{"id":256063,"date":"2026-10-22T22:53:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T03:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=256063"},"modified":"2026-10-22T22:53:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T03:53:18","slug":"henry-golden-boy-deadeye-revolver-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/henry-golden-boy-deadeye-revolver-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Henry Golden Boy Deadeye Review: .22 LR Gets Sharper"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>10<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry kept the Golden Boy Revolver\u2019s steel, brass, walnut, and Old West flavor, then gave the Deadeye the sighting system it needed. After multiple loads, single-action accuracy testing, and fast double-action shooting, those upgraded sights proved to be far more than cosmetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Henry
The Henry Golden Boy Deadeye Revolver brings adjustable sights and a fiber-optic front to Henry\u2019s classic rimfire wheelgun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Brian McCombie<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry Gives the Golden Boy Revolver the Sights It Needed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Henry Repe<\/a>ating Arms jumped into the handgun market a couple of years ago with the introduction of the centerfire Big Boy and rimfire Golden Boy Revolvers. The revolvers had a classic look; kind of Old West meets turn of the 20th<\/sup> Century handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had the chance to review both the centerfire and rimfire versions of those revolvers. They filled my hands nicely, functioned great in single and double action, and looked cool. What more could a revolver aficionado want?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better sights were the answer Henry arrived at, no doubt due to some customer feedback on the original revolvers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because these revolvers had sights very similar to the Colt Single Action Army revolver: a rear sight notch cut into the top strap and a half-moon front blade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enter the H16 Golden Boy Deadeye Revolvers<\/a> chambered in .22 S\/L\/LR and the H17 Big Boy Deadeye Revolvers introduced in February 2026. The \u201cDeadeye\u201d designation means these handguns feature fully adjustable rear sights and high-visibility, red fiber-optic front sights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Henry
Left, rear sight on the original Golden Boy; right, the adjustable rear sight upgrade on the Deadeye model.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I received an H16 Golden Boy Deadeye for test and evaluation and quickly realized that the new sights represent a definite improvement, especially for those of us who no longer have young eyes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Original
Front post on the original Golden Boy, left; fiber-optic front sight on the new Deadeye, right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yes, that includes this writer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steel, Brass, and Walnut Keep the Golden Boy DNA Intact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The two Golden Boy Deadeye Revolver models feature solid steel frames that are deeply blued and accented with polished brass backstraps and trigger guards. The four-inch round-profile steel barrels are also blued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The model variation depends on which of the two grips are selected; both of them fashioned from genuine American Walnut. The more-compact Birdshead-style grips definitely remind one of the Old West, while the more-squared Gunfighter-style grips fill the hand better for added stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Henry
Range Day with the Henry Golden Boy Deadeye Revolver in .22 S\/L\/LR.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My test model Golden Boy Deadeye had the Gunfighter grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"American
The revolver\u2019s American Walnut grips feature the Henry logo engraved on both sides.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A 10-Round Cylinder and Substantial All-Steel Feel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The revolver\u2019s steel cylinder held 10 rounds of .22 S\/L\/LR and featured a quick-takedown system. The ejectors kicked out spent brass nicely, and the cylinder release worked smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Henry
The cylinder extractor popped spent brass right out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At a substantial 9.5 inches long, the Deadeye weighs 37 ounces with the Gunfighter grip, 36 ounces with the smaller Birdseye grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Henry
The cylinder release worked smoothly throughout McCombie\u2019s shooting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Golden Boy Deadeye Trigger: Crisp in Single Action, Smooth in Double<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The nicely curved trigger averaged a very crisp 1 pound, 10 ounces of pull in single action. In double action, pressure was steady and even throughout the trigger cycle and averaged 4 pounds, 3 ounces of pull weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Curved
McCombie\u2019s test model Deadeye trigger averaged 1 pound, 8 ounces in single action, 4 pounds, 3 ounces in double.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Adjustable Deadeye Sights Make Zeroing Simple<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As noted, the rear sight blade is adjustable for elevation and windage. Elevation is changed using the screw atop the sight. With a standard screwdriver, the shooter turns\/clicks the screw clockwise to move the point of impact down and counter-clockwise to shift the impact up. Each click represents approximately .25 inches of movement at 25 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, a smaller screw on the right side of the sight blade adjusts windage. A tiny Allen grub screw on the top left of the sight allows the shooter to lock in the windage adjustment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fiber-optic front post sits approximately a half-inch high, and the bright red dot popped nicely in the rear notch during my shooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry Golden Boy Deadeye Accuracy at 12 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At my outdoor shooting range, I initially ran the Golden Boy Deadeye at 12 yards and shot in single action from a sandbagged rest. For this I used my fast-dwindling and very old box of Federal Premium<\/a> Auto-Match and its 40-grain solid-nosed bullets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"10-round
The Golden Boy cylinder holds 10 rounds of .22 rimfire.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I fired a full cylinder\u2019s 10 rounds at my target in single action, and the shots hit a good inch-plus high and left. I gave the rear sight four clicks clockwise\/down and fired another cylinder at a new target. These shots clustered at the correct elevation, but to the left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I adjusted the windage screw approximately one-quarter turn counter-clockwise\/right and my next cylinder of ammo hit where aimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Easy sight in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four .22 LR Loads Put the Deadeye\u2019s Accuracy to the Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I continued shooting at this distance and in single action with three more brands of .22 LR:<\/p>\n\n\n\n