Rossi 62 .22LR Pump vs. Henry .22LR Pump?

[Aragon]

Does anyone here have some hands-ons experience with the Rossi 62 and the Henry pump .22? I'd like to get one or the other for some action shooting (I don't want and cannot justify a Winchester pump for this application.)

The key features are reliability (they gotta feed!), durability and fast cycling. Accuracy is a fourth place consideration. The Rossi is no longer made so I would have to find a used one which would be about $100 cheaper than a Henry. Thanks.

 

[cottswald]

Have you considered the Remington 572?

Here's a discussion on both the Rem and the Henry, a bit shallow though.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=543221

 

[Aragon]

Thanks for the reply. I already shoot a heavy modified Remington 572 in competition and it works great. I now need a pump .22 with an exposed hammer for a different class.

 

[BCRider]

I've not shot a Henry but I do have a Rossi.

It's not as tolerant of fouling as my Henry lever rifle. If the action in the pump Henry is just a slight variation on the lever gun's action then it promises to run for just about forever before the action needs any cleaning.

With the Rossi the Winchester like action (It's a clone of the old Winchester model 62 as I understand it) relies on some light spring action to make the cartridge elevator operate correctly. When it gets fouled up badly it sticks. The good news is that it took a good 400 to 500 rounds before it got to that point. After a quick and easy cleaning thanks to the take down screw making for crazy easy disassembly and access to all the bits needing attention the gun was back to working like a champ.

The barrel also offers up darn nice accuracy. It's one of those guns that makes me look good on the line. Sorry, no figures as I've always just shot it for fun from free standing and mostly shot at one of the rimfire flip up and reset steel targets. The only time I've shot it on paper was to set the sights. If you find one you'll have to do your own testing. Most of my own shooting with it has been with Blazer.

It actually just got sticky again with the bolt not quite wanting to fall fully into battery. But we've had to resort to shooting Remington Thunderbolts which are just terrible ammo. I've got two of the rounds that would not chamber fully to test it with once I get a minute.

I'm also going to fully clean and degrease it and try using EEZOX to lubricate the works. The slight fouling that does sneak back past the casings seems to turn the oil on the parts into total grunge. The dry film nature of the EEZOX should avoid the grunge build up. It may be dusty but if it's a dry dust it shouldn't cause any issues. I'm trying the EEZOX on one of my rimfire blowback handguns and so far so good. So good in fact that this will be the first of a few rimfire guns to try it on as a further test.

 

[mavracer]

I'm in the same boat with BC I don't have any experiance with the Henry pumps but I'd be willing to bet they work like my levers have. I have had a original 1890 which became the 1906 which became the '62 winchester and just bought a little Rossi 62 carbine, they can be short stroked which will leave you with a empty chamber but if you operate them brisk and firm they work fine. I had been thinking about getting a henry until i saw this Rossi and I just fell in love with this little gem it's tiny with a 16 1/2" barrel it weighs under 5#.

 

[DM~]

Because the Henry is a "modified lever" action, to pump action, it does NOT have the mechanical advantage of something like, the Remington pump, so it will NEVER be as smooth of pump, or work as easily as a Rem. pump.

I had a Henry pump, i'll not buy another.....absolutely love the levers though...

DM

 

[DPris]

Worked with a Henry pump years ago, don't recall much about it.
Have the Rossi, never given me a bit of trouble. Fun little gun.
Denis

 

[Aragon]

Because the Henry is a "modified lever" action, to pump action, it does NOT have the mechanical advantage of something like, the Remington pump, so it will NEVER be as smooth of pump, or work as easily as a Rem. pump.

I had a Henry pump, i'll not buy another.....absolutely love the levers though...

DM

I'm not sure I understand? A pump action creates linear motion/force directly -- no real "mechanical advantage" involved. A lever action rifle creates a polar force/torque aided by the length of the lever (a lever arm -- "mechanical advantage") that's then translated into linear force to cycle the action.

 

[Aragon]

I'm in the same boat with BC I don't have any experiance with the Henry pumps but I'd be willing to bet they work like my levers have. I have had a original 1890 which became the 1906 which became the '62 winchester and just bought a little Rossi 62 carbine, they can be short stroked which will leave you with a empty chamber but if you operate them brisk and firm they work fine. I had been thinking about getting a henry until i saw this Rossi and I just fell in love with this little gem it's tiny with a 16 1/2" barrel it weighs under 5#.

The 62's (Winchester or Rossi) are pretty cool. This guys shoots one very well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7yZ9eMwhTw

 

[Ibmikey]

I have a Henry pump, works smooth, accurate and totally reliable with good sights, not the same feel as my 1890's or 06 Winchesters but a fine pump rifle. The one Rossi I acquired is a machining nightmare with milling marks and sharp edges every where, it shot well but with crude stamped sight, it cycled like a well graveled machine grinding against all of those ugly mill cuts. The external had a nice blue but was over polished. I would not put it in the same rack as my Winchesters..

 

[BCRider]

I wonder if Rossi had good and bad years. I know mine is nicely made inside and out and the exterior has a smooth surface and a nice blueing job. It IS an older one if that matters.

 

[Aragon]

I have a Henry pump, works smooth, accurate and totally reliable with good sights, not the same feel as my 1890's or 06 Winchesters but a fine pump rifle. The one Rossi I acquired is a machining nightmare with milling marks and sharp edges every where, it shot well but with crude stamped sight, it cycled like a well graveled machine grinding against all of those ugly mill cuts. The external had a nice blue but was over polished. I would not put it in the same rack as my Winchesters..

