Side Gate vs Tube Feed

[Gregorsway]

My brothers and I grew up shooting a Stevens 66b tube-fed .22LR. Can't tell you how many pills we dropped down that throat! It was a plenty! Never had any issues with it.

Grandpa had a Marlin 30-30 side feed and he let me borrow it a time or two to deer hunt. Never had any problems with it either.
Now I own a Henry 45-70 brassy tube feed and I enjoy it- but sometimes it is an adventure getting the tube to slip down over the fat slugs that the 45-70 are! I twist, turn, and pray until it goes. I rang the gong at 100 meters with it Saturday morning and smiled all the way back to the barn.

[Henry88]

My brothers and I grew up shooting a Stevens 66b tube-fed .22LR. Can't tell you how many pills we dropped down that throat! It was a plenty! Never had any issues with it.

Grandpa had a Marlin 30-30 side feed and he let me borrow it a time or two to deer hunt. Never had any problems with it either.
Now I own a Henry 45-70 brassy tube feed and I enjoy it- but sometimes it is an adventure getting the tube to slip down over the fat slugs that the 45-70 are! I twist, turn, and pray until it goes. I rang the gong at 100 meters with it Saturday morning and smiled all the way back to the barn.

^^^ This ^^^

Subconsciously, we associate the tube feed with a .22 and the loading gate with the big guns.

Save the fact the original Henry was tube fed, the Marlin and Winchester guys will have none of it..............

[Sir Henry]

I prefer a loading gate because that is the way Lucas McCain loaded his Winchester in the opening sequence.

X2 I think the folks at the Marlin forum fancy themselves as Steve McQueen, reloading in the heat of battle, rather than some pre-puberty adolescent loading his Glenfield model 60.

I like to think of myself as a cross between Lucas McCain and Josh Randle.

[steelersfan97]

Tastes Great! Less Filling!

[RanchRoper]

I prefer a loading gate because that is the way Lucas McCain loaded his Winchester in the opening sequence.

X2 I think the folks at the Marlin forum fancy themselves as Steve McQueen, reloading in the heat of battle, rather than some pre-puberty adolescent loading his Glenfield model 60.

I like to think of myself as a cross between Lucas McCain and Josh Randle.

I'm about 80% Curly and 20% Shemp.

[ditto1958]

Is this horse still dead?

[CaliforniaMike]

I love the tube loading feature and have made my own speed loaders for the 45 LC for my Big Boy. I load them at home (5 loaders X 10 rds each) and head to the range. I can reload in about 15 seconds and with practice can probably get that time down some. I can also unload with the same tubes and not have to drop the rounds on a bench and have them roll around.

[JCN]

Going to comment a little late because I just saw this thread.

Yes, the biggest gripe I hear on other forums (Calguns specifically) is the lack of loading gate. I've defended the tube loading system many many times!

[JEBar]

I don't much care what the item or even thought is, some folks will like it and some won't ....

the reality is,

they have no control over what I like nor do I have any control over what the like

they have no right to tell me what I should like/dislike nor do I have any right to tell them what they should like/dislike

I've chosen not to worry about folks who dislike a Henry, what they think is irrelevant

[Squatch]

Bottom line is this. While someone was complaining about no loading gate. Henry just sold a few more made in USA lever guns!

#7 on the hit parade and a family owned business at that. Not some huge holding company like so many other once respected names.

If lack of a loading gate was really that big of a deal would folks be wondering why Henry can't keep the racks full at the local gun store.

Some folks don't know how to deal with the threat of a "new" traditional looking lever gun that is not a copy of anything made in the 1,800's.

[red ryder]

I just bought my Henry BB .357 after going over the side gate vs. the loading tube issue. My first lever action in the early 90's was a Winchester 94 in .45 LC. It was sent back to Winchester three times b/c of failure to feed rounds. Finally Winchester sent me a check for the purchase price. I added money and bought an Uberti in .45 LC with a 24-1/4" barrel. I soon realized the barrel was too long and so I sold that and bought a Marlin in .45 LC with a color case hardened receiver. Each of these lever actions took skin off my thumb no matter how careful I was. My source to reload .45 LC decided b/c of legal liability to discontinue reloading my saved brass. I sold my beautiful Marlin. Years later I got the itch for another lever action rifle after watching an infomercial with Anthony Imperato, but this time in .357. For over six months I looked for another side loader. Well Marlin doesn't make .357 any more and everyone tells me it's not the same since Remington bought them and makes them in the old Ilion, New York factory. It's old, I know, I was there in 1999 when Remington had a sporting clays school in Ilion. Winchester may be good, but not in my experience. I looked for used lever actions for six months, but all I found in .357 looked like the stock was used as a hammer or baseball bat. Henry was left and now my thumbs are grateful. The fact that it's the only lever action (correct me if I'm wrong) that is 100% made in the USA was another plus. Also those Henry infomercials convinced me that Mr. Imperato would take care of me if the Henry needed warranty work. If Henry made both loading systems, I guess I would buy the side loader and lots of band-aids.

[RanchRoper]

I'll likely be the slowest guy reloading at the range with my new 1860 but it's sure gonna be fun to shoot.

[tx gunrunner]

My first lever action in the early 90's was a Winchester 94 in .45 LC. It was sent back to Winchester three times b/c of failure to feed rounds.

The Winc 92 and 94 was designed for bottleneck cartridges like 44-40 and 30-30 . Straight wall cartridge like 45 Colt and 38/357 can be a problem in 92 and 94 Winc guns with a ramp to push bullets in chamber on a angle . The 45 Colt in a long action like 94 Winc is another problem .... Guns like a 1860 , 1866 and 1873 Winc or clone have a elevator to lift a straight wall cartridge up to it is in perfect alignment before pushing it in the chamber . I hope this help .

[red ryder]

My first lever action in the early 90's was a Winchester 94 in .45 LC. It was sent back to Winchester three times b/c of failure to feed rounds.

The Winc 92 and 94 was designed for bottleneck cartridges like 44-40 and 30-30 . Straight wall cartridge like 45 Colt and 38/357 can be a problem in 92 and 94 Winc guns with a ramp to push bullets in chamber on a angle . The 45 Colt in a long action like 94 Winc is another problem .... Guns like a 1860 , 1866 and 1873 Winc or clone have a elevator to lift a straight wall cartridge up to it is in perfect alignment before pushing it in the chamber . I hope this help .

I guess I forgot exactly which Winchester I had. It was a long time ago and I'm old and just sitting around waiting for the grim reaper to knock on my door and tell me it's time to go.

[RanchRoper]

If you're waiting for him, he won't come. It's like Santa.

[SteveO1704]

I went back and forth over side load or front load. Decided front load is ok because I want side eject more so I can install a peep/scope to compensate for my aging eyes.

[clovishound]

I've tried side loading gates. Made me glad I have a front loader.

[RanchRoper]

...or maybe a rear load tube fed 1865 Spencer is best?

[ditto1958]

I've tried side loading gates. Made me glad I have a front loader.

Loading handgun caliber cartridges through a gate is easy. Loading 30-30's is often not fun at all.

[tx gunrunner]

I've tried side loading gates. Made me glad I have a front loader.

I did a lot of rabbit hunting and topping off loading tube after firing when walking can be a pain . I shot a lot of rats and sitting at the dump at night and a loading tube was no problem . I used a Marlin 39 and I bent a brass inside tube walking and loading when I hit a low tree branch .

Now riding a horse or motorcycle and hunting the side loading gate is a blessing after firing your gun to top it off and fast too . Like a 92 or 94 Winc . No inside loading tube fall out and lose or bend . If I shoot on bench I load gun thur the ejection port .