Got my Big Boy Steel 41 Mag Carbine today

[Mags]

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Yup that should work. Think you have enough room to get your thumb on the hammer without a hammer extender?

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What did you decide for ring height?

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And I settled on Vortex pro rings, lightweight, not bulky, not terrible expensive (on sale at Midway)...

I got low rings....I believe they'll work... the Henry picatinny rail is .443", the rings are .75" from the base to the center of the ring, and the eyepiece on the scope is 1.6".

Should leave about .383" for hammer clearance.

[Ridgerunner665]

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Yup that should work. Think you have enough room to get your thumb on the hammer without a hammer extender?

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What did you decide for ring height?

I got low rings....I believe they'll work... the Henry picatinny rail is .443", the rings are .75" from the base to the center of the ring, and the eyepiece on the scope is 1.6".

Should leave about .383" for hammer clearance.

I doubt it, I got pretty big hands...I have the hammer spur and will likely use it.

[Mags]

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I needed one as well. I also have the Vortex 0.75" rings on my Long Ranger along with the Skinner low profile split base pair (0.25") for a 1" total height. Eye piece and objective both have about .1" clearance. No room for a thumb.

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Yup that should work. Think you have enough room to get your thumb on the hammer without a hammer extender?

I got low rings....I believe they'll work... the Henry picatinny rail is .443", the rings are .75" from the base to the center of the ring, and the eyepiece on the scope is 1.6".

Should leave about .383" for hammer clearance.

I doubt it, I got pretty big hands...I have the hammer spur and will likely use it.

[Ridgerunner665]

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Don't think so. I can see loading ammo one cartridge at a time through a side gate taking the same amount of time as inserting ammo one at a time through a load tube port, but opening and closing the mag tube is two additional steps that adds a little bit more time over a side gate. Now loading with preloaded speed tubes that's definitely faster. Unloading a Henry side gate is just as fast, since Henry side gates can be unloaded either way (repeated lever actions or by pulling the inner tube).

The point with the side gate really isn't faster loading, it's not having to deal with the ergonomic handing/juggling/fumbling with the inner mag tube during loading.

Lack of a side gate didn't keep me from owning my first Henry (.30-30) and wasn't even a consideration one way or the other for my 2nd Henry, a magazine fed Long Ranger. My 3rd Henry mulling was a for a .44mag, but then Henry came out with side gates. So now I'll wait on that to see what other side gates Henry comes out with. In the meantime I sometime mull over selling my first Henry and using the money toward a side gate .30-30. I go back and forth on that thought.

On the tube loading...

I actually prefer the tube over the gate, I can load the gun and get back in action much quicker than with a side gate...just takes a little practice.

Besides that, I can't remember ever having to reload in a hurry while hunting... don't recall ever firing more than 3 rounds at anything.

A loose loading gate screw can't jam up a gun if it doesn't have one to get loose.

Unloading is quicker and easier.

Tube load lever actions were used in war to great effect....load it on Sunday and shoot it all week.

I understand that some people just like having the loading gate, but its true usefulness is often greatly overstated.

I wouldn't let that stop me from owning a wonderful Henry lever action.

If I need to reload any faster than I can with the tube, I've brought the wrong gun anyway.

I don't find it cumbersome to use the mag tube... but I do have a carbine... the short tube helps.

[JEBar]

On the tube loading...

I actually prefer the tube over the gate, I can load the gun and get back in action much quicker than with a side gate...just takes a little practice.

Besides that, I can't remember ever having to reload in a hurry while hunting... don't recall ever firing more than 3 rounds at anything.

A loose loading gate screw can't jam up a gun if it doesn't have one to get loose.

Unloading is quicker and easier.

Tube load lever actions were used in war to great effect....load it on Sunday and shoot it all week.

I understand that some people just like having the loading gate, but its true usefulness is often greatly overstated.

I wouldn't let that stop me from owning a wonderful Henry lever action.

If I need to reload any faster than I can with the tube, I've brought the wrong gun anyway.

