Good Service from Henry

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WrongHanded

WrongHanded

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This all happened a month or more ago, but I've been a little busy to write about it.

I bought a Henry H010 .45-70 lever action, and quickly had a problem with the magazine tube sticking. After less than twenty factory rounds, the tube became impossible to remove without pliers.

I contacted Henry via their website, and quickly received a shipping label. I sent the rifle off, and they had it turned around in about a week or so.

IMG_20180423_162823831.jpg

Repackaged and looking like new, with a thank you card and a record of work done. They had replaced the inner and outer magazine tubes, and also replaced the buttstock. Why they replaced the stock, I'm unsure. Perhaps it was damaged during shipping, or whilst work was being performed. Or perhaps they saw a flaw in it that I did not. Either way, good service.

Here are a few pics before it left (just for something to look at).

IMG_20180326_115713307.jpg IMG_20180326_115636437.jpg IMG_20180326_120017698.jpg

It now functions correctly and I'm very pleased. Once I get the correctly designed Skinner rear peep installed (I unfortunately bought the wrong one originally, which resulted in high POI), I will finally start reloading.
 
See, if Henry had the loading port on the side, you would have had a perfect rifle the first time!!:neener:

No, seriously, I'm just razzin' you a bit. I've bought guns that came with problems too.
Glad you got it worked out.

And yup, Henry is well known for top quality customer service. And they also make very nice rifles.


Too bad they don't have proper loading gates.:evil:


;)
 
Tommygunn said:
See, if Henry had the loading port on the side, you would have had a perfect rifle the first time!!:neener:

No, seriously, I'm just razzin' you a bit. I've bought guns that came with problems too.
Glad you got it worked out.

And yup, Henry is well known for top quality customer service. And they also make very nice rifles.


Too bad they don't have proper loading gates.:evil:


;)
Click to expand...

I agree wholeheartedly about the loading gates. I was really impressed with the fit and finish of this particular rifle, as well as the action smoothness and general balance of the gun. And I really appreciate the lack of manual safety. The transfer bar safety system (similar to a Ruger SA) makes it very simple to use. If they came with a peep sight and loading gate, it'd be even better.
 
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Love Henry rifles I own 3 of them & they do have good service but like Tommygunn says the loading gate leaves
much to be desired, that's why when it came to a 45-70 I went with the Marlin because for hunting I prefer the
side gate & other reasons as well like scope mounting. But after the scope having to be set forward so far
for recoil I went with open custom open sights, yes custom, rear sights from a T/C pistol fit & are perfect
for me.
Henry does make good looking rifles, dependable, & accurate. No complaints.
 
Myself, I don't understand the problem of not having a loading gate on a lever action hunting rifle. What is the main problem of loading the rifle thru the loading tube? BTW I have both the Henry and the Marlin, after I get to the place I intend to hunt, I load up the rifle (Mostly wild boar) either thru the loading gate or thru the tube, and proceed to hunt. The most shots I've ever taken at live game is 3, now I know that most lever action rifles generally carry 5 rounds with one in the chamber, so can someone please explain what is so difficult about loading a tube fed rifle?.
 
loose noose said:
Myself, I don't understand the problem of not having a loading gate on a lever action hunting rifle. What is the main problem of loading the rifle thru the loading tube? BTW I have both the Henry and the Marlin, after I get to the place I intend to hunt, I load up the rifle (Mostly wild boar) either thru the loading gate or thru the tube, and proceed to hunt. The most shots I've ever taken at live game is 3, now I know that most lever action rifles generally carry 5 rounds with one in the chamber, so can someone please explain what is so difficult about loading a tube fed rifle?.
Click to expand...

I suppose some might take issue with the positioning involved in topping off the magazine in the tube loading design, due to a hand needing to be in front of the muzzle of a loaded firearm, whilst the tube is partially removed and reinserted.

Others may dislike the idea of how long a reload or partial reload may take in an encounter with a dangerous animal.

Some may dislike the potential of bending the inner mag tube whilst loading in the field. Or how the rifle must be positioned to do so.

I think that with 5 rounds of .45-70, there are probably very few situations where a reload or top-off would be neccessary. But you never know. It obviously didn't make enough of a difference to me to stop me purchasing the gun. But if offered the choice between a tube loading Henry, or one with a loading gate, I'd have taken the loading gate option.
 
