Stretched Out My Henry H001

[DMW1116]

I’ve had this rifle for a few years now and for whatever reason, never shot it past 50 yards. I decided to see how it did to 100 yards this weekend.

The front sight required some file work to zero when I first got the rifle. It is zeroed at 50 yards for the lowest notch using high velocity ammo: Automatch, Aguila Super Extra, MiniMags, Thunderbolt, etc. specifically it was zeroed with Thunderbolt.

Coincidentally it zeros on the second notch with standard velocity ammo at 50 yards.

It’s preferred ammo is either Automatch or Aguila SE HV. I have a good supply of Aguila so used that.

On the second notch it hits about 2” high at 75 yards. I expected it to be further off, but that’s pretty good so I won’t complain.

The real surprise was at 100 yards. It hits about 1” high above the front sight at 100 yards. While it’s not exact, it’s good enough to keep shots on a 3” sighting dot out to 100 yards with just one click up. I’ll have to get some bigger targets to see them but I bet I could hit a 12” target out to 150 yards even if I had to move up ti the third and final notch.

I really just wanted to gush about how much fun it was to stretch this thing out even if it was with iron sights. I like these better than the usual semi-buckhorn sight in most lever actions. The Henry H001 factory sights are basically like pistol sights, just sized so the longer sight radius works. I need to add some orange paint to the front sight but so far it works as it is.

 

[DMW1116]

Back for round 2. Today was some specialty ammo and the Aguila HV hollow points. Today I tried some CCI Short HV Varmint and CB Long.

Due to the low velocity and some other sighting-in chores, the distance was limited to 25 yards.

The CB longs were first. These are very quiet, cycled fine, and grouped great. They did require the sights to be raised to the highest notch, but hit about an inch or so high at 25 yards. Couldn’t have asked for better.

The CCI HV Shorts didn’t group quite as well but they zero dead on with the lowest notch at 25 yards.

The Aguila HV HP shot basically identically to the Super Extra HV. To tell a difference I’d have to move the targets to 50 or 100 yards.

Through all this, no windage adjustment was needed. To really dial in I’d have to settle on one load. Even then, using the factory sights my point of impact moves back and forth depending on my eyes. There’s not much point in changing them every session.

 

[Show Me]

Back for round 2. Today was some specialty ammo and the Aguila HV hollow points. Today I tried some CCI Short HV Varmint and CB Long.

Due to the low velocity and some other sighting-in chores, the distance was limited to 25 yards.

The CB longs were first. These are very quiet, cycled fine, and grouped great. They did require the sights to be raised to the highest notch, but hit about an inch or so high at 25 yards. Couldn’t have asked for better.

The CCI HV Shorts didn’t group quite as well but they zero dead on with the lowest notch at 25 yards.

The Aguila HV HP shot basically identically to the Super Extra HV. To tell a difference I’d have to move the targets to 50 or 100 yards.

Through all this, no windage adjustment was needed. To really dial in I’d have to settle on one load. Even then, using the factory sights my point of impact moves back and forth depending on my eyes. There’s not much point in changing them every session.

Good testing.

 

[Pat Riot]

I had forgotten you could fire .22 shorts in those rifles.

Thank you for the range report.

I just joined a gun club that has a neat .22 range. I am looking forward to trying it out.

 

[DMW1116]

While it doesn’t help what everyone else is doing, if I were limited to an indoor range I’d shoot the CBs a lot. They are accurate to typical indoor ranges and my contribution to the noise would be basically zero.

I’m really just astonished how well these different loads correspond to the sights. While the it might be fun to lob CBs to 100 yards, their practical limit is 25 or at most 50 yards.

The HV Shorts are a bit more versatile. For normal 22 ammo, a 25-yard zero is basically the same as 50, so these might be good all the way there. I had toyed with putting a Williams FP-AG sight on this rifle to match my Marlin 336, but I can’t bring myself to ruin the simplicity now.

 

[kidneyboy]

Back for round 2. Today was some specialty ammo and the Aguila HV hollow points. Today I tried some CCI Short HV Varmint and CB Long.

Due to the low velocity and some other sighting-in chores, the distance was limited to 25 yards.