I agree with the above assessment .... as one might expect, we've had many discussions on the positives and negatives of loading gates and tubes .... I own both, I use both, I have no interest whatsoever in parting with either type .... for my use in target shooting and big game hunting there really isn't any advantage to having a loading gate and I have found the ease of operation using a loading tube to be an advantage .... I do believe that Henry has come up with a winner in introducing a line with both .... my hope is they will expand it to other lines ....

[markiver54]

If I'm hunting and need more than one full tube to harvest my quarry, then I should not even be hunting.
When target shooting, I have all the time in the world, ( and probably a bench as well ) to facilitate re-loading.
I don't think I'm gonna be high speed on horse back Buffalo hunting or fighting off adversaries.
The tube works fine for me.

[Mags]

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Not sure why this keeps segwayings into reloading speed and hunting. Not the the point.

As stated earlier "the point with the side gate is not having to deal with the ergonomic handing/juggling/fumbling with the inner mag tube during loading".

With tube loading gotta pull out the inner tube most of the way or completely before inserting ammo.
Where I'm at, there aren't any nice rifle shooting ranges indoors or outdoors with benches for resting a rifle on to reload. Other than at home outdoor ranges are inactive rock quarries in the forest or a cutout along a forest maintenance road. So reloading is a bit of handling/juggling/fumbling with the rifle in one hand, with the inner mag tube sticking out precariously or removed all together, and inserting ammo with the other hand. There's a risk of fumbling/dropping the muzzle and bending or crimping the inner tube while it's sticking out or if its removed, it rolling off into the dirt and grass. Then while picking up the inner tube off the ground, the muzzle of the rifle droops and all the ammo unloads itself into the dirt Sheesh, can avoid all that with a side gate rifle, grip the rifle with one hand and insert ammo into the gate. Period.

If I'm hunting and need more than one full tube to harvest my quarry, then I should not even be hunting.
When target shooting, I have all the time in the world, ( and probably a bench as well ) to facilitate re-loading.
I don't think I'm gonna be high speed on horse back Buffalo hunting or fighting off adversaries.
The tube works fine for me.

[markiver54]

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Not sure why this keeps segwayings into reloading speed and hunting. Not the the point.

As stated earlier "the point with the side gate is not having to deal with the ergonomic handing/juggling/fumbling with the inner mag tube during loading".

With tube loading gotta pull out the inner tube most of the way or completely before inserting ammo.
Where I'm at, there aren't any nice rifle shooting ranges indoors or outdoors with benches for resting a rifle on to reload. Other than at home outdoor ranges are inactive rock quarries in the forest or a cutout along a forest maintenance road. So reloading is a bit of handling/juggling/fumbling with the rifle in one hand, with the inner mag tube sticking out precariously or removed all together, and inserting ammo with the other hand. There's a risk of fumbling/dropping the muzzle and bending or crimping the inner tube while it's sticking out or if its removed, it rolling off into the dirt and grass. Then while picking up the inner tube off the ground, the muzzle of the rifle droops and all the ammo unloads itself into the dirt Sheesh, can avoid all that with a side gate rifle, grip the rifle with one hand and insert ammo into the gate. Period.

If I'm hunting and need more than one full tube to harvest my quarry, then I should not even be hunting.
When target shooting, I have all the time in the world, ( and probably a bench as well ) to facilitate re-loading.
I don't think I'm gonna be high speed on horse back Buffalo hunting or fighting off adversaries.
The tube works fine for me.

I can visualize and respect what your saying Mags. I just have not had those problems. I don't intend to be re-loading while moving, and even with the side gate, Ya still have to carry that ammo.
All boils down to what one likes better and works best for them.

[Mags]

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Not moving around just standing there reloading other than to bend over and pick up the tube and ammo that got dropped.

I can visualize and respect what your saying Mags. I just have not had those problems. I don't intend to be re-loading while moving, and even with the side gate, Ya still have to carry that ammo.
All boils down to what one likes better and works best for them.

[BigAl52]

YA you can stand there and shove rounds in your sidegate and if you dont get them in there just right they exit back out and fall on the ground. Then you can bend over and pick them up out of the dirt with your bloody thumb that you just cut open from trying to shove a round in just right and you cut it on the side gate.

