Which Henry single shot to buy?

Which one and why?

  • 30-30

    Votes: 20 33.3%

  • 45-70

    Votes: 32 53.3%

  • .243 (most likely youth model)

    Votes: 8 13.3%
  • Total voters
    60
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MidRoad

MidRoad

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2016
Messages
1,748
Location
Upstate ny
Hey guys, with tax season nearing and a fat return expected, I'm going to treat myself to another rifle. Been on a pistol buying spree the last few years, sold a few rifles and my rifle collection is dwindling at the moment. Ruger 10/22, cz 527 carbine (.223) and a Ruger American compact in .308 is all I have left. I want another deer rifle, and have settled on the Henry single shot.

The single shot suites my hunting style, is a nice price and are really classy looking. I hunt in thickets and seldom have shots past 50 yards, although I do have 100 yard shooting lanes at one of my stands. I don't rush shots, or shoot at moving deer. Slow and steady is how I take my shots, and if there is brush or anything in between myself and the deer I don't shoot, don't need the meat THAT bad,lol.

I'm looking at the 30-30,45-70 ,and .243's . All three will do just fine for deer. Few thoughts/reasoning I have in regards to them.

-don't reload, but this would be a gun that's not shot a whole lot,but carried often when it's good weather (SS Ruger for crap weather)
-sub 100 yard shots
-will mount a 1-3 scope on them
-have a hundred rounds of 30-30 in the safe
-45-70 has the cool factor, would be better if a large black bear comes to my stand again this year
-.243 is offered in youth model,I prefer a shorter length of pull, especially with heavy layers and a back pack on.
-will most likely be obtaining a 30-30 lever gun again,one reason I'm leaning away from 30-30 for that reason. Although 2 guns with the same caliber isn't a bad thing.

So you're guys thoughts would be appreciated. Not really interested in the pistol caliber versions or the 308.

Edit to add:
If I were to go 30-30 as has been pointed out could always obtain .45-70 down the road in a lever gun. Also had the thought since I will be carrying a 45 colt revolver as a side arm hunting, if I were to go 30-30 single shot, it would make for a good excuse to buy a matching 45 colt lever gun in the future.:p
 
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i say 45/70 so long you are not shy to recoil. but the 300 grain loads will be planty for deer and bear. i like 243 but with a single shot the extra power of the 45/70 will bring them down quick. are ny deer can get big, my big doe this year was 195 dressed. the 45/70 ammo is pricey, much cheaper reloaded 243 is cheap for factory ammo, seen some under 12 bucks a box. save the 30-30 for the lever action.
 
I would steer for the 243 myself. ive had a long history of good luck with the 243 and deer hunting. to me its a honest 300yrd deer rifle. it also works well close in for me as well. also a nice varmint gun as well.

the 30-30 and 45-70 are both fine calibers as well.with both I would probably limit my shots 150 yrds or so. im sure in the hands of a competent rifleman that range could be stretched out a bit more. the 3030 is beginning to lose quite a bit of steam when closing in on 200 yrds. the 45 70 carrys enough payload that it is deadly at much longer ranges but the rainbow trajectory takes some practice to master.
 
I voted .30-30, although .44 mag with a heavy bullet would suit your purposes very nicely with less recoil than .45-70(I did see you're not interested in pistol calibers, but just sayin'). Being an inexpensive wood stocked rifle, I wouldn't be shy about taking a compound miter saw to the stock and adjusting the LOP myself.

Edit... on a real computer now so I can type. Of the 3 you mentioned, assuming you're talking black bears, I would rather shoot one with a .30-30 170 gr Core Lokt than any bullet from the other 2. This load is a proven bear and deer killer since way back when. No doubt, any of the .45-70 bullets or most 100gr .243s will do the job, but the old 170 FP is no joke either. Plenty of shock and awe at closer ranges, just not the penetration (not needed) of the big .45s. I've taken a few with a .303 brit and 174 Rem RN, basically the same round. Does the job with ruthless efficiency.
 
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troy fairweather said:
i say 45/70 so long you are not shy to recoil. but the 300 grain loads will be planty for deer and bear. i like 243 but with a single shot the extra power of the 45/70 will bring them down quick. are ny deer can get big, my big doe this year was 195 dressed. the 45/70 ammo is pricey, much cheaper reloaded 243 is cheap for factory ammo, seen some under 12 bucks a box. save the 30-30 for the lever action.
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Man that's a nice size doe! This guy was my biggest,he dressed about 220. As for recoil I've had a 45-70 before. Few years back, Marlin 1895 STP. Sold it to fund an AR when they were really expensive to buy. Still kicking myself over that one!
 