Gotta agree on their customer service, my 357 Big Boy wouldn’t feed 38 Special, sent it in and now it will feed either without difficulty. And the tube feed is easier on the fingers when loading!
 
Wronghanded, With the proper loading technique on a tube fed rifle my hand never goes over the muzzle, when I need to top off the Henry type rifle, I always drop the lever, which in turn draws the live round from the chamber, I then proceed to remove the feeding tube to a degree that I can then place the needed rounds into the recess cut in the outer feeding tube. When completed I hold the rifle perpendicular to the ground to let the inner feeding tube slide back down and then reinsert the inner tube into the outer tube, at which time I then draw the lever up to the ready to fire mode. Never does my hand go in front of the muzzle during this entire operation. However, when unloading prior to getting into my vehicle, I simply, open the lever, again part way, then open the loading tube and completely remove it, hold the rifle perpendicular to the ground to let the rounds fall out, and then completely open the lever to eject the round in the chamber. Then for safety sakes, I'll operate the lever several more times to make sure the rifle is empty. I know that with the gate feed lever action rifles you have to operate the lever each and every time you intend to unload, many more chances for an accidental discharge.
 
loose noose said:
Wronghanded, With the proper loading technique on a tube fed rifle my hand never goes over the muzzle, when I need to top off the Henry type rifle, I always drop the lever, which in turn draws the live round from the chamber, I then proceed to remove the feeding tube to a degree that I can then place the needed rounds into the recess cut in the outer feeding tube. When completed I hold the rifle perpendicular to the ground to let the inner feeding tube slide back down and then reinsert the inner tube into the outer tube, at which time I then draw the lever up to the ready to fire mode. Never does my hand go in front of the muzzle during this entire operation. However, when unloading prior to getting into my vehicle, I simply, open the lever, again part way, then open the loading tube and completely remove it, hold the rifle perpendicular to the ground to let the rounds fall out, and then completely open the lever to eject the round in the chamber. Then for safety sakes, I'll operate the lever several more times to make sure the rifle is empty. I know that with the gate feed lever action rifles you have to operate the lever each and every time you intend to unload, many more chances for an accidental discharge.
Click to expand...

For some reason when I have attempted this, upon trying to reinsert the inner tube, a cartridge is pushed partially into the receiver. This has happened on more than one occasion. Perhaps I'm opening the action too much.
 
I like the removable tube instead of the side gate. So easy to unload without without cycling all of the rounds through the action. Easier on your fingers too. Easy to clean the tubes without disassembly.

Not that there's anything wrong with gates. They have their own advantages.
 
Glad to hear that henry Rifles was so responsive. I have a 327 Fed Magnum rifle that looks great, cycles great but has yet to have a round fired through it. Nice to know that if I have problems, Henry will stand by their products.

I have a love/hate relationship with loading gates. My finger nail on my thumb would just as soon my lever action rifles did not have a loading gate. In general, I do not feel that I'll ever need the rapid reloading capability the loading gate provides so the front load tube magazine will be adequate. I have lots of practice with a front load tube magazine via my Marlin 39A.
 
Wrong Handed, now there is an idea, probably the added cost to machine everything would be prohibitive. Oh also, if you just barely open the lever to pull the chambered round from the chamber, I didn't mean to pull the lever all the way down, where a round from the tube magazine would be extracted, just far enough to remove the loaded cartridge in the chamber.
 
My local range has a couple Henrys for rent and the number of times I seen them getting out pliers and hammers to reshape the inner tube because some new shooter bent it loading/unloading. Just seems more prone to damage than I'd prefer for a field gun. With that said half my long guns are Henry and I'll be buried with at least one if I don't have any interested kids to pass them on to.

I was explaining free floating barrels to my wife and wasn't able to slide a bill past half way on my long ranger. Wonder if that is something I should contact Henry on as well....
 
Those LR barrels are supposed to be free-floated.
If it's shooting well, I wouldn't bother Henry about it.
If not, I would.
Denis
 
I don’t know if I’m sold on Henry Rifles but there are a lot of firearms manufacturers that could take a lesson from Henry on customer service.
 
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