Author Topic: Are henry levers any good? (Read 5320 times)

mellow_1 · « **on:** May 17, 2004, 09:01:41 PM »

I am interested in buying a Henry, are they any good? I don't expect them to be equivelent to a marlin 39a or a winchester 9422, but are they good quality or a waste of of money?
Fit, Finnish, Accuracy, Durability... How do they stack up?
I could use all your opinions....thanks in advance. :grin:

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2004, 04:52:47 AM »

mellow_1: I think I read a Gun Tests review of the Henry rifle and it sounds as though it is as good as it looks. You may want to try the Gun Tests web-site and see if you can locate their review. HTH. Mikey.

Prince of Wales · « **Reply #2 on:** May 18, 2004, 06:30:21 AM »

I have never read negative comment on them. They are supposed to be decended from the original Henry rifles of the pre Winchester era.
I bought one in 22 long for my son as his first rifle. I was very happy with it for fit and finish. I don`t know if i would have been that happy with a 9422 at the price they bring. My opinion is that it is a good gun for the money and represents a value in dollars spent. Best of luck. POW

mellow_1 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 18, 2004, 09:56:27 AM »

Thanks for your comments fellas .I appreciate it!

leverfan · « **Reply #4 on:** May 18, 2004, 08:09:07 PM »

mellow-

My brother in law won one at a Friends of the NRA dinner. He seems to be very well pleased by it, and I've never heard anything bad about them. I'm partial to the original Henry rifle, though, not the current ones made in NY. Still, it looks to be a lot of gun for the money, and I plan to get a Henry for my kids' first rifle (I named my boy Henry, so he might as well have a rifle with his name on it, since he's named after the original Henry rifle).

mellow_1 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 18, 2004, 08:29:30 PM »

Cool ...thanks for sharing leverfan :grin:

VictorLouis · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2004, 01:50:48 PM »

Quote

I don't expect them to be equivelent to a marlin 39a or a winchester 9422,

That's what many folks will tell you, and that's true...to a point. You must consider the Henry as I do, a levergun competitor for the popular auto-loaders out there that are similarly priced. That is, the 10/22, 597, and Marlin 7-series.

I have the pump, and I think I may eventually buy a youth model levergun.

mellow_1 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 20, 2004, 08:55:50 PM »

If it will hold it's own with the average sort of fairly accurate rifle I am in to it. I like levers and would just like something quick light and kinda classy looking. Ilike bolts, but that is another story.....semi - auto is just not my thing. To me the lever is the only rifle that I like the tube mag on, it just doesn't look good on anything else IMO.
Thanks for your 2 cents.... I am pretty sure a henry is on the list to look into.

papajohn428 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2004, 07:24:31 AM »

I bought one (for my son.....yeah, right!) about two years ago, and we have put thousands of rounds thru it without any major problems. I have learned to keep the chamber clean, or extraction can get iffy, but as long as I do what I'm supposed to, the gun does too. On days when I just want to hike a little and shoot a bit, there is no better gun. It's light, accurate, and the lever has to be worked to be believed. Mine is so slick it makes my Marlins feel clunky, and I love my Marlins! Buttery smooth action. Mine got gummy after about 2000 rounds, so I tore it down and cleaned it up in about ten minutes. Takedown and re-assembly are easy, even for a beginner.

My one complaint involved the cheesy, extra-wide front sight blade. Five minutes with a file, and I had re-contoured it into a point, now precision shooting is a lot easier.

Considering the cost is about half what a Marlin 22 is, I'm very happy with it. The receiver is aluminum, but hey, it's only a 22! Who needs more?

PJ

ba_50 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2005, 02:18:04 PM »

I bought the regular .22 RF model and took it back for a refund. The trigger was so bad you might think it was going off 3-5x before it actually did. The sales people didn't think it was safe either. Wondered what other trouble lay ahead so wrote it off. A 10/22, Savage, or Marlin at least have options for triggers etc.

