In-depth tests from a Henry .22. Pic heavy!

Thought I'd just share a bit. Seeing holes in paper is always good, right?

The gun: Henry H001

The scope: $16 3-7x20 BSA.
The rest: a 7.62 NATO ammo can with a towel on top. Hardly a lead sled.
The test: 15 rounds each at 50 yards. Call it about squirrel distance. Point of aim always bullseye.

Rifle was not cleaned or cooled after anything.
35 rounds of each were shot after the accuracy tests, as a misfire test during fun shooting. Assume none unless noted.

Ruler included in all photos for reference.


40gr lead round nose. Advertised at 1255 fps.
Inconsistent. Most shots made a proper 'pop', but they would vary from a very obviously supersonic 'crack!' to a low 'bawwp' the very next shot.
A little dirty, too. The one I remember leaving some smoke rolling out of the breech. The bullets have a hard waxy coating on them. I should have left this until the end, because of that. Smelled a little funny.
No misfires, but had a few (not during testing) offer resistance loading. Fired fine.


40gr lead round nose. Advertised at 1240 fps.
Topmost impact my fault.
Don't think I had any that obviously varied from the others, in this batch.
Much cleaner than the Thunderbolt. I can't detect any lube on the lead at all, in fact--may lead to further leading in the barrel. Can't be worse than the Remington.



36gr hollowpoint, a sort of rounded semi-wadcutter in profile. Advertised at 1220 fps via Midway--the box offers no velocity.
Advertised velocity is either low, or the others were advertised high.
About the consistancy you could expect from a bulk box. Not match-quality, but no over/underloads like Thunderbolt.
Not bad, for $13!
2 misfires in 50, one during testing. Replaced for test.
Note: Found a single copper-washed bullet in the pack. Curious. Did not use for test, but fired fine.


36gr brass-coated hollowpoint. Advertised at 1280 fps.
Lowest is my fault.
Not obviously inconstant when I shot it.
Nothing notable at all, in fact.



32gr copper-plated hollowpoint. Advertised at 1640 fps.
Furthest up is my fault.
See that one with the arrow pointing at it? That's actually 1 stinger (hit the '10') and a keyhole from a different round.
Heard good things about this, if a gun will shoot it, and I'm inclined to agree. No misfires, it fed fine in both my test rifle and my Ruger Mk3 22/45, and great fun to shoot.
Any .22lr that actually recoils and announces itself with a solid-sounding 'thop!' is good in my book. Actually pushed the gun back to my shoulder, too. Obviously developed for rifles, instead of just all-purpose cheapie ammo. I'd hope so, for the price!



40gr copper-plated 'hollow' point. Unable to find an advertised speed.
Upper right flyer (in the green) is my fault. Holes below the box are a different round.
A quick note: at $23, this is just slightly cheaper than the Golden Bullet. At the prices today, it's really not bad for a 500-round box, but for .22lr, ouch.
This stuff was a pleasant surprise. Look at that group, compared to the others! After a look at this round and at another user's water-jug test, I would not use this for hunting. The 'hollow point' is absolutely minuscule, and offers absolutely no expansion. I'd like to see an expansion test after running them through a hollowpointing tool like the AccuRizer, though.



Aguila 'SSS' Sniper SubSonic.
60gr lead round nose.
An interesting little round, overall. An oddly long solid lead bullet atop the brass fro .22 shorts. Disappointing, though, unfortunately.
It is subsonic, but while not as loud as the others, it was hardly quiet. Deeper, softer sound. Like shooting a .45 after spending the day with a 9mm or .40.
Obviously, my the Henry is just not rifled right for this. I count 11 hits on paper, of 15 shots. POA was upper right bullseye. All but 1 keyholed.
From what I could tell, it started tumbling between 20 and 30 yards. Wish I had enough left over to test there, instead of memories of earlier shooting.
Some smelled weird. Sharply detergent and clinging. Reminded me of the flake laundry soap my grandmother used.
Cycled my handgun fine. Noticeably different--more of a 'push'--than the 36 and 40-grainers, but not nearly as hard as the Stinger.


Conclusions: I'll be buying Dynapoint for my bulk shooting from now on.
Stinger or Xpert will go with me if I go shoot small critters.
I want to get my hands on some Hornet to test.
60-grain ammo is fun, but needs a faster twist than anything I have.
I'm saving for the gun show next month. I'll spend a good chunk on every different .22 I can find to test.
Many of those furthest off target are my fault--an ammo can is not the best rest.
I'm convinced the gun is more accurate than that. With a good rest and a stronger, high-quality scope, I think I could cut most of those groups to half their size.
Shooting holes in things is fun! (A bow to the Box O' Truth.)

Yeah, wish that picture caught the grain better.

A beautiful walnut grain, but real 'hardwood' it isn't.

The Thunderbolts may be, but I don't think the Lightning is. These targets were a few days in the range bag at the time of pictures, and the holes are rough. I think the 'petals' have just been folded back a little.

Maybe I got lucky, but this box of Xpert has treated me great. Average accuracy, cycles my guns fine, and was cheap as dirt. Of course, with the inconsistency noted by everyone else, I could have just gotten a 'strong box'. Still curious about the single copper-washed, though. Should have gotten a picture just for the record.

I'll have to check out squirrel hunting down here in Florida. If it really doesn't take any expansion, those Dynapoints may just land me a couple.

One inch at 50 yards from (albeit it high-priced) bulk-box is just dandy by me. Wish it could have been one of the $16 boxes, though.

Loved that 550 Federal out of my Mk3 for function. Dunno about accuracy, but as soon as I see it again...

I love my Henry but I'm always on the lookout for new stuff. You can expect another of these as soon as I get the Marlin 60 SS (with the black-and-grey laminate stock, eventually) I've been drooling over, or after the next gun show.

One booth had a table of used break-open shotguns at $65 a pop. Wonder if I could find one with some .22's...

It could be, but there are a few things going against it. The cheap scope (may or may not be a problem), towel on the ammo can wasn't enough to help steady it--it was just to prevent scratches. I haven't cleaned it in the last half-dozen outings, and it really could be exceptionally picky, and like something I haven't found yet.

You also certainly have a better trigger, likely have a better stock (the Henry has that notch in the barrel and clamp for the foreend), possibly have a better barrel, probably have better eyes, and could just maybe be a better shooter.