Side Gate vs Tube Feed

[deano5150]

I only own Henry’s and love them. I think it would be cool if Henry could add a side gate and keep the same loading tube. You could safely load and unload with the standard tube and top off your rifle in the field with the loading gate. I like the loading tube system but it might be nice to not have to deal with that extra part while out in the field. Just a thought.

[Mags]

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I think similar, but with 3. If I miss thrice, it wasn't meant to happen.

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.

[Mistered]

but I’m always a bit worried about losing the feed rod in the bush,

Well, this is a real concern (on several levels...)
But with regard to rifles with load tubes it is a good idea to check it often - especially if carrying in the woods as loss is a possibility - don't ask me how I know....

[220]

One of the attractions for me with pistol cal levers is their versatility.
The lack of a loading gate detracts from the versatility for me. I regularly carry my levers around the farm usually with the mags nearly full of full power loads and will slip a reduced load in when a shot a small game presents.
Without a load gate I can single load directly into the chamber but need the mag empty to do so. When there is the chance I might bump into a mob of hogs, pack of dogs and only have a few seconds to get a shot or multiple away carrying empty isnt an option.

[Redthies]

but I’m always a bit worried about losing the feed rod in the bush,

Well, this is a real concern (on several levels...)
But with regard to rifles with load tubes it is a good idea to check it often - especially if carrying in the woods as loss is a possibility - don't ask me how I know....

At least you can still breach load if you lose the rod, and get on with your day (assuming you’re not trying to stop a charging grizzly). I may start wrapping a lap of electrical tape around the barrel and tube where the rod end is exposed when I’m in the real thick stuff.

[Henry88]

Surprising the attention, considering in 99.99 percent of the cases, it won't matter.

[Mistered]

I wouldn't be as concerned about it if the rifle were loaded and the tube locks up tightly in the pin recess on the end of the outer tube. Also I suspect if the tube were to come loose and was to fall out when loaded it would be hard to overlook with it and the ammo falling out.
I think a greater chance of loss is when unloaded and the tube is taken out for cleaning or unloading - which I THINK is how I lost the loading tube to my Marlin Golden 39 many years ago.

[PatientWolf]

Tube feed/gate feed...Ford/Chevy. It’s a matter of taste and people will always have a difference of opinion.

Interestingly, I do have a Rossi ‘92 in .454 Casull that offers both.

[Ramjet]

Yea I see allot people in happy but for me I Iike the Henry just the way they are in fact I made some speed loaders with simple poly tubing and a cap on each end. I use them at the range and keep a couple in the truck with my 357 mag Henry carbine.

[dddrees]

Tube feed




Side Gate

[Firefly]

I also prefer not to have a loading gate, my last marlin 45/70 used to remove blood on a regular basis, the only time I can see a use for one is in action shooting when you just need a couple more shots to complete a course of fire, if you need 10 more pulling the inner tube and dumping 10 rounds from a fast load tube is quicker.

[BigAl52]

Check out the new Henry side gate it has both. The sidegate on the new Henry is 10 times smoother than any Marlin I have ever used. No band-aides needed.

[Mags]

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Where the band-aid is needed is on the side of the receiver where spent cases sometimes swivel around and bounce off the side of the receiver when ejected. This can be seen in some of the slow motion video of the side-gate promos. This happening is not limited to the side-gate rifles. My tube fed .30-30 does this sometimes too. I have nice shiny gorgeous brass that is marred by flea tracks behind the eject port from case swivel/bounce.

Check out the new Henry side gate it has both. The sidegate on the new Henry is 10 times smoother than any Marlin I have ever used. No band-aides needed.

[RanchRoper]

I catch the brass on my hat brim as it comes out.

[Mags]

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That's good. Don't want one of those swiveling/devils coming around and bouncing off an eyeball.

I catch the brass on my hat brim as it comes out.

[BigAl52]

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Where the band-aid is needed is on the side of the receiver where spent cases sometimes swivel around and bounce off the side of the receiver when ejected. This can be seen in some of the slow motion video of the side-gate promos. This happening is not limited to the side-gate rifles. My tube fed .30-30 does this sometimes too. I have nice shiny gorgeous brass that is marred by flea tracks behind the eject port from case swivel/bounce.

Check out the new Henry side gate it has both. The sidegate on the new Henry is 10 times smoother than any Marlin I have ever used. No band-aides needed.

I didn't know brass had blood Mags.

[BigAl52]

On a side note
I have 2 45-70's if this is a problem connected with longer cases and I don't have that issue. I don't see those marks on any of the other pistol calibers that I have also. I wonder if its just the way your ejector is kicking the shells out.

[Mags]

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It's a timing thing I think. The ejector kicks the case out sometimes before the extractor has let go of the rim. The case rim and extractor act as a hinge to swing that case back into the side of the receiver. Like opening a door too hard and having the door knob go through the sheetrock. Doesn't happen with every eject. Again it can be seen happening in the slow motion promo videos. I'll get a picture posted later of the flea nicks in the brass. Then take real good close relook at your .45-70.

On a side note
I have 2 45-70's if this is a problem connected with longer cases and I don't have that issue. I don't see those marks on any of the other pistol calibers that I have also. I wonder if its just the way your ejector is kicking the shells out.

[Mags]

In this video, starting 13:45, watch closely the cases flip around a full 180' and bounce off the receiver.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoDlGVP-h1o

Picture of the side of my .30-30. Hard to get a good picture, lighting doesn't show it as bad as it really is. Much worse.
Lighting does better picking up the swirls in the wax elsewhere in the picture.

Inked20190517_143500_LI.jpg

[BigAl52]

Thats character there Mags. No extra charge for making yours unique to you.