Which would you say is a faster cycling firearm -- your Winchester 1906 or your Henry pump? Which would you say is more reliable? Thanks.

 

[Aragon]

I wonder if Rossi had good and bad years. I know mine is nicely made inside and out and the exterior has a smooth surface and a nice blueing job. It IS an older one if that matters.

The copy of the Winchester 62A was produced by both Rossi and Taurus -- on the same tooling I believe. I have read about feeding issues with the 62 -- not sure if it was the Rossi or Taurus model.

 

[DM~]

I'm not sure I understand? A pump action creates linear motion/force directly -- no real "mechanical advantage" involved. A lever action rifle creates a polar force/torque aided by the length of the lever (a lever arm -- "mechanical advantage") that's then translated into linear force to cycle the action.

What you are saying is true, except the lever IS working like a "lever" and helping to open the action and work it through it's motion.

After a conversation with Anthony P, (owner of Henry) he agreed, the mechanical advantage just isn't there and it will never be as smooth working as a Rem. pump... That was the answer to the exact question I asked him...

My Henry pump had all kinds of problems and Anthony took it back and told me he didn't think I would ever be happy with one of their pump guns. He wanted me to take a lever in trade and I finally did.

DM

 

[Maj Dad]

I've had a Rossi M62A since ~1996 (bought used from a friend), and it has never hiccuped once over thousands of rounds. I shot it so much I could bounce shotgun shells with no misses from the hip at 15-25 yds. It never jammed, never failed in any way, and it is the one last gun I will ever give up (out of dozens, centerfire, rimfire, and shotguns). Just my experience with one rifle...

 

[Ibmikey]

Aragon, There is only one King in the pump .22 field: the Winchester 1890 and it's off spring. The 06 is probably faster and easier in movement for follow up shots because of the smooth action and short length. The Henry is no slouch but mine does not have the grace of the Win and just does not have the same feel, not bad but just different ( it is harder to vision the Henry as part of my youth, my dog and 1890 on a after school varmint hunt). You will do good with any of the .22's in question here but handle each before deciding.

 

[aarondhgraham]

Hhmmm,,,

Lemme see here.

Buy an imported discontinued rifle with limited warranty support?

Buy an American made rifle with excellent proven warranty support?

What was the question again?

Aarond

.

 

[loose noose]

Note I have both the Winchester model 62, and the Rossi model 62, as far as accuracy goes the Rossi wins, as far as nostalgic goes, needless to say the Winchester wins. I've found both to be totally reliable and smooth with such a short action, and open sights, either are very hard to beat. Sorry I'm not familiar with the Henry.

 

[19-3Ben]

After a conversation with Anthony P, (owner of Henry)

Anthony I, perhaps? His last name is Imperato.

 

[MtnCreek]

Buy an imported discontinued rifle with limited warranty support?

I was told mine was wore out and no parts were available by a smith. So I took it home and fixed it myself. I did some filing to correct a problem of it no longer staying locked when cocked. But I do not shoot it much anymore because of the issue with parts.

Only feeding issue I ever had was one time I filled it full of ratshot and one of the shot capsules broke in the tube. First rifle I ever fired; think I was 5.

 

[DM~]

Anthony I, perhaps? His last name is Imperato.

Sorry, I hit the wrong key and then missed it in my proof read... It should have been Anthony "I".

Thanks for catching that...

DM

 

[Aragon]

What you are saying is true, except the lever IS working like a "lever" and helping to open the action and work it through it's motion.

After a conversation with Anthony P, (owner of Henry) he agreed, the mechanical advantage just isn't there and it will never be as smooth working as a Rem. pump... That was the answer to the exact question I asked him...

My Henry pump had all kinds of problems and Anthony took it back and told me he didn't think I would ever be happy with one of their pump guns. He wanted me to take a lever in trade and I finally did.

DM

I still don't understand what you're talking about -- and I know a great deal about moment arms, torque vs. linear force, etc.

How is the mechanism of say a Winchester 62A (a gun designed as a pump) inherently smoother/easier to cycle than the Henry pump?

How does the Winchester 62A pump design differ from the Henry pump design? How is the Henry put at a disadvantage because its core design began as a lever action as you suggest?

I realize internal hammer pumps like the Remington 572 or the Winchester Model 270 are easier to cycle than older, exposed hammer designs like the Winchester and Henry. But I cannot see why the Henry shouldn't be just/nearly as smooth as a Winchester 1890/1906/62A?

 

[Aragon]

Lemme see here.

Buy an imported discontinued rifle with limited warranty support?

Buy an American made rifle with excellent proven warranty support?

What was the question again?

Aarond

.

Lemme see here. From posting #1:

"...The key features are reliability (they gotta feed!), durability and fast cycling. Accuracy is a fourth place consideration..."

" "

 

[Aragon]

Aragon, There is only one King in the pump .22 field: the Winchester 1890 and it's off spring. The 06 is probably faster and easier in movement for follow up shots because of the smooth action and short length. The Henry is no slouch but mine does not have the grace of the Win and just does not have the same feel, not bad but just different ( it is harder to vision the Henry as part of my youth, my dog and 1890 on a after school varmint hunt). You will do good with any of the .22's in question here but handle each before deciding.

There's no truth to that statement, although it does depend on how one define "king" in this case. Winchesters have proven to be the best $$$ investments so they are certainly "king" in that regard.

The fastest and most accurate pump is easily the Remington 572. The most "beautiful piece of engineering" is likely the Remington 121.

 

[natman]

I haven't even seen the Henry.

I owned a Rossi.

Buy the Henry.