lever action

The 1860 Henry, a paradigm-shifting lever action that first appeared in the Civil War era and influenced firearm design well into the future. But, originals of this firearm can be rare and expensive. So what about those of us who would like to own one for themselves, one that we can actually shoot?

To put it simply, Henry Rifles look cool. Maybe it is a Country-Boy-Hipster-Thing, but brass framed lever guns have that certain something that not only appeals to my gun loving side, but also to my functional art side. This is a slick looking rifle that, most importantly, is a hell of a shooter.

I don’t generally believe in love at first sight, so I’ll call this “lust with potential.” Gun folks are always on the hunt for that perfect gun, the one that has all the features and advantages without making any compromises. This is one of those guns.

Shooting a squirrel with a .45-70 doesn’t leave much meat on the bone. Don’t ask me how I know this. Let’s just say that the .22 is more suited for this application. And Henry’s Small Game Carbine is the perfect choice for magnum rimfire.

The Henry Repeating Arms Company has listened to customer suggestions and issues and has now addressed a few problem areas on their .45-70 and .30-30 rifles. We’re back on the range with the new guns to update our original review. So what’s new?

The original Henry may well be lost to history, but you can still shoot a Henry Original. And this monster lever-action is an experience. This historic firearm was once a monumental leap forward in firearms technology. How does it stack up today?

When I pulled this gun out of its unassuming box, I was predisposed to like it. Lever action rifles are fun–even more so when they’re chambered in .22 LR. But then I shot the gun. I don’t know what kind of magic Henry is using to produce these guns, but I like it! This may be the best range experience I’ve had this year.

1873 was a big year in the firearms world. Colt’s new single action was adopted by the Army and Winchester came out with their best lever action to date. Originally chambered in .44 W.C.F., aka 44-40, the 1873 Winchester was the most powerful of the lever guns when it was introduced. This was a huge step forward from the rimfire .44 caliber used in the Henry and earlier Winchester rifles.

Henry makes guns that keep up the values established by the company’s namesake—traditional pistol caliber lever actions, mostly. These guns make versatile ranch guns, and are cowboy competitions. They’re adding to their catalog in a big way. If you are looking for an American made .30-30, or a hard hitting favorite .45-70, check out the new guns from Henry. These are hard-working lever actions, but miles away from the pistol calibers you might associate with the brand.