Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
At SHOT Show 2026, Henry Repeating Arms showed that even a classic can evolve without losing the plot.
Henry’s rimfire lineup still revolves around the H1 .22 lever action, the company’s original bread-and-butter rifle. But instead of reinventing it, Henry took a modular approach: build new parts, mix and match configurations, and see what shooters actually gravitate toward.
The standout is the X Model .22, which borrows heavily from Henry’s centerfire X Model playbook and applies it to rimfire for the first time.
SEE ALSO: Chiappa Rhino 44 Mag: Bigger, Better, Bottom Firing — SHOT Show 2026
Available in .22 LR and .22 WMR, the X Model .22 gets synthetic furniture, a pistol-grip stock, fiber-optic sights, and a threaded barrel. That pistol grip is a first for Henry’s rimfire lever guns, and it noticeably changes the feel without turning it into something unrecognizable.
Up top, there’s a Picatinny rail for optics. Up front, M-LOK slots add some flexibility. Sling mounting points are already baked in. The result is a lightweight, handy lever gun that leans more “modern utility” than “nostalgia piece.”
Alongside the X Model, Henry is expanding the same core platform into multiple roles:
- Bandit: compact stock and shorter barrel for youth or smaller shooters
- Sporter: tuned toward plinking and target use
- Tracker: aimed at small game hunting
Rather than guessing which version shooters want most, Henry is putting them all out there and letting the market decide. If early booth buzz means anything, the X Model .22 may end up leading the pack.
It’s still unmistakably a Henry. It just wears a few more modern clothes now. Learn more HERE.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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