Marlin VS Winchester VS Henry

[henry22]

Hey guys, I thought this might be a good place to post this.

Long story short, a friend of mine has a Winchester 92' in .45 colt, darn nice rifle. And recently, I got to shoot a guy's Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag. I'm comparing both of these rifles to my recently acquired Henry H001M, which I absolutely love. I'm only comparing the feel of the action, cycling, smoothness etc.

My friend with the Winchester couldn't believe how slick and fast the action on my H001M was. His Winchester felt very similar, but the Marlin I got to shoot felt kind of.... loose. There wasn't any lateral play in the lever so much, the action was fast, but the parts felt loose when it cycled. It's the only way I can explain it, like they lacked density, kind of clanky if that makes any sense.

But my Henry, has this very slick kind of... CHICK CHICK sound, as if the parts are really tightly toleranced. The Marlin, didn't feel like this at all.

Do the Henry Big Boys have the same feel of action as my H001M?

Thanks.

[ditto1958]

It’s a completely different action. The Henry centerfire rifles, both rifle caliber and pistol caliber models, are very similar inside to the Marlin 336.

Henry centerfire rifles do come with very smooth actions and good triggers. My H009 .30-30 when I took it out of the box, was as smooth as a 40 year old Marlin 336.

[North Country Gal]

The closest thing I've found to a Henry rimfire lever gun (as above, the centerfires are different actions) in terms of smoothness and ease of operation in another rimfire lever gun is our Winchester 9422, though I'd still rate the Henry as a touch smoother. The little Browning BL-22 is a slick little gun, too, but it has quite different feel when working the lever. Doesn't open as easily as the Henry or the 9422. As much as I do love our Marlin 39s, not the same as the 9422 or Henry in this respect.

[henry22]

Ok, thanks guys. I'm only asking because if I decided to buy another rifle in the spring, it would likely be a Henry BIg Boy. I was hoping the action would feel similar to my H001M, that focused and smooth CLICK it makes when I cycle the lever.

[BigAl52]

You wont be disappointed in the Henry Big Boy but take a trip to your local gun shop who has them in stock. Im sure you could cycle one there and see for yourself. One in 357 is a great first Big boy choice. Al

[tractortad]

Agree with Ditto on this one. I've got a newer Miroku Winchester 1892 45LC, an older Marlin 1894 45LC (before the Remington buyout), and four Henry Bigboys. The Bigboys feel just like the Marlin, except a little more "loose" (I think you called it clanky). The Winchester has the smoothest action of the three. None of these feel like a 22LR Henry because it is a totally different action with much smaller components. Al is right - you should cycle one at a gun shop...

[Steve51]

I fully agree with others that the action on Henry center fire rifles is not as smooth as the H001. I have never shot the older Winchesters or Marlin lever guns but I did cycle a Marlin (Remlin) .45-70 guide gun before I purchased the Henry BBS .45-70. The one I cycled was very rough and I went with the Henry.

Some people trash Henry rifles on other forums but most have never owned one. In a lever gun, they are my top choice. If something is not right, they will make it right.

[Squatch]

I own a Henry Golden Boy with a lot of rounds through it. It's super buttery smooth.

I own a brass Big Boy in 44 mag with a lot of rounds through it. It feels very close to the GB but is obviously a larger action. Most folks ooh and ahh when they cycle it.

I own a brass 45/70. It is very smooth as well but has more mechanical feel to it because of the much larger action. Lately it is starting to feel a little dirty for lack of a better word. I have never pulled it apart and given it a tear down cleaning and greasing yet as I have the other 2. I think this winter all 3 will get a full take down. When reassembled they will get a dab of Lubriplate grease in the places the factory did the same. I've found in the past that this really slickens up the action on them.

I've shot a couple of later model Winchesters and Marlins. (pre Remilin). Nice but don't feel as good as my Big Boy to me.

[ditto1958]

Henry22, just to be sure, the important point here is you are pretty much trying to compare apples to oranges. Center fire rifles are made with bigger, stronger, heavier components than their rimfire counterparts.

A better comparison would be to find Henry, Marlin and Winchester center fire rifles and compare their actions.

[henry22]

Ok, much thanks for the replies. This is my first rifle ever, so I've only been able to compare it to a few other levers I've fired, 4 different levers etc. My friend has a 92' Winchester in 30-30, it's from the mid 60's, his grandfather gave it to him, and I LOVE that rifle. It's really smooth, and tight feeling, yet slick, no clankity-clank.

I hate to sound like a fan boy, but I'm still in the honeymoon phase with the H001M, it never disappoints me. I recently bought a slightly used Diamondback Vortex, sighted it in a few days ago at the range. It's a 4X12X40, that replaced my Simmons 3X9X40 ProSport. HUGE difference in accuracy, and tighter groupings. I had to sight it in at 100 yards, because I've got this addiction now to shooting small potatoes off the top of the target board - FUN!

It was quite windy that day, and the first few shots seemed high about 4", and to the right 4"
SEE: https://ibin.co/3gtDfsl98lj9.jpg

But after a few adjustments, and a few more shots, it started to tighten up. If you notice the 2 shots at the very top of the paper, that was before I started to zero in the scope. They got tighter, - see the group of 4 shots, above the black marker circle, and then the group within the marker circle. Then later, I brought it down a hair more, and about 4 clicks to the right, and got that group in the top left quadrant, the 2 side by side shots at the bottom of the blue PLUS portion. Not the greatest, mind you, it was windy, too windy to shoot, but we went anyway.

So, if I want to be center, and within the bulls-eye of a target, and my rifle scope is zeroed in at 100 yards, if I shoot at a 50 yard target, should I hold lower than where I hold on the 100 yard target.

The goal here for me, is to hold dead center on a 2" potato at 100 yards, and actually hit it dead center of where the cross hairs are. If I try the same thing at 50 yards, how high might I be?

I'm shooting from a rest, using CCI Maxi-Mag, 40 grain.

Thanks guys.

[North Country Gal]

Yes, a 100 yard zero with a 22 LR means holding low at 50. How much lower can be calculated by software programs, but it's usually in the neighborhood of 3". Because of all the variables, though, you really need to just do some range work and check it for yourself. Try to do the sighting in on a calm day, however. Wind will affect point of impact, especially with a 22 LR out there at 100.

If you plan to shoot back and forth between 50 and 100 yards using a scope, a lot, it helps to mark the adjustments for both ranges on the elevation if your scope does not have a resettable zero option.