Henry Side Gate

[ligonierbill]

I'm seeking some up-to-date input on the Henry side gate centerfire rifles. Specifically, I am looking at a 20" 38-55.

[Polinese]

I have a 357 side gate, is there a specific matter you're looking for?

[ligonierbill]

Specifically accuracy, but mostly overall impressions. Are you pleased with it?

[Sarge]

Originally Posted by Polinese

I have a 357 side gate, is there a specific matter you're looking for?

I'm looking at that specific rifle and am curious as well. Does it feed 38 Special w/o difficulty?

[Hellcat1]

Originally Posted by Sarge

I'm looking at that specific rifle and am curious as well. Does it feed 38 Special w/o difficulty?

This is straight from Henry's User's Manual, and I've found it to be true:

".357 Magnum is designed with .357 Magnum cartridges in mind. While you can use .38SPL loads, you must ensure they are 158GR with an overall length that closely mimics the .357 Magnum cartridge. Due to the shoulder location on the carrier, the gun will not feed: 110GR,125GR, 130GR, etc. .38 special loads reliably."


Frank

[Sarge]

Thanks Hellcat. 158 RNFP is all I load in 38 Special.

ETA- There is the manual, and what people are actually doing with them.

[RC20]

I'm seeking some up-to-date input on the Henry side gate centerfire rifles. Specifically, I am looking at a 20" 38-55.

Updated, I looked it up. Wild, Marlin does not even list the 45 LC but its available. Never heard of a 38-55, tells you what I know about the black powder era.

Obviously the below is invalidated.

Not familiar with the line, I don't think they have anything 38 caliber, all 357 you can shoot 38 in.

[ballardw]

For those of you unfamiliar with .38-55 a quick overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38-55_Winchester

Not at all to compared to .38 pistol cartridges.

[ligonierbill]

I'm a little surprised - usually Henry firearms inspire a vigorous response (positive and negative). In fact the H024 side gate lever rifle was introduced in 2019. Calibers are 38-55, 30-30, 45-70, 35 Rem, and recently 360 Buckhammer. Regards 38-55, it was one of the original rounds in the Winchester 94, along with the 32-40. Personally, I'm a little put off by all the brass on this rifle, but published reviews are all positive.

PS: OK, I ordered one from Bud's. So I guess I will have to supply the review when I get it. I do load 38-55. I have a 24" Winchester Canadian Centennial that the previous owner had rebored, the better to knock down silhouette targets. The round is legal for Ohio's firearms deer season, but mostly I like the old rounds, I don't have a carbine, and I don't have a Henry.

[RC20]

Most of the accounts for Henry are good. Some bad reviews have to do with fit of stocks. As long as the action works, I don't care much about stocks fit. If you use the gun its going to get dinged up over time.

But I have to admit fully, no idea they made them in obscure calibers like that.

I gather Marlin still can't meet demand for 45 Long Colt, none to be had (sans one company that claims they have them but are Zelle payment)

I guess I am amazed at the quantity of lever actions guns being made.

[ligonierbill]

Henry's action is a clone of the Marlin 336 - definitely a good one. Demand for lever actions is driven at least in part by Cowboy Action shooting, and the SASS has approved 38-55 for "side matches". Ironically, the biggest demand seems to be for 45 Colt, which was never chambered in a rifle back in the day. I understand that the rim on the old cases was too thick for the extractors. When I was shooting Cowboy Action, I used 44-40, but the most popular round was (and is) 38 Special. Since it's a timed event, low recoil is important to a good score.

[armoredman]

I have been looking for a rifle lever action for the long range matches with SASS, but the cost is prohibitive nowadays. I had never heard of this cartridge before shooting Cowboy Action.
And yes, my main match pistols and rifle are 357/38 Specials.

[RC20]

Ironically, the biggest demand seems to be for 45 Colt, which was never chambered in a rifle back in the day.

Truly Ironic. You had the Colt Pacemaker and no rifle to go with it.

Levers in the longer range calibers are costly. The best oddly is the Marlin but only if you can find one. Not sure what that is about. Still expensive at $750 depending on sale or not.

[Pumpkin]

And, why was the 45 Colt not offered in rifles back then?
Was it some agreement between different manufacturers or…
It is a mystery to me.

[The Happy kaboomer]

RC20
Colt chambered their peacemaker in Winchester's 38-40...44-40...25-20....32-20(Win 92). So there were companion guns.

[RC20]

Yea but why did not the lever gun guys build a 45 Colt?

I suspect Colts reputation for law suits on patents was a huge factor. Colt did not make lever guns, Winchester and Marlin did.

The obvious companion gun was a 45 Colt.

[ligonierbill]

I had it exactly wrong in Post #11: The rim of the old "balloon head" cases was too thin. Remember, 38-40 and the others were rifle cartridges first, adapted to revolvers. The 45 was a pistoleer from the start.

BTW, I picked up my Henry. Need to get to the range, but nice fit and finish, and it has good balance. Great expectations for this gun.

[Pumpkin]

Other contemporary combination cartridges had solid rims?
If they did, that’s a pretty good reason for not offering a rifle in a balloon head case 45 Colt and possibly a rifle only load to go along with it.

[ligonierbill]

OK, I got my new Henry to the range. Really like how it works: very smooth, loading through the gate is effortless, shoulders naturally. That said, I have some load work to do. I was shooting what I had on the shelf: 245 Meister hardcast 0.377 over 33 gr IMR-4895 at COL of 2.580. These do well in my rebored '94. From the Henry, not so good. In addition to shooting way high (sight at the bottom) they're all over the place with a compensated hold. Velocity is as expected, but ES is 100.

I have not slugged either barrel, but I suspect the rebore is 0.375 and the Henry 0.377. Next trial will be 255 gr Barnes Originals. I have 0.375 that do well in the Winchester, but they also make a 0.377 version. I'll try both. More to come.