has anyone purchased the new henry side gate leveraction rifle in 30-30??

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midland man

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https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/side-gate-lever-action/ I am drooling over the idea of buying this rifle as I love 30-30's! I still have my first one my dad purchased for me when I was 12yrs old. it's a Winchester 94 ranger angle eject model and I have killed a lot of deer and hogs with this rifle! but this new henry has caught my eye and is very nice rifle and so my wallet may open up for this one!! ;)
 
I don't think that you can go wrong with one, as long as you like the "Old West" carbine features of it and the rather detailed laser cut checkering.
It's only about 8 ounces heavier than a Marlin 336, due to the slightly heavier brass receiver, which is good.
You might want to consider whether the carbine style brass butt plate will be any issue with you over the flat shotgun style butt plate of your Winchester.
I am going to buy the .38-55 version simply for Old West nostalgic reasons, and hand load it with cast bullets.
I would say go heft one and see how it feels and looks to you up close.
They are almost too pretty to take afield. :)
 
I, kind of thought it was only a matter of time before Henry came out with a loading gate. So many people wineing about there rifles not haveing one. IMO I do not see a problum not haveing a loading gate. We are supposed to be hunting not defending the wagon train, no need to reload fast.
 
For me it is all about capabilities. I may never use a lever gun for home defense, but it is nice to know I could and being able to top off the magazine means a lot to me.

On Henry's website, it says the mag tube capacity is 5 rounds. That makes me wonder if keeping the tube loading capability means magazine capacity is less compared to my Marlin 30/30 which holds 6. That may not matter, just something I noticed.

That said, if it shoots accurately, other negatives may not matter so much.
 
IMO I do not see a problum not haveing a loading gate. We are supposed to be hunting not defending the wagon train, no need to reload fast.

Even so, most people prefer them, even those who let it pass it when they bought a center fire Henry without one.
That said, I like magazine tubes and end loading on .22 rim fire guns.
It's traditional, and them loading gates would be so tiny. :D
 
and if they sell well in the current offering - imagine how well they'd sell in a 357 configuration....

Well, that depends. For the steel frame Henry Big Boy it would make a big difference. It is a fine rifle and light in weight.
If they fit a side loading gate and get rid of that stupid too-thick recoil pad, its sales would double.
On the other hand, the brass Big Boy is just too heavy.
Unlike the brass .30-30/.35 Remington/.38-55, which is only 8 ounces heavier than a Marlin 336, the brass Big Boy is over 2 pounds heavier than the 1894 Marlin, and 1.68 pounds heavier than the Marlin 336.
But, if they do fit a loading gate it will increase sales.
One problem might be whether they CAN install a loading gate in either Big Boy though.
In the present model the gate seems very close to the ejection port, so you would wonder how close it would have to be on the Big Boy.
 
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