Considering the trigger I can't speculate on it's accuracy

6string · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2005, 08:46:18 AM »

I think the Henry is the best lever gun because of the price and the smooth action,light feel,good accuracy and the customer service is the best on the planet. You can get a new metal sight and forend band from Henry for $10.00 each. For alittle more $ than the H001 you can get the new H001T. It has the same 20" octagon barrel and sights as the Golden Boy. Ther is a very small percent of people that I have heard of that have had any problems and when asked Henry took care of them. Get the Henry you will be happy with it.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2005, 07:52:18 AM »

Mellow_1,

I think you will find that the henry rifle has all you could ask for, Fit Finish
and function, And the accuracy is top notch, Its smooth as silk and a pleasure to shoot, If a person is looking for a light lever action rifle you can't beat it........Joe.........

Steve E · « **Reply #12 on:** July 02, 2005, 03:00:58 PM »

Mellow_1

I bought one for myself and was very impressed with the qwuality of the wood on a budget 22 rifle, it was a lot better than on my 700 BDL. It actually shot better than my Marlin 39. The action was very smooth. The only thing I didn't like was the painted finish on the receiver and the plastic front sight/band. The up side to the receiver finish is it would be easy for the average guy to touch up or refinish(Krylon). I think it is the top value for a 22 Lever for around $150.00. I bet the one with the Oct barrel(not the Golden Boy) is real nice. I am interested in the 22 mag now, anybody have any input on it? I have read it is suppossed to have even better wood.

Steve E..........

airborne-ranger · « **Reply #13 on:** July 09, 2005, 04:14:56 AM »

question i just brought a henry golden-boy 22-magnum for plinking around the yard. and the 1st, time shotting it i ,m having a feeding problem

anyone else have that problems i also brought my younger son a henry 22 long rifle and it works just fine any help on this matter

airborne-ranger [/b]

handirifle · « **Reply #14 on:** July 11, 2005, 12:25:04 PM »

I have had a Henry 22lr for over one year. It is actually the second I have owned. The first one was plagued with ejection problems.

I sent emails off to the company, customer service, and got very quick replies. By the way, when you contact Henry via email, it goes to the Henry president. I doubt any other companies do that.

My rifle was sent to Henry 3 times. The third time was for a direct replacement. Each and every time, there was a call order for shipping sent to me and each time the gun was back in my hand ONE WEEK from the day it was sent off to Henry.

All that was within about a month of purchase.

The new gun has given me ZERO problems and is smooth, very accurate. It has never jammed, after hundreds of rounds. Fit and finish is excellent in all respects. Stock wood is excellent also. When I mentioned to the company that the front sight post was too short, cause it kept shooting high, they sent me a new, shorter one. The trigger has some creep, but I paid $179 for mine so I do not expect a target trigger.

This rifle is a DIRECT competetor to other leverguns and you can bet the other companies had taken notice.

Henry has cut SOME corners, front sight and barrel band is plastic, neither a big deal to me. The receiver is aluminum, but so is the one on my 30 year old Mossberg shotgun, never an issue, and so is the one on the BLR. Not nocking Winchesters cause I own 2 but when did you last see a Win 94 in 300 Win Mag? The aluminum is a moot point in my book.

Their custome service is second to none and I would HIGHLY recommend them. Anyone that has issues with a problem and has not allowed the companie to resolve it should never complain.

I'd love to get the 44 Mag but don't want the brass receiver, but that is a LOOKS issue with me.

I say get one and enjoy it.

kennyusmc1 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2005, 02:56:31 PM »

I just got a henry 22 carbine with large loop... I love it but ...I want to find out if anyone has had luck replacing the sights with a good aftermarket brand?
thanks
Ken

Leverdude · « **Reply #16 on:** July 25, 2005, 03:09:41 PM »

Quote from: Prince of Wales

I have never read negative comment on them. They are supposed to be decended from the original Henry rifles of the pre Winchester era.
I bought one in 22 long for my son as his first rifle. I was very happy with it for fit and finish. I don`t know if i would have been that happy with a 9422 at the price they bring. My opinion is that it is a good gun for the money and represents a value in dollars spent. Best of luck. POW

I just wanted to add that the new Henry aint got nuthin to do with the original Henry. I forget who it was made the same rifle Henry now makes a few years back. I'm not knocking them understand, from every indication they make a nice little 22 lever action. :grin: Just aint the same company.

