Author Topic: Anyone else shoot a Henry .22? (Read 1423 times)

SBF · « **on:** October 24, 2003, 08:28:24 AM »

I recently was in the market for a lever action .22. I looked around at the usual Marlins and Winchesters but they were a little more money than I could afford at the time. I ended up with a Henry Lever Action .22 LR, Model H001.
This little thing is slick! The action is super smooth (as advertised) and it is a good little shooter. I hope to put a 6x scope on it in the next short while and see how it will group with various ammos. I think I made a good purchase. Next time your at a gunshop check one out, a great gun for the money IMO.

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2003, 09:23:28 AM »

While not particularly a Henry fan myself----you'll hear good and bad about them---go over to the Marlin forum and do a search-----some of those threads go on and on.

SBF · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2003, 09:46:50 AM »

I imagine the Marlin forum would be pretty biased myself. I did spend some time over there a while ago. I was pretty much lead to believe that if it wasn't a Marlin Model 39 it wasn't worth owning. While i'd have loved to have purchased a Marlin (and still might if I decide to get another lever .22) the Henry was within my budget. I believe for the price that I paid I got a decent gun.

jh45gun · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2003, 05:59:58 PM »

SBF, You made a great choice!!! I own a 22mag Henry lever and I love it and it will shoot under .5 inches at 50 yards 5 shot groups with ammo it likes and If I do my part. In fact 4 of the shots in one group were in one hole with a flyer to open up the group. Shooting illustrated has a new article by Mike Ventorino or how ever you spell his last name that praises the new Henry Big boy. Considering he has origional lever guns from the origional Henrys to the newest lever actions with Winchesters, Ballards, Marlins ect in the mix that is quite a statment coming from him. He is MR. Lever action to many folks. I am also a member at the marlin site and they are a opinionated bunch when it comes to any Henry I do not know if they feel threatened or what so I do not mention Henry anymore there but some times I would like to! I have heard more good than bad about the Henry and while some guns may have slipped by the factory their Customer service is the best in the industry they will make any problems right to the satisfaction of the customer. YOu cannot beat the gun or the service in my opinion!! Jim

SBF · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2003, 06:57:07 PM »

Quote from: jh45gun

...their Customer service is the best in the industry they will make any problems right to the satisfaction of the customer. YOu cannot beat the gun or the service in my opinion!! Jim

Speaking of customer service....After I purchased my Henry .22 I posted news about my new gun on another forum where Henry happens to be a sponser. Anthony Imperato (owner) sent me a PM thanking me for the purchase. We have coresponded back and forth a few time via e-mail. I told him that I won a Henry Campfire Coffee Mug in a raffle at a Curio and Relic shoot that I attend a few weeks ago (Henry donated some prizes) but that my wife commandeered(?) it cause she really liked it. He is sending me a second mug to give to my wife so I can get mine back :-D
In today's day and age customer service like this is rare, I find his company worth supporting.

Sixgun · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2003, 03:50:28 AM »

I have a Marlin 39a that I shoot Smallbore Cowboy Rifle Silhouette with. There are 4 guys who are good shooters and always do well in all of the other silhouette games who bought Golden Boys when we started this game. None of them have ever placed 1st, 2ed, or 3rd in any of our matches or practices. The winners are always the Marlins and Winchesters. No one has a Browning so I can't comment on them.

That being said, My daughter-in-law wants to start shooting with me and if she does, I will probably buy her a Henry, because of the cost. If she is serious she can scrimp and save and get something else, if she wants it, later.

I have also thought about trying the Henry 22 mag for the Pistol Cartridge, Cowboy Rifle class. It would be a backup gun to my 357 Rossi 92. When I travel to matches I like to have a backup gun for each class that I shoot in.

Sixgun

SBF · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2003, 04:11:01 AM »

Not being familiar with Cowboy Smallbore Competition I was wondering if you could let me know what ranges and targets are shot at? Sounds like it could be fun! Are the Henry's that far off in accuracy? I haven't shot mine at paper yet to see what it'll do, but I know it has minute of tin can accuracy between 25 and 50 yards. It would be nice to be able to put some peep style sights since the originals could use some help.
I bought the gun primarily as a plinker and I think it suits that need.

Thanks for the replies!

Sixgun · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2003, 05:13:38 AM »

Yep! Its fun. I don't know where in Ohio they do this but if you can find a club to do it by all means, give it a try.

The targets are NRA Hunter Pistol and Small bore size. I think they call them "half size" targets.

Chickens are 40 meters, pigs, 50 meters, turkeys are at 75 meters and Rams are 100 meters.

On my last post I was just pointing out an observation that we at my club have noticed. I don't know if it is a gun problem or an ammo problem. I do know that the guys that have the Henry's all do really good in the other classes they shoot. One is a master shooter in Hunter pistol and Smallbore Pistol. One of the guys was match winner with the centerfire pistol cartridge cowboy rifle at the Idaho state match in 2002. They should be doing better and I don't know why they arn't.

Anyway, enjoy shooting and if it dosen't work out get rid of it an get another. If it does good, great.

Keep us informed of how it does cause I may still have to get one.

