Decision time!

[Les]

On the flip side, I was thinking of picking up a Henry pump 22LR as my next Henry purchase - how do you like yours?

I've got a huge smile on my face just thinking about it. The only downside is that it manages to go through huge amounts of ammunition in a very short time. I have no idea why!

[Les]

what do you want use them for .... hunting ? target shooting ?

They will both be used for casual target shooting at 25 - 50 - 100 yards, mostly offhand but occasionally from a bench.

Can't wait to hear about what you get, Les.

NCG, accuracy is important to me, too, and my pump action really surprised me with how well it shoots. I knew it was going to be a lot of fun, but the accuracy was a real added bonus.

To me, the Brass in the 20" barrel is too barrel-heavy. With a few inches cut off it is a one pound reduction in weight which goes a long way to better balance and overall weight. Just my two cents....

That is what I was thinking. Fortunately, I should be able to handle both sized rifles in the shop, so I can get a better idea about which one to go for.

I think you may end up liking the large loop lever- I ended up putting one on my 357 because it works better (for me, anyway) than the standard lever.
I also agree with JEBar - you can't make a bad pick.

You could be correct about the large loop lever, but as things stand I don't like them as much as the standard lever - but I'll never say never.

I totally agree with JEBar and yourself. Whichever rifles I go for, the only regret I know I'll have is not being able to buy more!

Thank you all for your input. I really appreciate all the suggestions and help ...... even though I now want to buy 4 rifles instead of just two!!

[Les]

Update time.

I arrived at the LGS this morning about half an hour after opening time only to be told that everything I wanted had just been sold. This is great news for Henry, and it doesn't surprise me at all - it just shows how popular they are - but not such good news for me.

I now have the problem of having money that is burning a hole in my pocket, so I'll have to fight temptation and hold out until the shop gets its next consignment of Henry rifles.

To quote Yoda - 'happy I'm not'.

[CT_Shooter]

I arrived at the LGS this morning about half an hour after opening time only to be told that everything I wanted had just been sold.
To quote Yoda - 'happy I'm not'.

Aw, Les, that is such bad news. I hope they'll call you as soon as he knows they're on the way. Would they hold them for you with a down payment?

[Sir Henry]

I'm shopping for my first centerfire Henry too.

[Les]

I have actually ordered and paid for a new .22 Henry Frontier 20" this morning. The 24" versions don't seem to be available here - at least not in any sort of numbers. I would have liked to have seen one close up, but I'll be more than happy with the 20". It'll be around a 12 week wait, but I'm not in that much of a hurry.

I'm still dithering over the brass Big Boy in 357. Again, the carbine versions seem to be quite rare here, so I'm almost on the verge of just going for broke and getting the 20", which I have seen at one of the ranges I go to, and I liked it a lot. The wait on that would only be around 5 days, because the importer's have them in stock.

I'm going to give it a good dose of thinking about over the weekend, but I suspect that come Monday, I'll be on the orders hotline!

[Squatch]

I wouldn't sweat it too much. If I was woods hunting a lot the carbine makes a lot of sense. But my Brass Big Boy swings just fine. In reality most any lever gun is pretty much a carbine. Some just a little shorter than others. Short or long they are fine weapons!

I have a Brass Henry in 22LR, 44MAG, and 45/70. All of them in the standard length. They all balance just fine. I like them all just fine. For me when in doubt it's all about sight radius. The more distance between the sights the better your aim will likely be. With my old eyes sighting is more important than weight.

Dozens of folks have shot my Big Boy (aka Mr. Ambassador). Not once has anyone shot it and then said "If this was just a little shorter I'd buy one". It's never even come up. But they do have some weight compared to modern style rifles. But that weight is mighty nice when shooting hotter loads. Not that recoil will be an issue with a 357.

[DWD445]

Man 12 weeks is a long wait, 5 days sounds like a no brainer, though
Keep us posted

[Les]

Man 12 weeks is a long wait, 5 days sounds like a no brainer, though
Keep us posted

I suspect the 12 weeks estimate is just to cover themselves. They will have to order from the USA, then allow for shipping/air freight etc, and with Christmas coming up it all adds time, I suppose. At least I won't have to worry about finding the money, because it's paid for. I'm hoping it won't take quite so long, but there's not much I can do one way or the other except wait patiently. (Yeah, right!)

I have noticed that since I bought my Henry pump action, the prices over here have gone up quite a lot. I paid £530 for the PA, and they are now selling for about £580.The frontier has gone up from about £425 to £475. (+/- $729 for the PA, and $597 for the Frontier). Have the prices increased recently over there, or is the LGS just increasing their profits?

As you say, 5 days for the BB is fine. Even I can wait that long without cussing too much!

I wouldn't sweat it too much.

Squatch, you're absolutely correct. A 20" barrel is a nice size, and very easy to handle. I just would have liked to compare the two together, but I definitely won't worry about ordering the new Big Boy. I've more or less convinced myself to just phone the LGS on Monday morning and order one.

[BigAl52]

I have 5 Henrys in both links. The carbine I have is 45 colt. Its a fun gun to shoot but for me to choose one over the other I couldnt as Iike both models. Since Henry has now chambered 41 mag I will be after one in a carbine. 41 has always been a favorite of mine. Al