Henry Rifle Forums

Hi,

I am thinking about adding another Henry to my .357 BB CH SL 16" Carbine. I have noticed many of the larger calibers come with a pistol grip instead of the straight traditional one. Does the pistol grip allow for better control with recoil? I am just trying to understand why many levers, and not just Henry, have pistol grips.

Thanks and Happy Father's Day!!

Yes, a pistol grip does help with the recoil on the heavy kickers like a 45-70 lever gun with stout loads. Had a straight grip Marlin and a pistol grip Marlin, both in 45-070 and I noticed the difference. Wasn't enough to turn the pistol grip version into a soft kicker - not even close - but it helped a bit.

With a .357 I don't think that recoil will be an issue no matter what type of stock.

Personally I like pistol grip rifles just for the looks. I wish Henry would offer them in the Big Boy Steel.

To my eye, a traditional straight stock lever action just looks right. But I use pistol grip stocks since I'm choosing function over form due an age related condition.

As I've gotten older, my joints aren't as limber as they used to be, especially in my hands. A pistol grip lever action is much more comfortable to hold since my hand and fingers are more naturally aligned with my wrist, giving me a more relaxed grip. With a straight stock, my fingers are rotated down and back slightly. I then feel quite a bit of tension in the back of my hand and along the tendons and muscles leading into my thumb.

Just to give the OP an idea, I recently replaced the straight stock and lever on my BB Steel side gate with a pistol grip stock and an X model large loop lever. With my luck, Henry will be offering a factory rifle just like this next week.

Very nice looking rifle, azdover.

Shotgunning and with rifles on moving targets. The RIGHT hand moves the gun and the left just holds it up. The "pistol grip" is much easier to "guide"the gun than an English style straight stock..........Giving that.........ALL my lever rifles are straight stock except one. And that's my Marlin 336 XLR in 30/30.

for me its a matter of personal preference .... we have and use some straight stocked shotguns and rifles .... they are fine, I wouldn't trade any of them but I prefer the feel of pistol grips

The straight stocks just look more Cowboy, and is what I prefer.
All of my pistol caliber rifles are straight stocked, and
most but not all rifle calibers have pistol grips.
Really, I myself can't tell that much difference in the way one handles over the other.
I have 5 30-30's for example, two Winchesters and one Marlin with the straight stock, and
two more Marlins that have the PG.
The only advantage is the the 2 with the PG's are scoped so I end up with tighter groups when shooting paper with those.
I could mount a scope on the Texan Marlin to compare but I won't.

And as Jim said above I have no desire to part with Any of them.

RP