You won't find any modern hammer fired gun that doesn't include some similar system. The Rossi's and H&R's used a transfer bar - the CVA's use a rebounding hammer. Remember "lawyer features" aren't always just there because lawyers are picky - they're there because the lawyers know that any company that doesn't include certain features in today's world will be sued into oblivion.
As to the Henry shotguns - not gonna happen for me. I grew up on a single shot (an NEF/H&R), and it served me well, but there's little reason to limit myself to one these days when good repeaters are available. For shotguns in particular, to me personally the ONLY reason to buy a single shot is if it's cheaper. I understand that these may be of higher quality, but that's like trying to sell me a finely hand-crafted buggy whip with Corinthian leather handles. Doesn't matter how nice it might be, if I'm not in the market for a buggy whip then the quality isn't a factor.
Their rifles on the other hand I may look at. For MOST of the chamberings they list the same problem persists: I can get a budget bolt action for cheaper and if I want a "fancy" gun I'm not going to get a single shot. The exception is .45-70. There are no .45-70 bolt guns (at least not new, common ones) and the lever guns start at nearly twice this much. If I do get one I'd like to get one in .45-70. They don't list a .30-30 but I'd personally look at one in that chambering too if I didn't already have an H&R in .30-30.
It's not the rebounding hammer safety feature that concerns me it's the fact that you can't open or close the action unless that hammer is resting adding an extra step to unloading (you have to lower the hammer first if it's not already lowered,) loading (you have to either fire, dry fire, or manually lower hammer,) and firing, Your know what ! this safety feature depending on the situation may not even be safer than breaking open the rifle first. I think one of the best ways to safely walk with a round in a break open gun is with it open.
This gun does not allow you to drop a round in the chamber close that action and immediately fire or immediately fire after snapping it closed because you always have to pull back the hammer after locking it closed.
A hassle if you ask me since I expect manual to be manual and for the most part under my direct control.
Break open shotguns without exposed hammers cock automatically when you open them and they are ready to fire when you close them unless they have an obnoxious auto setting safety switch. Either way I have not heard about any litigation concerning hammerless break open shotguns that that are not totally idiot proof.
This manual single shot action limits your options.
I don't like the idiot proof feature that doesn't allow me to decide whether to keep my hammer cocked and ready or not when unloading and loading. As I said before this feature is good for taking the edge out of corporate related lawsuits but bad for a user who may need the option
I see signs of people who don't shoot firearms themselves (bean counters,) who know little or nothing about the stuff they chose deal in being allowed too much input into how this firearm should be designed.
Simplicity, reliability, and full manual control are major if not the most major advantages of a break open.
For me it's not price. Quality costs but I do expect a simple manually operated device not a look alike loaded with automatic idiot proof lawyer friendly safety features that may hinder it's use in tight situations (gee making a single shot even slower to use is stupid) and may actually be more dangerous to the person who depends on the firearm.
What these safety features may actually be useful for is in a .22 or other low caliber training rifle but in shoulder kicking calibers like 45-70 I doubt this would be anyones first pick for a trainer.
Would I buy this if I could, yes I would, it's probably quality, fun, and useful but if wanted to hunt anything dangerous with a single shot these idiot proof features better be easy to remove making this a true manual single shot or I would find a different single shot to meet the need.
If Henry did not make these features clear on their website and let it be a surprise to buyers it may piss me off enough not to buy one.
I guess in a nut shell with this rifle if you are hunting any dangerous game you really better make that one shot count if you get the chance to use it.
I neither hunt or own any centerfire rifles (I live in Cuomo land (under Mario Cuomo his grand highness of NY) so roast me and fry me (just a figure of speech now) but that is still my opinion.
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