Which Henry single shot to buy?

Haha yeah... I saw one run from my 7 acre plot on the outskirts of Topeka, up towards Meriden. Houses everywhere and an elementary school 1000 ft away. Ran across the road at midnight and until I saw the tail, I had a big WHAT is THAT moment. The gait and tail of a large cat is unmistakable. That was probably 2013 or 14. My pops saw a black one 20 years ago down by the Kaw

 

We have mountain lions up here that we occasionally pick up on the trail cams. The DNR doesn’t like to acknowledge it and always try’s to talk it down as isolated sightings. Friend of the family had one get in his barn and eat his deer he had hanging. It had a gps collar on it and the dnr came to question him as they thought he had killed it since the gps signal had been coming from his barn for 3 days. They asked to see in the barn and when they went in there the damb thing was in the rafters growling at them.

 

Someone mentioned this, too...

I would rather reload for the .45-70 than the .30-30, given one or the other. The ability to tailor the .45-70 to the power level you want is a real bonus, along with loading inexpensive cast bullets. I bought a Marlin 1895 a few years ago, loaded up what I thought was medium velocity 350grn loads for it... and boy howdy! I forgot how much that cartridge can kick. Jeepers. My previous experience was with a Browning 1886 I had... but I was young back then and probably didn't mind the recoil so much. I wound up having to pull about 100 cartridges loaded with IMR4895 and IMR4064... and reload them with a reduced charge of AA5744 or IMR4198... much better! Not that the .30-30 is any mystery, I load cast for that, too... it's just that... the .45-70... is so much FUN!

 

i shot one here in ny about 8 years ago. the dec got rid of the cat real quick. you know because ny don't have no lions.

 

Another vote for the .45-70. Don't particularly need one but have always wanted one, mostly in a lever action though a single shot would be nice too.

 

I personally feel that the 30-30 is ideally suited for a levergun with iron sights.
I like the .243 for everything from heavy varmint to heavy deer. Even legal for elk in most states if I'm not mistaken.
.243 gets my vote.

 

I voted 30-30. I have 3 levers now and will buy more if the price is right. But for what you are asking and plan to use it for the the 45-70 might be best. I had a Marlin 45/70 and I kept loading it down for deer since a full power round wasn't needed. Then the light went on and I sold the 45/70 and bought a Marlin 44 mag. It does everything I wanted the 45/70 for and does it with much cheaper ammo.

I have one of the Henry single shot 357s on my watch list. I really trust the 357 round as long as I can reload for it. We don't have any bears in my area and I think it would kill hogs just fine. Plus its a mate to the lever 357 I have now.

 

From what you described in your post .243 may be your best option. I don’t know if you can find a youth model in 45-70, although you can always cut the stock to your LOP..243 is great for deer, varmints and given the right conditions and shot opportunity I would shoot a bear with it. Just MOFWIW.

 

the youth has 2 less inches of barrel to. for making quick fast kills where u may not have the perfect shot. the 45/70 is hard to beat.

 

Based on the OP's hunting criteria I selected 243..... As he will "most likely" be getting a 30-30 lever gun and is leaning away from 30-30 already. Although based on his anticipated ranges a 30-30 would be nice. 45-70 definitely has the "cool factor" but I wonder what it would be like in a light single shot and would be sort of "overkill " at those ranges. That leaves 243..... light recoil, plenty adequate for deer, and would be sweet especially in a shorter length of pull youth model when you're wearing multiple layers of cold weather gear and maybe even a back pack. I say "go for it".

 

A 243 in a single shot just feels odd IMO, and if you want to thump inside 100 yards, I'd much rather have a 45-70 than a 30-30.

As far as the kick, I was eyeballing a Henry single shot 45-70 myself a while back, and I remember the weight being the same as a Guide Gun. I've shot the Guide Gun, and while it definitely gets your attention, the kick didn't interfere with my accuracy at all. It's kind of a big, slow push into your shoulder rather than a sharp, fast kick like you'd have with something like an 8mm Mauser or 7mm Mag. IME, it's way easier to avoid flinching with the 45-70. So bottom line, I don't think the gun's weight or recoil should be an issue.

 

.243 Winchester would be an excellent caliber for that single shot rifle. I like the light recoil and accuracy of that round.

 

For myself I would get the 45-70 of the options listed but since you said you don't hand load just be aware of what your signing up for. Most of the factory 45-70 loads in that light of a gun are going to be brutal.

 

Forgot to mention it earlier but the OP stated that he doesn't reload and even though the gun will be carried a lot and shot a little then the price differential between 243, (less expensive) and 45-70 (more expensive) could be factored into the decision making if there are budget considerations. Even though both cartridges will meet the OP's requirements.

 

I missed that as well. In that case, .243 is the logical decision, especially if the OP doesn't handload. Plus youth models are lighter, which helps because you carry them more than shoot them. And ammo is a lot more readily available too.

 

I have a 30-30 don't have a 243,so I went with my 45-70.

 

I have Handi Rifles in 22 Hornet, 30-30, 357, and 45-70. Plus a 45-70 Buffalo Classic. My hunting is about like yours. My pick if I could only have one would be the 30-30. I do like the 45-70 though. You will appreciate a rimmed cartridge in a break barrel. Most 45-70 factory loads will be loaded to trapdoor pressure levels unless you go to one of the boutique cartridge makers. That’s ok though, they are plenty for hunting and your shoulder will thank you. Recoil can be brutal in the light Single shots.

One difference between you and I is that I do reload. I second the opinion that you should buy a Lee Classic Loader, or better yet, the Lee hand press and a set of dies. The single shot will handle spritzers and it is no mean feat to load the 150 grain bullet, I like the Hornady Spire Point, to 2500 feet per second. Hodgdon Leverevolution is a good powder, H335 is almost as good, just 100 feet per second or so slower. Reloader 7 will push a 110 grain bullet to 2700-2800 FPS, makes a good varmint load. And the Hornady 170 grain flat point makes the 30-30 a dandy pig rifle with Leverevolution powder pushing that bullet along at 2300 FPS. I do imagine it would be a good bear round as well.

The Henry 45-70 interests me, when they came out with the 30-30 and 357 I got real happy, if they come out with a 22 Hornet life will be complete. I will have one of each by the end of 2019. 357 is here but I have not shot it yet. Really need that 22 Hornet Henry!