Sixgun

jh45gun · « **Reply #8 on:** October 31, 2003, 06:15:08 PM »

Sixgun maybe they just have not found the ammo the golden boys like yet? My 22 mag Henry will shoot with the best of them and is very accurate like 4 shots into one ragged 30 cal size hole at 50 yards with one flyer to make a .5 inch group at 50 yards with 5 shots. Jim

ba_50 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 08, 2003, 06:13:39 AM »

Hi,

I bought a standard model rimfire and should have tried the trigger. Those trigger blocks are a pain.

Anyhow, it had a 4 stage pull and a burr on the last yank. I took it back after a few days. They sent it in to get it fixed but I wondered what else could go wrong. I got a refund instead.

I would love to have a 94/22 but they are overpriced. I never could understand why .22s cost more than the centerfires.

One other drawback is that there isn't any hole to mount an aperture sight. These type stocks are a little low for scopes but will work.

I don't want to rain on your parade but that was my experience sith one.

jh45gun · « **Reply #10 on:** November 08, 2003, 10:35:04 AM »

ba_50, Not Raining on my parade but I think you did not give the gun a chance which in my opinion is your loss. I never have seen a lever action that had great triggers they are hunting guns not target rifles! Henry would have done a trigger job on it no cost to you if you would have sent it to them as I have heard of them doing that for others! I feel they are nice guns for the money and if you do have a problem Henry will fix it for ya they have the best customer service in the industry. No I have not had to use the service as my gun is perfect as far as I am concerned. I have heard of others that have sent their guns back and got great service and the gun done to their satisfaction. Most any gun manufacturer can send out a bad gun. I have seen it in Ruger and Remington myself and I am sure that some of the other companies have lemons also. I also think lots of folks like to knock Henry because they have a Marlin or Winchester or Browning lever 22 and think its fun to knock the competition. I do not do that what ever a guy shoots is fine. I will say I will put my targets against any of them as far as accuracy goes and Henry has nicer wood than most and a smoother lever. Sorry to hear you were not satisfied with yours. But then that is why there are so many different companies something to satisfy every one!! Jim

DDO · « **Reply #11 on:** November 17, 2003, 11:17:28 PM »

My brother has a Henry Golden Boy in 22 Mag he shoots in the pistol cartridge class. He had a trigger job done by a local smith. Last week he shot a 53/60 score for the match win and his 3rd leg into AAA. Another shooter has a Golden Boy 22LR. He had a Marbles tang sight mounted by a fellow club member. He has won several matches with it.

Dewight

gerry@fundy.net · « **Reply #12 on:** December 16, 2003, 12:53:54 AM »

I have had a Henry for several months now and love the workmanship, the fit & finish are great, and the smooth working action. The only problem is accuracy, it's not there. I have tried 7 or 8 brands ammo including Eley, T-22, & Lapua which work best in most of my rifles. The front sight should be replaced as well (they tell me that is in the works). It would be nice to have it drilled for a receiver sight as well. I will try a scope on it sometime and expect that will help some. I have several very accurate bolt action .22's but shooting the Henry is the most fun, if not into serious competition. I would like to try it in .45LC.

jh45gun · « **Reply #13 on:** December 16, 2003, 04:46:46 AM »

My 22 mag Henry is extremly accurate .5 inch groups at 50 yards with ammo it likes and I do my part. 4 0f those shots in my best group were in one 30 cal hole. :eek: I would suggest to try a few more brands of ammo and just becuase a ammo is a target grade does not mean that it will shoot well in all guns some guns shoot cheap ammo better? Go figure. If you still have accuracy problems ship the gun back to Henry with some targets explaining you are not satisfied with the gun you have and you have tried all types of ammo with no success. I am sure they will solve the problem for you and if they cannot get your gun to shoot will send you one that will. The only reason I posted this is that I have read of Henry doing that for others and the President told me they will bend over backwards to see their customers happy and I am positive they do. SO if your gun does not settle down and shoot better or you do not find ammo it likes send it back and let Henry deal with it. I am sure they will make you happy their customer service is amoungst the best in the business. Jim

gerry@fundy.net · « **Reply #14 on:** December 16, 2003, 06:53:29 AM »

I tried 11 brands of ammo so far, cheapest first. I'm in Canada and shipping a gun back to the USA is a major undertaking. You are never sure you will get it back without paying duty, customs fees, brokers fees, and sales tax. I know they have an excellent reputation for service. I will play around with it some more. there are still many more types of ammo to try. I just won't be using it in competition.
Gerry

jh45gun · « **Reply #15 on:** December 16, 2003, 07:38:27 AM »

What kind of groups are you getting and are do you have the standard or the golden boy? If the standard one I would put a scope on and you may be supprised. Course Open sights are not conductive to great accuracy. I have a scope on mine. One of the compact leopolds and it shoots fantastic. I know I cannot shoot as good with open sights as I used to so that is why I prefer scopes and or peep sights these days to open sights.

If standard it is railed for 22 scope rings if it is the golden then you will have to get it drilled and tapped. I am guessing it is the standard as you mentioned something about a scope. You put a scope on let us know if it improved for you. Otherwise if nothing improves after diff ammo and a scope then email to Anthony (president of Co. ) at Henry he will give you some help expecially if you tell him of your import and duty worries.

gerry@fundy.net · « **Reply #16 on:** December 16, 2003, 10:14:21 AM »

See my post on topic "Remington vs. Winchester vs. Henry Lever Actions" for group sizes. The groups are not really bad for this type of rifle. I prefer traditional sights with this type of rifle but the original sights on the Henry are pretty coarse. I know a scope would improve things considerably.
Gerry