Think I want a Henry Single for X-Mas, What Caliber?

NIGHTLORD40K said:
Wife says Ive been a good boy, and Ive been kicking around the idea of a Henry Single- I like Henry's corporate philosophy, but none of their repeaters really appeal to me. The single is a mighty handsome rifle, though.
I also don't want to add any new cartridge types to the ammo dump, so that narrows the choices to .357 (.38), .223, .243, or .308.
Mainly this would fill the traditional "truck gun" role, medium ranges, probably not going to scope it, though I may swap the rear sight for a peep setup.
Leaning towards .223 or .357 to keep recoil mild. Thoughts?
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Truck rifle, good idea.

Caliber depends on the range you need to engage the target / animal.

Short ranges (forested areas) recommends the .357. You may wish to have a machinist / gunsmith drill and tap the rifle for aperture sights. If you go with aperture sights, not only the rear sight, but the front sight may have to be changed to accommodate the rear sight's height. I've had several of my rifles modified for aperture sights. Now that I am old with old man eyes, I find myself often having to use a scope (not always, mind you, yet ...).

If you use .38 specials in a .357 chamber, just make sure you clean the thing. Hot .38 Special rounds can sometimes damage a .357 mag chamber ("ring" it); but hey, that's rare, especially if you keep the rifle's chamber cleaned after shooting. Don't use soft lead (especially swaged lead bullets lest they lead your barrel; soft lead wadcutters can do this; I know the latter all too well, just this past week I was having to get lead out of a barrel). If you load your own lead bullets, you may wish to use gas checks on them.

Longer ranges recommends the .223. With this, you will likely wish to mount a scope. You needn't go with some over-the-top expensive powerful scope. Since it will be a truck rifle, go with a robust / "drive nails with it" type of scope; i.e. not some precision whatever ("precision" can cost you just way too much money).

Should you ever need to drop heavier game, then you should go with the .308 Win. The .308 gets up to speed quickly, so an 18" or 20" barrel is just fine. The .243 needs some more barrel (case capacity to rifle bore volume ratio); i.e., 22" and up. The Henry single shot rifle in .243 has a 22" barrel which is a good thing. The main reason I myself have rifles in .308 / 7.62 NATO (standardized on this caliber and .303 Brit decades and decades ago; add 7.62x54R) was due to the ready availability of surplus ammo back then. I bought military surplus ammo by the wooden cases. The .243 can be used for varmint dispatching AND deer hunting. It is a great round. Just vary the bullet weight for the task. On the .308 or .243, you should mount a quality, but not horribly expensive scope. For brush use, I like the German #4 reticle. For open range shooting, there are all manner of selections in the reticle realm.
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Without a scope 357/38 would be my choice.
I would also include a new cartridge like 45-70. I understand why you don't want to add a new cartridge, but on the other hand it will give a something new to experience.
 
WisBorn said:
Without a scope 357/38 would be my choice.
I would also include a new cartridge like 45-70. I understand why you don't want to add a new cartridge, but on the other hand it will give a something new to experience.
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That would open the door to finally.picking up a Trapdoor Springfield too.....;)
 
PapaG said:
I think I would have grabbed a 350 Legend if it had been available. But it wasn’t.
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My 350 Legend ARs and bolt guns have certainly pushed the 7.62x39s, .300 blks, and 6.8 spcs (to an extent) to the back of the line for hunting here in the East Texas national forests. I handload the 170 grain interlocks and they knock em flat. Though I also like to use a .450 BM from time to time to announce my presence with authority! :mad:
 
I agree with Vern on .243. Since it's a single shot you're not going to burn thru a ton of ammo, so the added cost of .243 over the other more common calibers isn't an issue. IMO, unless you've got plans to reload heavy bullets for .223 that won't fit in an AR magazine (even then would the rifling of the Henry stabilize those bullets?) there's not much reason to get a single shot .223. .357 Mag is underpowered, maybe if there was a .357 Maximum offering I'd consider it.

.308 is good, common but lately I've been digging .243 for special purpose uses.

I don't get the hate for Henry lever guns. I did when none had the loading gate, they do now, yet the hate is still there I guess because this company isn't the same Henry from the 1860s. Silly things people focus on that cause them to turn their nose up to something and find a way to justify more expensive brands.
 
TTv2 said:
I agree with Vern on .243. Since it's a single shot you're not going to burn thru a ton of ammo, so the added cost of .243 over the other more common calibers isn't an issue. IMO, unless you've got plans to reload heavy bullets for .223 that won't fit in an AR magazine (even then would the rifling of the Henry stabilize those bullets?) there's not much reason to get a single shot .223. .357 Mag is underpowered, maybe if there was a .357 Maximum offering I'd consider it.

.308 is good, common but lately I've been digging .243 for special purpose uses.

