.22 WMR - Henry or Ruger?

[PatientWolf]

The title pretty well sums it up. I’m looking to get a .22WMR and am considering either a Ruger American #1458172 or a Henry lever action (Small Game ideally or alternatively a Golden Boy).

Would anyone like to share their experience?

[Hawg]

I'd go with the Henry. I'm not impressed with the accuracy of Ruger rimfires.

[ccSnoopycc]

Is that the Ruger American Compact? If so it will probably be lighter than the Henry. I think the Henry will be better made however having a box or rotary magazine compared to a tube makes reloading a lot easier. I would go with the Ruger.

[FunGramps]

I'd go with the Ruger. Only reason for me is aesthetics. I don't like the black coating "bluing" on the Henry rifles.

[FrankenMauser]

Ruger.
The Americans shoot very well.

The Henrys do okay, but they're ugly and have cheesy sights and barrel bands.

[Rob228]

I have a Henry Big Boy and I'll second what FrakenMauser said about the sights.

But if you put a Skinner peep sight on it'll do great things. The action and trigger are very smooth, I have found that the front sight post is a little thick for my liking when trying for any type of precision shooting.

What do you plan on using it for? Squirrels, woodchucks and rabbits past 100 yards I'd go with the Ruger if you plan on scoping it. Same animals inside of 50 and it would be the Henry for me (I just found out I need glasses, if I'm shooting at small game I'd like to be able to see it )

[NoSecondBest]

I’d go with the Henry. I put accuracy above what color the finish is, what the stock “looks” like, does it match my shoes, and all the other things that have nothing to do with accuracy and reliability. It’s a tool, not a piece of art work. Neither one is going to win an award as a truly collectible firearm. If you want to hit what you’re aiming at and want an ironclad warranty get the Henry. I’ve owned a lot of Ruger rimfire rifles and handguns. Every single Ruger rimfire rifle I’ve owned shot better with an aftermarket barrel on it. I’ve seen the worst accuracy imaginable from a couple of Ruger rifles. Ruger’s are generally very, very reliable but that comes at the cost of accuracy…..sloppy tolerances in most cases.

[FrankenMauser]

Sounds like you have the worst luck, or never gave them a fair chance.
Though, I never really had to try with my 77/22 (.22 LR). Even its 'worst' groups are acceptable. But most of the ammo that I feed it does very well.
From what I have seen, the Americans are even more predictable. (I know the centerfires are - I've owned two of them.)
And, the WMR barrels have always done better than LR barrels, from Ruger. So we're not looking at .22 LR performance.

But, my 77/22 is .22 LR.
This is the first target that I found in my stack, with a 77/22 group on it.
That day, I was doing some load testing for centerfires and had the 77/22 along to entertain me while barrels cooled, and just because I enjoy shooting it.
Squares are 1-1/8". Group is 0.844". And this is pretty typical of the rifle - arguably a little bigger than average.
I'd say sub-MoA at 100 yards, with .22 LR, is just a *little* bit better than most people's expectations.



I own a bushel of Rugers and have had more pass through my safes and hands. I was not ashamed of any of them. Even my 77 Mk II in 7x57, that didn't meet my usual high standards, was still above average. It was usually bringing in groups at 1.5-1.75", at 100 yards.



Something to consider:
I know of many people - including some on this very forum - that had to have their Henrys sent back for accuracy issues and get barrels replaced. So, I did a quick interwebs search for "henry .22 wmr accuracy issues" and "ruger 77/22 wmr accuracy issues".

The first two pages of results for each were quickly skimmed through.
The majority of the Henry owners that offered follow up information had to send the rifle back for repair, or gave up and sold it.
The majority of the Ruger owners that offered follow up information either started shooting something other than Winchester Dynapoints (garbage ammo), or adjusted action screw torque and were happy.

[Earl Tash]

I have a Ruger American with a Burris droptine 3-9 scope on it.
Love the gun.
It shoots cci 40 grain ammo great.
I tried the bigger mag, but it failed every time i tried it.
The original 8 round mags work great.
I bought 6 of those.
I find the gun very accurate for my old/70 year eyes.
It's surely a winner for me

[taylorce1]

What is your intended use for a .22 WMR? It's a great small game hunting round that I use for jack rabbits, prairie dogs, and vermin up to the size of coyote. It's a little underwhelming on coyote, but it has killed them every opportunity I've had to shoot one with it.

