What I wanting to know for those that have them, especially the 357 model, how is you accuracy turning out now that you have had time to get used to them and shot them a while? And did that trigger smooth out any?
So I've been back and forth a bit on purchasing a Henry Single Shot, specifically in 357. I'm ok with the look and feel, but not particularly enthusiastic about it, especially the the comb height and I frankly think that the action looks like a Marlin 336 that someone forgot to cut a loading door in.
I know how to usually improve accuracy in a single shot, but just curious on these. I'm sort of on the fence on getting a Henry or just putting together a 22" 357 barrel for one of my H&Rs that I've already put into an upgraded walnut stock. It will end up costing me about the same amount,.
So, I guess I'm thinking out loud and looking for the collective experience of the group here on which way I go.
I was able to find enough info from just scrolling through old posts to I think answer my questions. Not sure why my advanced search wasn't working well.
I’m very pleased with my Henry SSs. They’re simple actions, very well put together and the wood, as Paul noted, is way better than one would expect at anywhere near the price. My .357 is especially nice. I put a Bear Creek slip-on riser to handle the comb height, and also protect that pretty walnut. It’s certainly accurate enough for 100yard shooting, and my load development has consisted of dumping 18-19 (19 is over Hodgdon max, just so you know) into Starline brass and seating 158gr XTPs. I mounted an old K4, which allows me to forgo a hammer spur. Just exactly what I’m going to use it for long-term is the real question, but getting it together has been an enjoyable process.
The .410 was one of the recalled ones, and the trigger is now very crisp. The .357 was built with the new trigger and is also quite nice. I’ve heard gripes about the H&R triggers, but never owned one. The Henry, being a current model, has support, and excellent customer service IME, and that would be a big factor to me if I were thinking about getting something of the sort.
Personal taste is just that, personal, but IMO the Henrys are far and away better-looking than H&R, all of which I’ve seen are crudely finished by comparison, except maybe the SS/ nickel versions. The old TCRs are very nice indeed, but also dead-ends service-wise, and have gotten pretty spendy, so while I like them, I’m not going to jump in on one.
One day I may find a used doggy Henry, to do a stub barrel for a 1-14 twist 18" medium/heavy barrel for a real 358 rifle.
“To expect defeat is nine-tenths of defeat itself. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is best to plan for all eventualities then believe in success, and only cross the failure bridge if you come to it." Francis Marion - The Swamp Fox
I agree that the H&R can be rather ugly! And they can have a poor trigger. But it can be cleaned up to have a nice 3.5 lb hunting trigger.
However, I don't leave them as they are. Here is a 45-70 I'm working on. Replaced th birch wood with walnut. Forearm now has a tip. Still have to cut flutes in the butt stock, finish shaping the forearm and then oil it. Need to also add a pistol cap too..
As for the potential H&R 357, I have a earlier nickel plated action that is already in a set of Boyds walnut I'd most likely use. However, it might become a 45 ACP or 327 Fed Mag instead of I was to get the Henry 357.
I do like the thought of support that Henry has. This also started when I was taking an inventory of stuff to sell.. We'll see how well that goes.
I was getting about 3 MOA at 100 this morning. 158 Winchester, H110, about 1800 fps. Occasional flier but didn't have my Rock rest. I think I can get 2 MOA with a little work. Probably send to Belm to be recut for 350 or 360.
I was getting about 3 MOA at 100 this morning. 158 Winchester, H110, about 1800 fps. Occasional flier but didn't have my Rock rest. I think I can get 2 MOA with a little work. Probably send to Belm to be recut for 350 or 360.
Pretty darn heavy for a 357 when you add scope, cheek piece lace on rest, and sling. I like it, I know it will shoot but I'm getting too old to hump that much weight very far. (Yeah, hunters will bitch about a pound on the gun when they're 25 pounds overweight.) I will decide between it (pretty but heavy) and my CVA Scout (ugly but light) on load out day. Wish I'd had time to zero my NEF 45-70. It is both ugly and heavy.
Pretty darn heavy for a 357 when you add scope, cheek piece lace on rest, and sling. I like it, I know it will shoot but I'm getting too old to hump that much weight very far. (Yeah, hunters will bitch about a pound on the gun when they're 25 pounds overweight.) I will decide between it (pretty but heavy) and my CVA Scout (ugly but light) on load out day. Wish I'd had time to zero my NEF 45-70. It is both ugly and heavy.
Depending on the day, and what I’ve been eating, I’m down 45+ pounds from 2 years ago. Really makes a difference. Used to have to pause a time or two hoofing it into my “spot”, but now I just march on in, even toting that beastly xbow or one of my other loads. Still, that Henry is a load for certain. My .410 is a lot nicer to carry.
If you can mod the H & R barrel, why not the Henry, it has a 16 twist which DWs had originally then offered their guns with, two, one at 16 and one at 14, then went to the 14 twist, like the Python and got good accuracy. I own several .358 barreled rifles in 1-14, chambered for 357 Mag and Super Mag cartridges for .358 rifle bullet use. If I was getting 3" at 100 I would slug the barrel to find out what was up with that. My 358 MGP will do .4 " at 2,500 fps with powder coated cast at 100. The MGP is pretty close to a rimless 357 Herrett for use in an AR-15.
this is my 357 Super Mag with 16" barrel on a Cadet action. Kind of what I have in mind for a used Henry.
“To expect defeat is nine-tenths of defeat itself. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is best to plan for all eventualities then believe in success, and only cross the failure bridge if you come to it." Francis Marion - The Swamp Fox
If you can mod the H & R barrel, why not the Henry, it has a 16 twist which DWs had originally then offered their guns with, two, one at 16 and one at 14, then went to the 14 twist, like the Python and got good accuracy. I own several .358 barreled rifles in 1-14, chambered for 357 Mag and Super Mag cartridges for .358 rifle bullet use. If I was getting 3" at 100 I would slug the barrel to find out what was up with that. My 358 MGP will do .4 " at 2,500 fps with powder coated cast at 100. The MGP is pretty close to a rimless 357 Herrett for use in an AR-15.
this is my 357 Super Mag with 16" barrel on a Cadet action. Kind of what I have in mind for a used Henry.
I like the look of this! This is more of what I would envision for the stocks. I just hate to start with a brand new rifle that I have to modify the stocks to fit It gets expensive quick! However, it's not too hard to sell off excess stuff to help pay for the customizations we sometimes want.
I settled on the CVA 44 mag this sesson, dropped a nice buck at 68 yards with ammo I loaded in 2004. 240 jhp, 21.5 old 2400. Put your hand through the hole in the lungs. Sending the Henry off to be rec hammered to 357 Max per Bellm's recomnmendation
I decided last night that the K4 was too damn heavy for my .357 and replaced it with a Romeo 5. Dialed it in today with my standard load of a 158 XTP over 18gr of LilGun, CCI 550s