Henry Model X

somethingbenign said:

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/big-boy-x-model/

Henry is releasing their competition to the Marlin Dark series it seems. Synthetic stock, threaded barrel, picatinny rail and M-lok, side gate, and fiber optic sight. Offered in 357/38, 44 mag/spl, 45 Colt, 45-70, and .410.

Personally this appeals to me more than a Marlin Dark because of the synthetic vs painted wood and I do like the look of the forend. The big thing I wish they would have done besides release in 327 would be a more durable finish than a blued receiver. Haven't decided if this is a priority to get or not yet.

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you can always duracoat it.but i put a couple of coats of truoil on it to make it shine more
my Spanish mauser barrel receiver been duracoated before i got it

heres a lever duracoated

I wish it was in .41 Magnum.

I'm waiting for the blued,.round barreled,pistol grip style walnut stocks in 30-30 with the side gate. Simple and classic. But these are pretty neat.

bernie said:

I wish it was in .41 Magnum.

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seems like that would be better for longer distances also but the same as the 44 mag i see

Oooooo. Classy Remington SPS 2 piece stock.

Other than that, it doesn't seem too bad. The SPS stock would fit better in the all weather version.

$970???? Nope! Stainless with synthetic I’m interested but that’s still way overpriced.

Well, offering a 357 with a side gate in this line makes me hopeful they'll offer one eventually in a cheaper line eventually. The lack of a side gate has been my main sticking point.

Looks like a useful pig gun, but I'm sure of two things: 1) it will be overpriced like all of Henry's rifles, and 2) people won't care because Henry has a cult following.

Newtosavage said:

Looks like a useful pig gun, but I'm sure of two things: 1) it will be overpriced like all of Henry's rifles, and 2) people won't care because Henry has a cult following.

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A well deserved cult following as their products are 100% made in the USA (supposedly) and they are very well made. Both of those points add $$$ to the equation but it’s still overpriced.

I was going to buy a 6.5cm long ranger. Then I went and held one and was not impressed at all with it. I suppose it would fit a kid or a man with 20" arms and small hands pretty well.

I don't understand why theyd put a high power rifle in the frame of a .22

WestKentucky said:

A well deserved cult following as their products are 100% made in the USA (supposedly) and they are very well made. Both of those points add $$$ to the equation but it’s still overpriced.

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"very well made" is a matter of opinion I suppose. I prefer well blued steel over painted steel.

Musicianized said:

I was going to buy a 6.5cm long ranger. Then I went and held one and was not impressed at all with it. I suppose it would fit a kid or a man with 20" arms and small hands pretty well.

I don't understand why theyd put a high power rifle in the frame of a .22

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I sought out and handled a long ranger and they lost me with the 7.5 lbs. weight. Absolutely no reason for a lever action carbine to weigh that much.

Henry's good in my book, but I'd like to see a more durable finish on the x. It's ugly but I'm sure they're sweet shooters. Henry's can be found for much less than msrp, I think I got my 45-70 for $200+ less than mark (my only henry). It's been a great rifle.

Edited.

I had not noticed the loading gate. Good to see.
It makes suppressor use possible, since you can not withdraw the magazine tube with a suppressor in place.

MidRoad said:

I'm waiting for the blued,.round barreled,pistol grip style walnut stocks in 30-30 with the side gate. Simple and classic. But these are pretty neat.

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Yes. With the introduction of the X model loading gate steel Big Boy and steel .45-70 models, Henry has confirmed that the tooling now exists to make standard steel loading gate models in all Big Boy calibers, and in brass and steel in .30-30, .38-55, .35 Remington, and .45-70.

When Henry introduced the original brass Big Boy, I would suppose that drop-in tube loading had to do with marketing a nostalgic association with the original front loading B. Tyler Henry 1860 model.
It was sort of a lever action version of the Thompson Center Hawken. Not authentic, but appealing.
But they painted themselves into a corner by doing so.
With the Remlin crash in Marlin sales, I suppose that they had the traditional lever gun largely dominated.
But now that Marlin is producing quality rifles again, that lack of a loading gate must be starting to hurt sales.
So IMHO, we are witnessing the forced evolution of the center fire Henry lever action to a loading gate-only conventional design. Eliminating the tube slot and removable tube can only improve appearances and make the rifle more appealing.
Odd how history repeats itself.

Call me crazy, but I kind of like that Big Boy X. Maybe in 44 mag to go with my black raging hunter!

Now if they would only make one of their single shot rifles in 38-55 I'd be all over it!

SG1 said:

Call me crazy, but I kind of like that Big Boy X. Maybe in 44 mag to go with my black raging hunter!

Now if they would only make one of their single shot rifles in 38-55 And 22 Hornet I'd be all over it!

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Fixed it for you!

I like the tube feed AND loading gate like is on 480 Ruger and 454 Casull Rossi 92s. Top offs are easier and unloading is very easy.

I think they did a good job with the X, they used a 5/8x24 muzzle thread, which is what I elected to use on my 77/44. You can find 3-lugs and lots of direct thread adapters for pistol cans in that that pitch. Also, they went with good twist rates for shooting heavy subs, 1:16 for the .45 LC and .357 mag, and 1:20 for the .44 mag. I don't love the tube feed, but since they have a loading gate as well, I could live with it.

Newtosavage said:

"very well made" is a matter of opinion I suppose. I prefer well blued steel over painted “Zamak”.

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Fixed it for you. I’ve owned one Henry a lever .17hmr and when the paint started chipping off the zamak around the bolt slide after not much time, so down the road it went. I hadn’t realized it was a zinc receiver until then. Haven’t bought another since. No thanks.

but back to the OP subject, I’ve never really been interested in a “tactical” lever although I do like some custom one offs of takedown Winchester and marlins that are out there that are duracoatwd/cerekoted and have some good upgrades done to them.

Either rifle appeals to me about as much as having an ingrown toenail does. They are seriously butt ugly.