Henry Single Shot Barrel Removal

[high country]

Quick question for those of you that have Henry single shot rifles (regardless of caliber). How difficult is it to remove the pin that holds the barrel to the action? The reason I ask is that I am wondering about whether one of these could be broken down relatively easily, similar to a takedown shotgun by including a tool in the carrying case for pushing the pin out.

If it has to be driven out using a hammer and punch, that probably isn't an option.

Thanks in advance for any insights you have on this.

 

[someguy2800]

Might need to call Henry and ask them, but I thought they were like an H&R where the pin is fixed in the frame and the barrel just hooks into it with the forend holding it in place.

 

[DPris]

You're not going to turn those into a takedown gun.
Give up on that idea right now.
You won't be easily "pushing" the pin out, and it's not built for constant disassembly like that.
Denis

 

[Vern Humphrey]

From the NRA American Hunter website:

"The rifle is disassembled by simply tapping out the hinge pin; avoid the temptation of removing the fore-end as is necessary with other single-shots. It breaks down in seconds, and can be stored or transported in two pieces that are no longer than the barrel portion."

 

[DPris]

The design is NOT intended for regular disassembly.
Each time you remove the hinge pin, you minutely alter tolerances.
The more you do that, the more you risk loosening the hinge through wear.

It CAN be broken down, but I wouldn't do it as a regular practice.
Denis

 

[Pat Riot]

I asked Henry about this and the lady I spoke with said it wasn’t designed as a take down. I have a 45-70 model with the steel frame. When I figured out that removal of the hinge pin was involved that was it for me. I don’t want to cause unnecessary wear on the parts it’ll the frame.

 

[high country]

Thanks all for the responses. It looked to me like the forend could stay on, which sounds correct, but I agree, if the hinge pin needs to be driven out, and it wasn't designed for that, that isn't a good solution.

Too bad, a quality .357 break action with good wood furniture that would takedown to 22" would be really nice. Thanks again for the input.

 

[Hookeye]

Thanks all for the responses. It looked to me like the forend could stay on, which sounds correct, but I agree, if the hinge pin needs to be driven out, and it wasn't designed for that, that isn't a good solution.

Too bad, a quality .357 break action with good wood furniture that would takedown to 22" would be really nice. Thanks again for the input.

Contender rifle?

 

[someguy2800]

Contender rifle?

handi rifle would be better to takedown. The pins on a contender can be finicky to get in and out.

 

[high country]

I have had a nice contender in .357 on my wish list for quite a while, and was thinking that a modified Henry might fill that niche for a couple hundred less.

My understanding is that the contender isn't really takedown either, you have to take the forend off and push/drive out the hinge pin depending on how tight it is. That puts it in the same boat as the Henry with having to remove the hinge pin, which is fine occasionally, but seems like it may cause wear if done once a week or whatever when it goes to the range or into the field.

 

[someguy2800]

With some contenders the pin will pretty much fall out, and others it may need to be tapped out with a mallet and something soft. They still shoot accurately even with loose pins but there is some accuracy to be had with a tight fitting pin. I don't think any real harm would come to the henry from driving the pin in and out, but the difference is that with a contender the forend holds the pin from wandering out the side, but the forend does not cover the pin on the henry, so if you did wear out that pin hole enough that the pin could start moving on its own there would be nothing to hold it. I would bet you could take it apart and put it together dozens or even hundreds of times before it got to that point though.