Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Henry 30-30 impressions

Well, I finally got to get my hands on a Henry 30-30. Went into a local gun shop looking for some parts and sitting next to a golden boy was the new version of the Henry 30-30.

This is the newer model that they released with a fore end cap instead of a fore end band. It also comes with an XS ghost ring sight and an XS front sight.

Asked to take a look at it and I must say I was impressed. The wood to metal fit was excellent all the way around. The bluing was a nice deep blue. And the finished looked to be the same thickness as they put on their 22 rifles. This is a satin finish thats thick enough you can polish it to a gloss if you want to.

The checkering on the rifle appears to be pressed in. But I have to admit it's the best pressed checkering I've ever seen. The ridges were fine and clearly defined and very consistent on both the stock and the fore end.

They allowed me to cycle the action and even that was pleasant. Because it is based on the 336 action it feels the same. Although with the Henry, it felt like an action that it already been cycled several hundred times instead of a rough gritty action like the new Remlins have.

The straight stock felt very comfortable in my hand and so did the fore end. The fore end on this rifle is narrower than that of the 336 and closer to what you would find on the Winchester.

The rifle was very well balanced. This is a 6.5 pound rifle and I swear it felt like it was only 4 pounds. It snapped up to the shoulder very easily. In fact it felt better balanced than the 30 AW I have.

To my surprise, the butt plate is actually a thin recoil pad. It has some give to it but not too much, and is softer than the rubber butt plates that Marlin uses.

There were a couple of things that I would change on this rifle but they are minor. The first one is the set of the fore end to the barrel. The barrel channel on both sides fits tight against the barrel. I can see this introducing a drifting problem as the barrel heats up. In actuality however, this is no worse than most 336 rifles that have a gap on one side of the barrel and none on the other side. This is also an easy thing to fix. I would also like a slightly smaller ring on the back.

A lot of people have complained about the MSRP for these rifles. The street price at this store seemed reasonable to me. The shop is asking a little over $600 for the rifle. That seems a little high priced until you consider the fact the ghost ring and front sights will cost you $80-$90 plus shipping. That means you're paying around $500 for a rifle, that at this time, is built to a higher standard than the Marln/Remington 336.

Unfortunately since it was in the store there was no way I could shoot it. So of course I cannot give you an accuracy report. However, wh
ere I shopping for a new 30-30, I would have no problem plunking down the cash for this rifle.

So yes you can call me a heretic since I own a Marlin 30-30, but I calls 'em as I sees 'em. Here's a picture of the new 30-30. Oh yeah, when I wrote Henry with some questions, and asked them why I couldn't find a review, they told me they have so many orders coming in for the 30-30 and 45/70, they don't need the press, and until they get caught up, would prefer not to have any at this time. (Would just put them further behind)

That is one of the more ugly rifles I have seen. But, if it handles well and is accurate ugly can be forgotten or at least excepted.

Actually, it looks WAY better in real life than in that picture. I don't care for the look in the picture either, but I liked the way it looked when I got to see it in person.

It do look business-like.

I have two of their .22s that I am happy with and if the .30-30 is anything like them I'd believe the action is very slick! The only thing about the .30-30 that I'm not sure I'd like is the scaled up looking .22 tubular magazine.

I've wondered about that, would I like it? The positive I can see in it is the lack of having to lever all the rounds out at the end of the day.

I have to do this with my M94 Winchester, but with my Guide Gun, I can depress the loading gate and remove the rounds that way. I don't know if it will work on the 336, but the .444 and .45-70 will unload that way.

Ugly? Looks ok to me and the forend is definitely better than the Marlin. They went ahead and put an aperature sight on the receiver, which is nice. With the way Remington has FUBARed the Marlin leverguns, this might be just what we needed. Made in America too.

Does it have a safety?????I hope the receiver is not pot metal like the 22`s.

That Henry looks fine to me and so do the new Mossbergs with the checkered walnut stocks. I've been a Marlin lever gun fan for 40 years but the new stuff is junk and I'd buy a Henry, Mossberg or Rossi before I'd buy a Remlin..

Correction- just found out the checkering is done by laser, not pressing. That explains why the checkering is so crisp.

Nice

I have a Henry .22 Levergun topped with a 4X Leupold and it is more accurate than I am..Sure,it is not a Marlin, but it also does not have the Marlin price tag for just a .22 rimfire.

I already have a Winchester 30-30 or I would look hard at the Henry for a 30-30.If it is half as accurate as my Henry .22,I would be tickled silly..

Jayco

I am glad they are American made and appear to be well made rifles, but I just can't get past the looks. The lines are simply not pleasing to my eye.

Best wishes to those who have them and are happy, but nothing made by Henry is pleasing to my old eyes.

beg, borrow, or steal one,and shoot it a few times.then decide.

I recently sold one for a friend that had about 5 rounds through it for $275.00. It jammed with factory ammo. It was attractive.

So rather than send it back to the factory to get it fixed you sold it to some unsuspecting slob ? Henry has a stellar reputation for standing behind their products. I'm sure they would have fixed it free of charge.

have safety. the descriptions are great

You'll pay twice that for a new Marlin that will also jam with factory (or any) ammo. It should have been sent back for repairs.

Why would anyone buy a new Marlin? You can buy a like new Marlin from the 1970s or 80s for $250.00. The Henry's are interesting, unattractive, and very expensive.