As far as shooting targets, .22lr is king. If you're mainly going to be shooting it at the range at paper and reactive targets, I'd stick with the .22 lr. As far as rifles go I have no experience with either rifles you're looking at. I would default to a bolt action in a .22 WMR for small game hunting, and get a lever for plinking at the range or small game hunting in thick cover where using a scope isn't necessary.

[bamaranger]

I've wanted a .22Mag lever carbine for a very long time, to pair with a Ruger Single 6 so chambered as well. I had almost decided on the Henry based on availability. The Win 94/22 and the Ruger 96 were discontinued and the Henry seemed the only game in town. Then ammo of all kinds got scarce and prices spiked and .22WMR seemed notably effected. I got over it.

[KMAX]

"Ruger.
The Americans shoot very well."

I went with a Ruger American. It was a lot less expensive and accurate enough for me. On a good day I can put 9 shots in a one inch circle at 100 yards. On a bad day when I'm shaky I might not get all of them on a nine inch paper plate. Well, maybe not that bad. Plus I like the mag reload over the tube.

[JJMarsh]

You're absolutely right about Henry rifles - accuracy issues do come up frequently on forums. I've heard barrel replacements can sometimes help, though that's certainly extra hassle. Maybe it's a quality control issue in manufacturing? It would be interesting to compare them to more budget-friendly options like the Savage Mark II.

[stagpanther]

You're absolutely right about Henry rifles - accuracy issues do come up frequently on forums. I've heard barrel replacements can sometimes help, though that's certainly extra hassle. Maybe it's a quality control issue in manufacturing? It would be interesting to compare them to more budget-friendly options like the Savage Mark II.

That may occasionally be true--had a Henry myself that had issues. But there is nobody in the firearms industry that I know of who will stand behind his products with an iron-clad guarantee of satisfaction like Anthony Imperato in my experience.

[rc]

Ruger American Predator model with 18 heavy barrel shoots great!

[Shadow9mm]

Got a ruger american 22lr, shoots great. My last henry lever gun has some quality control issues and wouldn't shoot well. Sold it.was my first and will be me last henry.

[ballardw]

Originally Posted by bamaranger

I've wanted a .22Mag lever carbine for a very long time, to pair with a Ruger Single 6 so chambered as well. I had almost decided on the Henry based on availability. The Win 94/22 and the Ruger 96 were discontinued and the Henry seemed the only game in town. Then ammo of all kinds got scarce and prices spiked and .22WMR seemed notably effected. I got over it.

I have nearly a compulsion to have a matching lever action for each of my single action revolvers, mostly Ruger but a Colt as well. My Single Six .22 LR/WMR is paired with a Henry in .22 lr as it doesn't get much WMR through it.

The lever guns just seem a better match for single actions.

[The Happy kaboomer]

Neither............Marlin 1894M.

[44caliberkid]

And now for something completely different. A little over a year ago, I bought a Rossi 22 WMR semi auto rifle. It functions 100% reliable with all brands of ammo I’ve tried (about 7) and will shoot 1/2 MOA with two of those. The synthetic stock comes in black, OD green, or coyote tan (My choice). Less than $300, and I couldn’t be happier. I put a Simmons 22 Mag scope on it, $70 bucks at Walmart.

[TruthTellers]

What's the goal? Accuracy or firepower? Accuracy? Get a bolt action. firepower? Skip the level actions and get the Kel Tec CMR30. Sure, it's not going to work with bullets under 40 grains, but I presume that CCI Maxi Mags is what you'll be shooting most of the time anyway.

[Pumpkin]

How about a nice used Marlin 783 or similar.

Very hard to beat.

[Drm50]

Ruger Americans have good rep around these parts. Henry not so much. The old Marlin
783 and Mossberg 640 are dependable accurate rifles. The Savages in 22 magnum I got no experience but in 22LR they do fine.

[Txhillbilly]

I don't guess anyone ever looks at the thread dates before they post. The OP was in Oct. 2021, I'd think that they figured out what they wanted by now. LOL