Henry H012GM - AKA .357 Mag w/ Side Gate

[cpaspr]

So, some months back I commented in another thread that I had acquired one of the Big Boy Steel rifles in .357Mag/.38Spl, with the side gate. At that point I commented on the rubber butt pad, but that was really about all.

Well, here's a bit more of an expanded second impression.

Fit and finish were really well done. The first magazine full was the only one fired using the factory buckhorn sights. Without adjusting, it hit a bit right and low on a steel plate with the factory rounds at 50 yards. No matter, it was getting a scope. I ordered the one-piece Talley mount, and bought a basic 3x9 from the local Cabela's. I ran out of scope adjustment, and needed to shim the back of the mount .014", but now it shoots POA=POI out to 100 yards just fine.

I found a load it liked with some 145gr cast hollow-point projectiles I'd been given in .357 brass, but those were the only ones I had. Still, 130 rounds should last a while. Several years ago I bought three Lyman lubrisizers from one of our club members, along with a couple hundred pounds of lead and a bunch of already cast projectiles for .38/.357 and .45. The .38/.357 ones were a 162gr wadcutter design, that leaves about 3/16" of the bullet outside the case. They feed fine in the Henry, and I found a .357 load with Accurate #5 that shot to the sights at 50 yards, so loaded up a couple hundred. Every year I sponsor a fun shoot for my office, where I provide the guns, ammo and targets, and they come have fun in a supervised format. This year we had the teenaged daughter of one of the partners who had never shot a gun in her life. I didn't get a chance to watch many of the shooters (that's what my range masters were for), but I did see her go 5 for 5 on a bowling pin and steel plate at 50 and 40 yards respectively with the Henry. So, out to 50 yards at least, that's an accurate round.

Next time I fire the pot up I'm going to cast up a bunch of 173gr Keith semi-wadcutters. They're too long to load in .357 brass crimping in the crimp groove and get them to feed in the Henry, but loaded to +P pressures in .38 brass should work fine. And, for any reloaders, yes, I know I can crimp over the front driving band of that bullet in .357 brass. However, I'm leery of that practice when using a tubular magazine. Nothing to prevent setback. Also, crimping over the front driving band puts enough more bullet in the shell, that you're actually only gaining .040-.050" of additional powder capacity vs just loading .38s to +P loads.

As I mentioned in the other thread, the only negative, and it's merely my preference really, is that the rubber buttpad makes the stock a bit long, and on this particular rifle, is unnecessary. .357Mag doesn't kick that hard.

[cpaspr]

One other thing I remembered. When I was watching the young lady shooting (actually, I was videoing) she thought she was done. I had been keeping an eye on the loading gate and could see the rim of the next round still visible. I told her she had at least one more, so she ran the lever and shot. I know there are some who don't like the loading gate, but I like the option to top off or, as in this case, see that there are more rounds in the magazine.

[BrokenolMarine]

Congrats on the new rifle, and Glad to hear you invite others out to shoot now and then. It's a great way to introduce others to the sport. I agree that the 357 Henry is a soft shooting rifle, my wife made the same statement. Especially with the 38+p. She too shoots it well and enjoys it. She also likes the Golden Boy.

[sibyrnes]

I agree with you about the side gate. I don't use mine for loading as I think it is faster and easier with the tube method, but I like the fact that you can see if another round is in the magazine.

[cpaspr]

Agree, for all 10 I'll use the tube.

When I was showing newbies, I'd have them set up behind the gun, then from the side, I'd hold it just in my hands pointing downrange from my left to right and touch one off to show them how little it kicked. Then I'd use the gate to add back the round I'd just fired so they'd get the full tube to shoot.

[Vaquero]

I know there are some who don't like the loading gate, but I like the option to top off or, as in this case, see that there are more rounds in the magazine.

I myself, Love the loading gate, and despise the tube loading only rifles even though I own a pair.
But, I've owned them long before Henry got off their lazy asses and finally added it.
BUT, I've been shooting lever guns long before this "Henry" co ever came along, mostly Winchester and Marlin.
The only advantage the tube thing is, Unloading. Other than that it's a pain to stop flip or stand the rifle, pull and fight with the liner, fill then drop in.
Hell if I'm shooting from the bench that's a pain, I'd rather just stick them in the loading gate and continue on.
But, to each his own.
And, for those that might say, well sell them and get the sidegate model, that might work in the case of the 44 BBB but, the beloved Henry just won't offer a 41 mag with it.
Rant over.

RP

[Mags]

....
Other than that it's a pain to stop flip or stand the rifle, pull and fight with the liner, fill then drop in.
Hell if I'm shooting from the bench that's a pain, I'd rather just stick them in the loading gate and continue on.
...

Ya, agree easier to load at a bench through the side gate, laying the rifle on it's side and feeding it. Significantly less fumbling the rifle orientation around to get at loading through the feed tube.

[Vaquero]

....
Other than that it's a pain to stop flip or stand the rifle, pull and fight with the liner, fill then drop in.
Hell if I'm shooting from the bench that's a pain, I'd rather just stick them in the loading gate and continue on.
...

Ya, agree easier to load at a bench through the side gate, laying the rifle on it's side and feeding it. Significantly less fumbling the rifle orientation around to get at loading through the feed tube.

I don't even turn the rifles, I can just add rounds while it is sitting on the bags or the sled.
Picking it up turning it around sliding the tube out, Hope The Hell You Don't Bend the Darn thing (my Biggest concern) then sliding it back in and sitting back down. I don't really even like it on the rimfires, out of the 8 to 10 rimfires I own they are mostly mag feed.

RP