen442]

Lever Action Long Guns

Old 2 Cents:
I am referring to Centerfire Calibers not 22 Rimfire.
Ck Out a Uberti before you decide on a Henry Arms.
The 1860 Henry Clone from Uberti is a beauty with a lot of heart not just a name.(Been using a 45 Long Colt 1860 Uberti Henry for a bunch of years)
(We Run a lot of Rounds with Uberti Long Guns in Cowboy Action)


00

 

[blueskyjaunte]

I don't own a Henry, but I have played with a few of 'em.

I'd trade my jam-o-matic Marlin 1895CB for a Henry--any Henry!--in a heartbeat. :banghead:

 

[shafter]

If I was going to buy a "Henry" that's what I'd go for Hagen.

 

[black_powder_Rob]

Hagen that is also the Henry I would want, i just wish they made one in 357-38 spec.

I do however have a Henry 22mag frontier rifle that I love.

 

[mr.t7024]

I like all three of the rifles,To me they all function equally,shoot just as accurate.

Keep in mind made in the tradition of, is not the same as made the same way. If one does not like a rifle because of the name...do not buy it. I refuse to buy a Remington rifle because of the fiasco they had with the 597... . We all have opinions, it is what it is. But we can all have fun shooting!

BTW my go to gun is my Marlin 60, made in the early 60's. Cliff

 

[Searcher4851]

The Henry is a nice looking, well put together, smooth functioning out of the box, rifle. They are currently high priced for me, but my price point may be different than yours. I own one but acquired it when they weren't so high priced. It's a really nice rifle, shoots well, and weighs more than I like to carry for long periods. It is not a reproduction of anything, but that doesn't make it bad.
I also have shot a couple of Marlin 1894's (pre Remlin) and own some Rossi 92's. The Rossi's get shot the most, and considering the price, I can purty near buy two Rossi's for the price of a Henry nowadays. Next lever purchase will probably be another Rossi.
It all boils down to what do YOU want and like? The Henry is a nice rifle. I also have a Henry .22lr that I shoot all the time. It works for me.

 

[alman]

Just a word about the ZAMAC alloy receiver ; Bought a new H001 , out the door under $300 . Stripped the reciever cover , polished it sealed it & called it good . Looks great , functions flawlessly and is ACCURATE . Im a Marlin fanboy but would not spend $600.00+ on a new "Remlin" 39a & the vintage ones are just as expensive if not more . Great value with the henry rimfires ...

 

[mountain_man]

I may be wrong but I was under the impression that the receiver is steel, and the only ZAMAC parts are the receiver covers. Is that correct? A quick test with the covers off and a magnet will tell.

 

[alman]

Yes , reciever cover only .

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[eastbank]

the henry,s with the steel cover remind me of the german erma .22 levers ithica sold and i think iver johnson sold them and a pump made the same way. i wonder if the newer henry,s are one in the same. eastbank.

 

[Double Vision]

Thanks for your input guys.

The local store actually came down from $849 to $799, but I was still a bit hesitant to drop 8 bills on the Henry in 38/357 at this time.
I'm to pick up an XD in a week so when I'm feeling more flush with funds I'll likely spring for the Henry.

Thank you.