I don't get the hate for Henry lever guns. I did when none had the loading gate, they do now, yet the hate is still there I guess because this company isn't the same Henry from the 1860s. Silly things people focus on that cause them to turn their nose up to something and find a way to justify more expensive brands.
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I just think the Henry repeaters are bulky and awkward looking. I'm sure they are well made and accurate, but the just don't excite me like an old Savage or Winchester lever gun.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
I just think the Henry repeaters are bulky and awkward looking. I'm sure they are well made and accurate, but the just don't excite me like an old Savage or Winchester lever gun.
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Have you handled the single shot Henry?
I have not seen any up close.
 
Well, I may have missed Xmas, but I DID finally find a Henry today. Its a steel-framed .223 my buddy took in at his shop, LNIB, never fired by the previous owner. Got such a good deal that settled any cartridge questions. :D
Pics and range report to follow when she comes home......

Im still digging the idea of a long-tube scope setup eventually- most likely a Malcolm unless I get lucky on a clean Unertl on Evilbay.
 
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Nature Boy said:
Had no idea the wood on these was so pretty. Too nice to toss under the seat of a truck

We’ll done!
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For sure! So much for the "truck gun" idea, lol.

The plan now is to (eventually) rig up a long tube external adjustment scope to give it an old-timey big game rifle look and use it for a bench rest plinker. I just gotta figure out the mounting arrangements.
Worst case, I might send the barrel out to be machined for standard Unertl mounts.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
True, and I've got a fair pile of 100gr. rounds- though they are pretty stout from my M99 Savage. The 55gr. pills would probably be a lot easier on the shoulder, but finding any has been pretty tough for the last two years...$$$ too. :(
The deer here are mostly dog-sized anyway, lol. Hogs are our biggest and toughest game.
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If the hogs are the most frequent problem, I would suggest using the .243 as you can load it down to 60 gr. for smaller stuff (deer, coyote, groundhogs) or up to 100 gr. for the hogs.
Plus, the .243 will give you better range and more power.
 
JTHunter said:
If the hogs are the most frequent problem, I would suggest using the .243 as you can load it down to 60 gr. for smaller stuff (deer, coyote, groundhogs) or up to 100 gr. for the hogs.
Plus, the .243 will give you better range and more power.
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Ah, sorry, this is a pretty old thread I resurrected....
I ended up getting a LNIB .223 from my buddy for a price I couldn't refuse.

Of course, his distributor being sold out of all the other choices made it an easy decision too, lol. ;)

Though the hogs here are decent sized, the engagement ranges are generally short, so Ive got no reservations using .223 on 'em.
 
Charlie98 said:
Looking at their website, I'm disappointed they don't offer one in .45 Colt. I joke that my H&R in .45 Colt is the most fun you can have with your clothes on... like a baby .45-70.
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I, too, was disappointed that they haven’t done .45 Colt. I have an H&R Classic Carbine in .45 Colt that I’m looking to offload, myself. Has been a great rifle. Loads of fun to shoot. Would be great if Henry did one in this cartridge.
 
add a caliber to your menu and buy your Henry in .350 Legend, light recoil, .35 caliber bullets running between 2100-2400 fps, excellent 200 yard performance
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Aaaaargh,
If I did go .223, I'm thinking I might actually go with a Malcolm Unertl replica long-tube scope to give it an old-timey buffalo rifle look. How cool would that be?:D
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No matter how hard I try I cannot get the Henry to look anywhere close to an ol' timey buffalo rifle and don't think the addition a long tube scope would help me see it. No imagination on my part I suppose.

Reading on I found you got one in 223 and with very nice wood to my eye. :thumbup: I still can't make it resemble an old buffalo gun though. :D
 
Finally got a chance to wring out the Henry today. Started with 55gr Armscorp FMJ.
IMG_1082.edit1.jpg
Not gunna lie, the results were a little disappointing. The simple buckhorn rear sight groove is very wide, and tough to get a consistent sight picture. Adding to that, the brass front post is a bit tough to see in indoor light. As a close range back-up hunting sight, its ok, but not adequate at all beyond 50yds IMO.
But then, I switched to 62gr. XTAC Green Tips.....
IMG_1085.edit1.jpg
IMG_1086.edit1.jpg
...and the world was right again. Granted, this is hardly Olympic performance at 25yds, but given the sights and, well, me, Ill take it. :)

This gun definitely needs either a Skinner peep or some glass to unlock its full potential.
On the whole, Im happy with it though- recoil is non-existent and the trigger is very crisp. I DID have one shot that locked up the gun until I restruck the fired case again, perhaps the result of a loose primer, but otherwise no functional problems.
I do still wish it auto-ejected, or at least had that option, though of course the lack of such would be nice for saving brass if it were chambered for a more expensive/rare cartridge.
IMG_1087.edit1.jpg
 
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