The CB longs were first. These are very quiet, cycled fine, and grouped great. They did require the sights to be raised to the highest notch, but hit about an inch or so high at 25 yards. Couldn’t have asked for better.

The CCI HV Shorts didn’t group quite as well but they zero dead on with the lowest notch at 25 yards.

The Aguila HV HP shot basically identically to the Super Extra HV. To tell a difference I’d have to move the targets to 50 or 100 yards.

Through all this, no windage adjustment was needed. To really dial in I’d have to settle on one load. Even then, using the factory sights my point of impact moves back and forth depending on my eyes. There’s not much point in changing them every session.

My favorite firearm is an Henry H001. My example cycles all .22 ammo and is quite accurate. The video below is of Buffalo's Outdoors loading his with a variety of ammo types all at the same time and cycling through them. The pic below is my version of that - the tube was loaded with shorts, longs and LR of varying velocities in random order and then shot at 25 yards from a rest using Williams peep sights.

Henry .22 Lever Action cycling a variety of ammo

The Henry H001 cycling shorts, longs, long rifle and shotshell ammunition. The H001 is has become what I consider a quintessential .22 rifle. This is a viewe...

youtu.be

 

[DMW1116]

As far as rimfire goes, I was having a good time with my 10/22. Super reliable, accurate with the right ammo (any SV), and fast if that’s my mood. The last couple of range sessions with the H001 have swayed my favor to the Henry now. I tried the Aguila hollow points just because they are way more available than

 

[22250Rem]

Got a Henry H001 on sale a little over 5 years ago. Love it. Very accurate; so much so that I put a cheap red dot on it and proved that it can shoot much better than I can with the iron sights. Eventually took the red dot off because it was too big to be sitting atop such a trim, little lever gun. Went to a fiber optic front sight that helps the older eyes out. Can't recall ever shooting it beyond 30 yards. Ought to stretch it out to 50 this spring when I play with the CZ-455 and 10/22 on the 50 yard range. Does anyone know of a decent rear aperture (peep) sight for Henry H001's? That would also help out the older eyes, the fiber optic front really stands out and I bet would work even better with a decent rear peep sight . Here's that front: ..

 

[DMW1116]

How did I end up with the only Henry H001 without a dovetail front sight?

 

[PO2Hammer]

Well done. I think you must have a pretty good set of eyes.

 

[DMW1116]

They’re fading but I’m going to use them while I have them. Just accepting the target will be blurry was a big step. I shot iron sights for quite a while and read up on how to use them. I also experimented with different targets for different sights. The proper target makes a huge difference. My favorite is a 12”x18” target with the bottom half colored orange and a black stripe 1”-2” wide up the center of the top half. The colors control the elevation and the stripe controls the windage.

Contrast is important too. I can see a 1” orange dot at 50 yards on cardboard but a 2” dot at 100 yards on a black background blends in too much to shoot at. A 3/4” orange dot at 50 yards in white gets washed out and is too small to shoot at. All I know for sure is animals have camouflage for a reason. It works like a charm.

 

[DMW1116]

My favorite firearm is an Henry H001. My example cycles all .22 ammo and is quite accurate. The video below is of Buffalo's Outdoors loading his with a variety of ammo types all at the same time and cycling through them. The pic below is my version of that - the tube was loaded with shorts, longs and LR of varying velocities in random order and then shot at 25 yards from a rest using Williams peep sights.

Henry .22 Lever Action cycling a variety of ammo

The Henry H001 cycling shorts, longs, long rifle and shotshell ammunition. The H001 is has become what I consider a quintessential .22 rifle. This is a viewe...

youtu.be

View attachment 1193957

I’d like to play around with a Golden Boy and see how the longer barrel works, but this H001 is going to be hard to beat. The sights on the GB are different and I don’t use them as well as the H001

 

[DMW1116]

I’ve been cataloguing the different sight settings for the different general groups of ammo I use. After today I have settings for Standard Velocity, High Velocity, CB loads, and High Velocity Short. Standard and High Velocity goes out to 100 yards with no appreciable hold over.

So far it’s hard to overstate how pleased I am with this rifle. Any previous plans to upgrade the sights are on hold until I find something the factory ones won’t do.

