Henry Rifle Forums

He loaded it with the lever open which isn't recommended. But its a great 20 minute video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... Fo08L1xRec

Hickock45, always entertaining. I like his shooting gallery. I'm a poor city dweller, so I have to use a club range. They have a no garbage shooting rule, tin cans, soda bottles. But if I'm there alone the rules don't apply.

RoadBlocker wrote:Hickock45, always entertaining. I like his shooting gallery. I'm a poor city dweller, so I have to use a club range. They have a no garbage shooting rule, tin cans, soda bottles. But if I'm there alone the rules don't apply.

Rules only apply if you get caught.

Video was a good one. Great outdoor lighting that day, with the sun and shadows looking really cool across the range. Always fun to listen to Hickok45's "chuckle" after each shot he takes!

OK, I've made the same mistake on loading my Henry with the lever open; caught myself, emptied the magazine, and started over. It's clear in the instruction manual, from the WARNING Henry lists, we're not to load with the lever open. But I've never had my Henry dis-assembled, so don't clearly know how everything operates when getting ready to chamber a round.

So my Qs: What is the warning trying to prevent? What happens if incorrectly loaded?

PT7 wrote:Video was a good one. Great outdoor lighting that day, with the sun and shadows looking really cool across the range. Always fun to listen to Hickok45's "chuckle" after each shot he takes!

OK, I've made the same mistake on loading my Henry with the lever open; caught myself, emptied the magazine, and started over. It's clear in the instruction manual, from the WARNING Henry lists, we're not to load with the lever open. But I've never had my Henry dis-assembled, so don't clearly know how everything operates when getting ready to chamber a round.

So my Qs: What is the warning trying to prevent? What happens if incorrectly loaded?

The loading part of the stroke is dependent on the tube spring exerting the right amount of force to push the round into the correct position. Plus you can load one round too many which will cause it to jam everytime.

You don't need to take the rifle apart. Load it with the gate open and watch what happens to the round as you try to chamber it.

When I first started shooting (with a Henry), I thought leaving the action open while fully loading the magazine was prudent. It let me and others know that the rifle was safe until the action was closed. It was a post on the previous Henry forum (by Sir Henry, if I recall correctly) that made me aware of the warning in the manual. After that, I began to faithfully load the magazine with the action closed.

Newbies learn a little at a time, and I am a newbie. But, for the many hundreds of rounds I loaded before making that change, I never had a problem that would make me question what I was doing, and I still don't really know what is the potential problem. Nonetheless, I now keep it closed when loading, and continue to have no problems.

CT_Shooter wrote:When I first started shooting (with a Henry), I thought leaving the action open while fully loading the magazine was prudent. It let me and others know that the rifle was safe until the action was closed. It was a post on the previous Henry forum (by Sir Henry, if I recall correctly) that made me aware of the warning in the manual. After that, I began to faithfully load the magazine with the action closed.

Newbies learn a little at a time, and I am a newbie. But, for the many hundreds of rounds I loaded before making that change, I never had a problem that would make me question what I was doing, and I still don't really know what is the potential problem. Nonetheless, I now keep it closed when loading, and continue to have no problems.

I think it matters most if you have the rifle more horizontal and if you close the lever, or should I say leever, in that position.

Thanks for the explanation, Sir Henry. OK, I'll also try your suggestion next time I'm loading up, and see what happens. And I hope it's clear to me what I'm seeing in light of "the tube spring exerting the right amount of force to push the round into the correct position." Can't see it here on paper, but hands on is always better anyway.


CT, I know what it is to be a "newbie." I'm right there with ya

That's one situation where the Speed D Loader helps. Just put in the number of rounds that the magazine holds and dump them in.

PT7 wrote:Thanks for the explanation, Sir Henry. OK, I'll also try your suggestion next time I'm loading up, and see what happens. And I hope it's clear to me what I'm seeing in light of "the tube spring exerting the right amount of force to push the round into the correct position." Can't see it here on paper, but hands on is always better anyway.


CT, I know what it is to be a "newbie." I'm right there with ya

When you have rifle and ammo in hand it will all make sense.

I've never loaded any of my Henrys with the lever "open." Question: How can one load the Henry with the lever "open" while being held horizontal? I ask because gravity comes into play as the ammo will not "fall" into place unless the rifle in held in the vertical position.

Cyrille wrote:I've never loaded any of my Henrys with the lever "open." Question: How can one load the Henry with the lever "open" while being held horizontal? I ask because gravity comes into play as the ammo will not "fall" into place unless the rifle in held in the vertical position.

It only needs about twenty degrees for the ammo to fall.

We went through this occurance many years ago while my boys were at an Appleseed event. You have to put a flag in the chamber between shoots, action open. The instructors told us to load with flag in, lever down. While on the ground, to work the action the boys would have to tilt the gun sideways because the lever couldn't make full stroke. When a Henry is tipped, the round trying to enter the chamber isn't lined up " sometimes", causing a jam. If you force it you could damage the bullet. It was somewhat baffling because Wiinchester & Marlin lever actions are different configurations and don't jam. They have their own jamming quirks. Heh!
RB.

RoadBlocker wrote:We went through this occurance many years ago while my boys were at an Appleseed event. You have to put a flag in the chamber between shoots, action open. The instructors told us to load with flag in, lever down. While on the ground, to work the action the boys would have to tilt the gun sideways because the lever couldn't make full stroke. When a Henry is tipped, the round trying to enter the chamber isn't lined up " sometimes", causing a jam. If you force it you could damage the bullet. It was somewhat baffling because Wiinchester & Marlin lever actions are different configurations and don't jam. They have their own jamming quirks. Heh!
RB.

Bingo!

Seems that it is simpler if one uses a "loading block" such as the one pictured, however I believe that when using the "speed loader" it would be easier to just hold the rifle in the vertical position.

Cyrille wrote:... I believe that when using the "speed loader" it would be easier to just hold the rifle in the vertical position.

I use my speed loader with the rifle angled just like Sir Henry's barrel rest. The loader's tip fits easily to the magazine without spilling; they just slide down the tube.

Henry sells speed loaders that fit perfect.

https://www.henryrifles.com/product/spee-d-loader/