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Henry 22LR

jdolso1jdolso1 Member Posts: 95 ✭✭
edited June 2003 in Ask the Experts
I'm looking to buy a new 22LR for my 11 yearold. He wants a lever action. Winchester and Remington are a little to much money for a first gun. I have looked at the Henry's and they are a nice feeling gun with a smooth action. Can anybody give me any good or bad points with the Henry's?
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Comments

  • duckhunterduckhunter Member Posts: 7,687 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    TAKE A LOOK AT THE RUGER. FAR BETTER GUN.

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.
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  • redcedarsredcedars Member Posts: 919 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A lever is a great gun for a kid!

    Unfortunately, I can't tell you much about the Henrys. I'm sure someone else can.

    Do you know much about firearms? If you can tell a decent used gun from a clinker, you may find a Winchester or more likely a Marlin you can afford. If not, and there are established dealers in your area, at least troll for a nice used one.

    I got a Marlin M39A Golden at a gun show for $200; used but not abused, blue about 95%(thinning a little, but I kinda like the way it looks) wood about the same. Cheap because it needed a sight hood and a new white line spacers for the buttplate and grip cap. I got the original old style site hood at another gun show for $5 and made new spacers from scrap spacers I got for free. Its a really nice old gun, the honest aging gives it character, I think; accurate enough if I do my part, and not much more than new Henry.

    Good luck!

    redcedars
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  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    lever guns forever...henry makes a youth model as do several others...browning has a sweet little 22 short stroke lever with a fine front bead & rear v notch sight... don't prefer square notch sights on a 22 rifle... big people can shoot youth models & they are real convenient if you travel in a small pickup, suv, or car..both have a safe & fun time
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  • PdogPdog Member Posts: 291 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well I got a Henry for my brother for christmas was fun shooting the little bit I but I am a big guy and didnt' fit me as well as I liked but has been a decent gun so far but hasn't had a whole bunch of rounds though it.
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  • allechalleyallechalley Member Posts: 888 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A neighbor's son got a Henry .22 and liked the gun but had some feeding problems. He said the gun shot fine but didn't like the jambs. I think this is an isolated one tho, as I've heard others claim they weren't a marlin or a winchester but seemed satisfied.

    By the way, check Walmart. They had them on sale a while back and I think the regular price is around $189. Also, I think they have a good warantee. The neighbor's kid? He took it to a local spring community auction. He figured if he got $100 out of it he'd be satisfied. It brought $220. How's that for an investment of 6 months.
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  • j2k22j2k22 Member Posts: 329 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    the Henry is not a bad gun for the dollars you pay, but it certainly is not equal to the quality of a Marlin or Winchester. The receiver is made from pot metal painted black, and there are plastic barrel bands and sights. The one that I have does seem to misfeed every so often , regardless of how carefully you operate the lever, and the resulting jam is a real doozy to clear; I have to pull the wedged round apart with a needlenose plier to remove it in 2 pieces.
    That being said, they are accurate enough and the boys love them whem I train Scout troops.
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  • MFIMFI Member Posts: 7,899 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For $199 the Henry is tough to beat. The fit and finish isnt always the greatest but for the most part they shoot great and the action does the job.
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  • NickCWinterNickCWinter Member Posts: 2,927
    edited November -1
    I am surprised at troubles people cited with Henry's. My first Henry 22 Mag did have feeding and jamming problems, but we sent it back, receiving a brand new 22 Mag, in appearance like the first one, but smooth in operation. Furniture and fit on both rifles was showroom perfect. Then my lady friend bought my 22 Mag as her first firearm, ever, and had no trouble with it. The little rifle is quite accurate. I went on to a Henry Golden Boy, 22 LR and Regular(Gun of the Year for some magazine last year). Never a complaint. Beautiful construction, accurate as heck, just like they'd said in the shooting tests (which suffer from accusations of commercialism). I'd not hesitate to recommend Henrys, and their service or replacement is reliable.
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  • Spring CreekSpring Creek Member Posts: 1,260 ✭
    edited November -1
    Teach your son right now, that it may be more feasible to "wait" until the funds are available to buy a quality firearm.
    You buy the Henry and even if it "suffices", you don't have much.
    When you're ready to get rid of it and that may be sooner than later, you're not going to realize much of your original investment in trade.
    Buy a Browning BL 22, Winchester, Marlin or anything of better quality and your son will have something to be "proud of" and a gun that will hold it's value and one he could own for "life".
    I've handled probably 50 Henry's putting them out at shows for a Gun Dealer Friend.
    They have "appeal" and are fairly well done on the exterior, but the quality is just not there.
    One must realize that 22 Lever Actions are "no different" than any other product you'll buy.
    You get what you pay for.
    So, Pay for quality "now" and enjoy!

    JOIN THE NRA
    SUPPORT THE NRA
    NRA Benefactor Life Member
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  • rhmc24rhmc24 Member Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I second the motion for a used Marlin 39A. Excellent gun. Model has been around longest and has stood the test of time.
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