 

[ThomasT]

I have the Henry 22 mag version. I love shooting that gun and really like that round. I have a lot of ammo on hand too so cost isn't a factor. I took mine to my buds land and we used it to shoot turtles in his pond. Some shots were close but some were over 50 yards. If you held right making a 50 yard shot on a turtles head was possible. And the head is all you see. I love how slim it feels in the hands. Just like a small bore Kentucky rifle. And I like its light weight.

This won't be my last Henry rifle. Last night i was looking at 45 Colts at Buds Gunshop and just a few minutes ago I was on GB looking at Henry 30-30 rifles. The 22s aren't Winchester or Marlin quality but in these days they are still affordable and do everything the higher priced rifles will do. And you sure can't beat Henry's service and warranty repair.

 

[Bazoo]

Nice. I've had good luck with Aguila ammo in all the guns I've tried it in. I shoot 22's a bit farther out myself. I am able to consistently hit a 6" steel at 75 Yards with my Ruger Single Six using Aguila HV HP ammo.

 

[DMW1116]

I have a Heritage to go with the Henry but a a Single Six would be even better. I’ve taken my Blackhawk and Victory 22 to 50 yards but never tried 75.

If my calculations are correct, the highest notch on the Henry will be basically zeroed for 125 or 150 yards. I’ll try that next. It might be worth a box of Interceptor to try further.

I also need to shoot the Short high velocity at 50 yards to see where it hits. I feel like 25 is the maximum practical range for the Short HV, but I’ve been wrong before.

I’m lazily looking for a Henry X in 357 to go with my Blackhawk just like I’m looking for a 1911 to go with my M16A4 copy.

 

[Bazoo]

I shoot my Blackhawk out to 75 on 6" steel, but I can't shoot it quite as well as the Single Six yet. I have shot a bit farther but without hits of any regularity. I don't know where my bullets are landing as I haven't set up a backer to check yet. I guess I should though.

I was able to get around 1.5" groups with my Marlin 60 using a scope at 70 Yards (when my table was at 70). Not great, but not horrible either. It's pretty fun to stretch out a bit and see what they like.

 

[DMW1116]

I shoot my scoped Marlin 60 in silhouette competitions at 100 yards but the smaller targets are not consistently impacted. I have a Ruger 10/22 set up to shoot the iron sighted portion of the silhouette competition at 60 yards but I think I’ll do it with the Henry next time. These targets are both larger and closer.

 

[kidneyboy]

100 yards with my Henry carbine. The missing 10th shot was basically my sighter and below the target.

 

[DMW1116]

My older thread on this topic had me thinking the 100-yard shots were low, when in fact they were way high when setting the sights on the 3rd notch. Now that I calmed down and stepped out in smaller increments instead of taking too big a bite, things make way more sense.

 

[DMW1116]

100 yards with my Henry carbine. The missing 10th shot was basically my sighter and below the target.


View attachment 1196536

What are those targets? I bet I could see those on a piece of cardboard and see the holes easier than the orange stickers I used last time. The Dirty Bird targets I used this time are 12" overall, but the bullseye is a 2" red dot that is all but invisible at 100 yards for me. Also, is the carbine different from the usual H001? It's hard to imagine a lighter rifle, but if so, the carbine would be almost able to carry itself.

 

[kidneyboy]

Pretty sure that is a 6" shoot and see target. I use them at 100yards because they are easier to see by eye or with the small binoculars I keep in the bag. Every few years I make a bulk purchase of these.
Classic carbine has a 16" barrel and weighs something like 4.5pounds. I've had handguns that weigh that much......

 

[Bazoo]

Being able to see the target is key for any distance shooting. For me, having a bright colored target (green currently) on a plain cardboard backer is the best I've tried so far.

 

[DMW1116]

I was surprised how a bright color in a harsh white background would wash out and not be visible. I tried some orange stickers in white paper and they were terrible. I was testing hand loads in an iron sighted rifle and had to stop and try again after the first load. Cardboard or a Manila color seem to work well.

 

[Dirtybob]

What seems to work best for me is black dots on a white background (high contrast). No way I could see the red bull on those shoot-n-c targets at 100 yds with irons.