[markiver54]

YA you can stand there and shove rounds in your sidegate and if you dont get them in there just right they exit back out and fall on the ground. Then you can bend over and pick them up out of the dirt with your bloody thumb that you just cut open from trying to shove a round in just right and you cut it on the side gate.

EXACTLY! I also think my agility is good enough to not spill my ammo.
Don't want to scar up my receiver either. Mine isn't even brass...I can only imagine after years of use.

[Vaquero]

Hold on a second, let me grab some tea.
I be right back... this is gettin interestin.

RP

[Vaquero]

Never mind it's after 12.

RP

[Mistered]

The fact is MOST longterm, lever action rifle owners want a side gate as they believe it is part of a 'traditional' lever action rifle and will not buy a Henry because of them not having one. I read it often on other forums.
New lever action rifle owners who had no experience with levers at all had nothing to compare it with so the load tube was not a detractor.
Then there are those who are long term lever owners and bought a Henry out of curiosity, something new etc. and didn't make the load tube an issue - like me.
As I maintain however the load tube has an advantage with shorter, pistol caliber rounds but a side gate favors the longer, rifle rounds.

and if you dont get them in there just right they exit back out and fall on the ground.

The trick with a load gate is to adjust the spring to where when you insert a round it 'sticks' in the gate then you push the next round in pushing the front round forward into the tube then only on the last round do you push it in past the gate where the gate closes.

Don't want to scar up my receiver either. Mine isn't even brass...I can only imagine after years of use.

I have, and have had Winchesters with years of use and LOTS of side gate loading with nary a mark on the receiver.

[Vaquero]

Ed, I think you pretty well summed it up in that post.
Myself I own Henry, Marlin, Rossi and Winchesters, I like them all for what they are.
Can't remember ever getting a finger cut on a loading gate, and have never been in a fire fight with one so as to need a quick load.
I do understand that the tube can fall out or even get bent.
But I'm not in a rush when at the shooting bench, of course all mine are private so I don't have to worry about anyone else.
And when I'm out hunting I have never used more than what rounds were in the firearm.
I mean even calling coyotes if you're lucky enough to see more than one at a time, once you squeeze off the first round you're going to be doing good the get off a couple good shots before they are gone.
Even in a big ole wide open field.

RP

[Mistered]

My thinking is Henry started out building side gates in rifle calibers because I believe the biggest share of complaints about the tube load is from those who own rifle caliber Henrys.

Can't remember ever getting a finger cut on a loading gate

Not only do I not remember as well but it has never happened to me.
I will admit to owning one Winchester where the gate was not properly finished on the inside forward edge and when closed with a round in the tube is difficult to push in but this is an easy fix I have to get to 'one of these days' !

[Ridgerunner665]

I spent a lot of years using Marlin lever actions... bear hunting mostly, with an 1895 and 336.

I haven't cut myself loading them.... but I have had some trouble getting rounds into the tube through the gate.... the 30-30 was worse than the 45-70 but it happened with both.

I've also had the rifle get jammed on a couple of occasions because the loading gate screw got loose.

Both systems have their ups and downs... but I prefer the tube...less parts, more reliable.

[Mags]

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Haven't had the pleasure of that happening (yet).

YA you can stand there and shove rounds in your sidegate and if you dont get them in there just right they exit back out and fall on the ground. Then you can bend over and pick them up out of the dirt with your bloody thumb that you just cut open from trying to shove a round in just right and you cut it on the side gate.

[markiver54]

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Haven't had the pleasure of that happening (yet).

YA you can stand there and shove rounds in your sidegate and if you dont get them in there just right they exit back out and fall on the ground. Then you can bend over and pick them up out of the dirt with your bloody thumb that you just cut open from trying to shove a round in just right and you cut it on the side gate.

And I've not had the ' misfortune ' of a tube spilling yet.
Tit for tat...no biggie. I understand the thinking of traditionalists.

[Mags]

Hey, hey no name calling

... I understand the thinking of traditionalists.