I handled a big boy at the range a few weeks back & it apeared to be very similar to a Marlin action. Round bolt, 2 piece firing pin. A couple screws looked to be located a bit differently & of course it was brass.I believe there was a kinda transfer bar saftey, a great idea IMO. This one was jammed up with the lifter stuck under the next round & the fellow was intent on bringing it home to fix it so I never did get to even cycle the action. I woulda freed it up there if he'd a let me, but anyway I saw enough that I think its a nice gun & as has been mentioned already their customer service is highly praised. I might just buy one of them if I see one in 357.

Bigdog57 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 04, 2005, 08:44:18 AM »

Yep, no connection between the 'original' Henry (a follow-on of the 'Volcanic' rifle) and the later Henry. The current Henry is descended little changed from the Erma-produced (West Germany) rifles, that were designed by Anthony Imperato's father! Compare the Henry to the Erma or the Ithaca M72 Saddlegun - same thing! All good guns for the money too.
My H001 outshoots my Marlin M39A, and is smoother in operation. Taken care of properly, it will outlast me.
Next, I want a Henry Goldenboy.

SETexJeff · « **Reply #18 on:** August 09, 2005, 07:07:21 PM »

I have 2, a 22LR and a 22 Magnum Henry levers. Love them both I originally got them to haul on a open rack on my 4 wheeler (did not want to scratch up my good Guns LOL) Their OEM sights suck for my eyes
first I put a scope on the 22 mag shot great, but did not look right for a lever gun. They both now have a williams peep with a taller front sight
Both shoot great with the 22 mag doing 1 inch groups at 100 yards and the 22 LR confiscated by my Wife.
side note The taller front sights is a marlin 336 ramp sight. I drilled and tapped the 22 mag for the marlin and cut the sight off the plastic henry barrel and mag tube band and slid it back to just behind the marlin ramp looks good. The 22 lr is sporting a homemade front sight barrel band combo with a set screw.
Henry's are great little rifles with their only drawback is very little aftermarket parts or accessories.
SeTexJeff

Jason · « **Reply #19 on:** August 09, 2005, 08:42:13 PM »

I've handled and shot a few of the Henry rimfire lever guns now and, for the price, they're definitely worth the money. I wouldn't put them up against a Marlin, Winchester, or Browning lever gun, but their price is nowhere close the same either. If I were buying now, I'd probably try to get a good deal on a used Marlin 39a if I had some time to wait for the right deal to come along. If you want new and you only want to spend what the Henry rifles cost, then I doubt you'll be unhappy with the purchase. I've seen several have problems, but as has been mentioned already, Henry takes care of their problems quickly. I would definitely recommend better sights, though.

Kenneth in NC · « **Reply #20 on:** September 28, 2005, 12:07:49 PM »

We have two Henry's I have the regular @@LR and my wife has the Large Loop youth model. After 4000 rounds I have to say they both perform well. I personally like the fit and finnish on these rifles. Wal-MArt can order them for you and save about $50 off Gun Shop Prices. (At least here in my neck of the woods)

Kenneth in NC

steveb3006 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 23, 2005, 05:12:59 AM »

Quote from: ba_50

I bought the regular .22 RF model and took it back for a refund. The trigger was so bad you might think it was going off 3-5x before it actually did. The sales people didn't think it was safe either. Wondered what other trouble lay ahead so wrote it off. A 10/22, Savage, or Marlin at least have options for triggers etc.

Considering the trigger I can't speculate on it's accuracy

I bought the Henry about 7-8 years ago and after about a hundred rnds the extractor broke on me and I took the gun back.I have never bought another henry.I think it could have been faulty from the factory and just a fluke,because I know several people that loves thiers.Im sure its a fine rifle and its just the bad experience I had with it.They are nothing like the original henry though,you would expect them to carry the henry name it would be close to whet the original henrys are but thats not the case.

