Side Gate vs Tube Feed

[tarbe]

Not to mention there is a certain sense of accomplishment launching your Henry brass loading tube downrange for the first time....

Haven't done that, yet! But I'm a Henry newb, so I'm working up to it!

[Cofisher]

I borrowed a friends marlin 3030 years ago to hunt. I did not enjoy the side loading gate. I have yet to launch my Henry mag tube. Looking forward to the surprise.

[CT_Shooter]

I have yet to launch my Henry mag tube. Looking forward to the surprise.

I'm pretty sure you will only get it once. Enjoy.

[Henry88]

That tube is HRA's answer to the Johnny Seven....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPhZsauluXM

Too good! Reminded me of a secret agent toy gun we had as kids. it fit in a plastic briefcase that had a button on the side for firing through the end of the case. Long since forgot the name of it.

Had that one; it's a James Bond briefcase based on one that he had in Russia with Love???

[Henry88]

The PPK/S is cool but I want the DB5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D1nK7q2i8I

[LeverLover]

I launched my tube down range a couple weeks ago for the first time because my fingers were too cold to feel the knob. I warmed my hands while waiting for the range to go cold. I will have to pace myself in that weather.

[RanchRoper]

I launched my tube down range a couple weeks ago for the first time because my fingers were too cold to feel the knob. I warmed my hands while waiting for the range to go cold. I will have to pace myself in that weather.

It's like a Henry rite of passage...

[Shakey Jake]

Just got a Marlin (JM Stamp) 1894 .44 mag off Gunbroker. I'll let you know if I have any preferences tube vs side gate. On another topic I decided not to send my .327 back to Henry over the rust problem on the barrel. I'll monitor it and if it gets worse then I'll contact about sending back.

[Henry88]

Hickok45 sure likes his loading gates..............

https://youtu.be/HAfhOcL8QVY?t=4m22s

[Yornoc3]

That's a nice reinforcement of why I bought a Henry lever action after having a Marlin 45-70 years ago. It reminded me of the wear and tear on my thumb from loading it. We won't discuss the occasional digging through the snow for rounds after unloading. Nice rifle otherwise, though .

[dngnmn]

The tube feed is one reason I purchased mine. I Wanted something different than my other guns.

[Mistered]

Repeating myself but the side gate is satisfactory for longer rounds like 30-30 but can be a problem with shorter, straight wall pistol rounds - and this is where tube feed shines. I can load my BBB faster and with less hassle than my formerly owned Winchester .357 Trapper. My Mod 94's in 30-30 - no debate but tube feed has advantages with the smaller rounds.

[Vaquero]

I own Henrys, Marlins, a Rossi, and a few Winchesters.
So you could say I like Lever guns don't mind the tube loaders'
Actually one of the last time I had a few of them at the range,
I was thinking how nice it was just to pull the tube and drop the ammo in, vs
having to push all those other rounds through those tight loading gates.

RP

[Mistered]

The 'trick' with a loading gate is to adjust the spring tension to when the round is pushed into the gate the round will stay held with the base exposed so you push this round in with the next, this one is held base exposed and so on. This adjustment however is sometimes easier said than done.

[Vaquero]

Mistered, that's the way I do it also.
But after a couple hrs. it still wears on those fangers.

RP

[csgrv]

The wife likes her Henry's tube load. The only other Henry I have is the Long Ranger so no tube ........that being said I do hate getting pinched in the Marlin 30-30 I own.

[Rifletom]

I prefer the tube fed on my Henry's. A simpler, easier design. I also think what bandit1250 mentions on page 1 regarding this subject certainly holds water. Good point really.

[Mags]

growing up watching a lot of western tv and movies. so have a fair amount of nostalgia for the side gate loading. wish Henry offered it. Also makes me leery having the inner mag tube extended out so far during loading. 'fraid I'll bump it or something and end up bending it. then there is the inner tube sometimes getting hung up on case rims when inserting. even though I've followed mistered's instructions, his guidance resulted in improvement, but not elimination. I still get hangups with all brands of ammo and snapcaps except for Federal Fusion. I think the shape of the Federal Fusion bullet has something to do with why I don't get hangups with that ammo.

[mrguvna]

I have all of them, magazine fed levers, tube fed and side gate. Makes no difference to me. I am not in a wartime situation where fast reloads is required.matter of fact I hunt with my marlin 1895 and only keep one in the chamber and one in the mag tube anyway. Figger if I miss twice time to head back to the cabin anyway.

[Redthies]

I have two of each. I prefer the tube fed for loading and unloading often (at the range or hunting from a vehicle), but I’m always a bit worried about losing the feed rod in the bush, so if I’m hacking my way through leaves and wool, the side gate is foolproof. Too bad (?!) I’m carrying my Henrys in the woods 99% of the time so I just have to be aware of the rod being in place.