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243 is overkill for sub-100yd only shooting, and rimmed cartridges are better for SS rifles. 30-30 was gonna be my choice until you mentioned getting a lever gun in that caliber and that 'bear word'. So, along with the cool factor, that all leads me to say 45-70

I want to own a single shot or lever gun in 45-70 some day
 
Factory ammo for .45-70 will be about double what the other 2 options will cost. You said it will be carried more than shot, but it is still a consideration. However, the .45-70 is also the most different from what you already have. So, if cost and recoil don't turn you away, that would be my choice.
 
BigBlue 94 said:
243 is overkill for sub-100yd only shooting, and rimmed cartridges are better for SS rifles. 30-30 was gonna be my choice until you mentioned getting a lever gun in that caliber and that 'bear word'. So, along with the cool factor, that all leads me to say 45-70

I want to own a single shot or lever gun in 45-70 some day
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I had a very very large black bear walk directly underneath my tree stand three years ago during bow season. Didn't have a good shot. But man, I tell you what. My heart never beat so fast in my life. This past year we had a mom and cubs who like to move our trail cam around and take selfies.... So bear may be on the table. Here's a few pics I found on my phone. My brother has all the good ones on his computer.
 

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Bones741 said:
Man that's a nice size doe! This guy was my biggest,he dressed about 220. As for recoil I've had a 45-70 before. Few years back, Marlin 1895 STP. Sold it to fund an AR when they were really expensive to buy. Still kicking myself over that one!
Click to expand...
nice buck.i shot a rew over 230, in 2000 my dad shot a monster that was 285 dressed on the scale. we called him max because the week before the grinch move came out and the part when he put a stick on the dog to make antlers. this buck may have got hit by a car and broke all but one antler that was like 12 inches long
 
Bones741 said:
I had a very very large black bear walk directly underneath my tree stand three years ago during bow season. Didn't have a good shot. But man, I tell you what. My heart never beat so fast in my life. This past year we had a mom and cubs who like to move our trail cam around and take selfies.... So bear may be on the table. Here's a few pics I found on my phone. My brother has all the good ones on his computer.
Click to expand...
i saw my first bear this year opining day rifle, i have seen them in bow but never rifle. this i thinks is from nj with there no bear hunting,i hunt about 1 to 5 miles away from nj. that day i shot a nice doe, after about 10 minutes i walked over to her and i look down the hill i see a big bear. by time i got the gun off my shoulder my friend shot it, he put 3 rounds of 308 into the bear. we dragged it about 300 yards to the tractor. later that day he called it was 457 dressed and capped.
 
I voted .243 because it is the one I am looking at, but agree a 45-70 would be nice since you don't mind the recoil. The .243 is sufficient for the biggest bear when it is right under your stand, but the 45-70 might help to keep your heart rate healthy. :)
 
Frostbite said:
I voted .243 because it is the one I am looking at, but agree a 45-70 would be nice since you don't mind the recoil. The .243 is sufficient for the biggest bear when it is right under your stand, but the 45-70 might help to keep your heart rate healthy. :)
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Without a doubt! When that one walked right under me (literally touched my tree) ,and all I had was a bow ,most logical thinking went out the window....
 
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I was going to suggest the 30-30 but, as others have said, no need to duplicate calibers if you go for a lever action in 30-30. I voted for the 45-70. It is very versatile and is effective at the distances you described and much farther if needed. It has a history of being effective against any game you'll encounter or a lot bigger.

You said you don't reload but if you decide at some point to start, the 45-70 is the easiest of the three calibers to load. For the relatively small amount of rounds needed you could get by very nicely with a Lee Loader kit. Everything needed to reload a hundred rounds would fit in an ammo can. They are also fun to use.

I've been thinking about getting one of these. The reviews have been excellent. I already have two 45-70 single shot rifles so thought the Henry in .308 with cast bullet loads would be fun.

Jeff
 
Minus the .30-30... I'd vote .45-70. Or... you could flip it... get the single in .30-30 and get a .45-70 lever-action.

Truth being stranger than fiction... I just firmed up plans to buy a .45-70 single, a Pedersoli 1885 High Wall. I sold my .45-70 lever, and I'm fixing to sell my 336 .30-30 to pay for it.
 
I would go either 30-30 or 45-70. I don't personally like 243 that much even though it would work great. It just seems weird in a single shot, and rimmed cartridges seem right. The 45-70 would be awesome even if you don't reload for it, but a 30-30 single wouldn't detract from your future levergun at all, and it would be very useful and cheap enough to shoot. And I have a feeling you would shoot it a lot more than the 45-70.
 
45-70 here. Throws a big bullet, is easy to reload, and despite all evidence to the contrary from 6.5 Creedmore fans, doesn't bounce off a deer. Foolish young me had a Ruger #3 in that caliber but swapped it off for an entirely forgettable 25-06 I thought I needed more. Plus I can use BP if needed with little difference in terminal effects.
 
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