Swamp Yankee · « **Reply #22 on:** October 30, 2005, 01:23:10 PM »

I won a Henry Golden Boy at a Friends of the NRA dinner in Swansea MA. last Fri.Last night I cleaned the barrel in preperation to shoot today. I realy like the gun, it weighs in at 6 3/4lbs. and hold well even in a good cross breeze. Nice fit and finish too. I took a little Birchwood Casey's stock sheen to it and it brought out some very nice grain in the wood [good stuff!].It held nice repeatable groups at fifty yards BUT........... the sights leave much to be desired. I guess they are period corect but what a pain........no windage adjustments had to make a drift punch out of a clothes pin someone left on a target frame at the range. I'm not a lover of buck horn sights and will change them as soon as posible. I ran almost 200 rounds through it running cleanning patches through every five rounds for the first thirty rounds and then an ocational patch. The gun chambered the rounds smothly and I had no problems. I am thinking about a Lyman 17 front sight and a Marbles vernier tang. [The gun deserves it].........Jim

Tycer · « **Reply #23 on:** October 31, 2005, 01:34:27 PM »

Feel kinda like a toy to me - not substantial enough for my tastes. Nothing wrong with them.

airborne-ranger · « **Reply #24 on:** November 11, 2005, 03:37:47 AM »

YES thay are there very accurate and out to 100 yds, right on the money i own 2- the 22-mag, golden boy and 22- youth rifle for my son there great too shoot and fun for squerals, rabbits ect.

airborne-ranger

Dana C · « **Reply #25 on:** November 17, 2005, 01:47:23 PM »

I have owned 2 Henry .22s and still have the Golden Boy....what fun. It is accurate, great looking and very reliable. It is a great rifle....nostalgic too.

I also have owned a Big Boy in 44 Mag. It was also a great rifle. In fact both Marlin and especially Winchester need to learn a thing or two from Henry and Puma/Rossi's about smooth actions. The only issue that I had with it was loading it. I am just begining to shoot Cowboy Action and it was a bit of a pain to load. I sold it and bought a Puma, 24". It too is a wonderful gun.... better IMHO than both Win. and Marlin.

Dana C · « **Reply #26 on:** November 21, 2005, 06:39:27 AM »

I have a Golden Boy currently and have my blued Henry to my cousin.
Both are great shooters and in my opinion are of higher quality than the other lever guns on the market offered by Winchester and Marlin. The actions are MUCH smoother and the fit and finish is better as well.

I have a Big Boy which is really nice as well but am selling it because in 44Mag, I would rather have a side feed gate set up.

Buy the Henry, you won't be sorry. Try and buy the Golden Boy if you can. You won't be sorry!

corbanzo · « **Reply #27 on:** January 08, 2006, 11:11:59 AM »

I have a henry 17 with an ejection problem (which im gonna ask about in a new post) other than that, the the action is really smooth, and it shoots amazingly straight, its the golden boy, so just a really sexy gun.

darrell8937 · « **Reply #28 on:** January 29, 2006, 01:13:20 PM »

well, I can speak of my own personal exsperiance. I have a henery 22lr plain jane and she shoots like a dream. atleast a couple thousand rounds thru her and not a hick up that I can remember, accurate and just plain fun. Fit and finish is good and the price was fantastic. well under 200 bucks. Hell < i'll buy another one a little more fancy. I love it. The best value in a rim fire rifle out there IMHO

K.K. · « **Reply #29 on:** February 02, 2006, 02:50:43 PM »

I bought a Henry .22 for my wife for our 2nd Anniversary so she could practice for deer season with her Marlin 30-30. It was inexpensive, but shoots great, functions great, and I even "borrow" it as a companion for my Ruger single six. I have more fun playing "cowboy" with those .22s! I love 'em for what they are. Inexpensive, reliable fun.