Henry Tube Loading Possible Danger

[red ryder]

New to this forum, but not to firearms.

I am looking to buy a Henry rifle in .38/.357. I called the owner of the local range where SASS events are held to ensure that the Henry in .38 (as it's not a true cowboy caliber) would be acceptable for SASS events in case I wanted to embarrass myself at an event The owner of the SASS range came at me about a Henry as though I asked him if cutting off my ears was a good idea. He first told me that I would hate the Henry and then explained how the method of loading a Henry was dangerous. He told me he once saw a Henry being loaded and one of the cartridges must have hit a round just right and went off and cause other cartridges in the tube to also fire.

Later, I asked the manager of the local indoor/outdoor county range if it was acceptable to shoot .38/.357 indoors. As I thought, I was told that any pistol caliber would be okay for indoor use. When I was asked what I was thinking of buying, I told the guys behind the counter a Henry until I spoke to the range owner on the other side of town. The guys at the county range (where I go weekly) all agreed the Henry is NOT dangerous to load. In fact, one of the guys planned to purchase a Henry for his daughter for her birthday.

As I thought the Henry in .38/.357 would be acceptable for use at both ranges, but I wanted to confirm this before I bought the Henry.

So, my question is this: what are your thoughts on the tube loading Henrys safety vs. the "trap door" method of loading of Winchester, Marlin, Uberti, etc? Thank you for your input.

[Steve]

Sounds like you ran into a couple of die hard side gate loaders. Henry would not sell something unsafe, if someone blew one loading a tube they probably had a high primer.

[clovishound]

I would think rounds hit each other with more energy when fired, than dropping down a loading tube. The lever rifles used predominantly at CAS will have the bullets banging against each other inside the gate loaded tube magazine every time they fire it. Henry's are not well regarded by CAS shooters because their design does not lend itself to short stroking, and rapid firing. For range and hunting, Henry's are safe, smooth, beautifully made rifles. I have a Henry .357 Big Boy Steel with well over 2,000 rounds through it. Clovispup and I absolutely love it. Most Henry owners become very passionate about their Henry's.

[JCN]

I wouldn't recommend holding the rifle straight up and down and letting the rounds slam into each other while loading. That said, if you tilt the rifle at an angle and let them slide into the tube (as intended) you will be just fine.

I would also argue that Henry's are safer to unload than side gate loaders. The rounds can be safely dumped out of the tube instead of cycling through the action.

[PT7]

Welcome to the Henry Forum from the Show-Me-State, red ryder.

You will have made an excellent choice if you buy a Henry .357 Magnum rifle --- any of the models. I had two different .357 models, the Bronze Big Boy (H006M), and the steel Big Boy (H012). Both loaded and fired without a hitch. Great rifles.

And I'd agree with JCN's comment...this is the way to load a .357 Henry:

I wouldn't recommend holding the rifle straight up and down and letting the rounds slam into each other while loading. That said, if you tilt the rifle at an angle and let them slide into the tube (as intended) you will be just fine.

Enjoy your Forum visits!

[RanchRoper]

As a new shooter, I'm always careful loading ammo no matter what. My BB 45 Colt is easy to load, and I just exercise a little horse sense; keep it angled so the rounds don't have the opportunity to bounce off one another. I'm up to around a thousand rounds through it this summer and no issues. No pointy bullets.

GREAT rifle.

[red ryder]

Thanks guys for your responses. It is as I thought, no manufacturer of any product would want to risk selling a product that might have such a defect. I have no idea why the range owner said that about Henry rifles. It is not the first time "an expert" told me something as ridiculous as that.

[RanchRoper]

I've just had some CAS guys say Henrys were slow for competition and I'm sure they meant the tube loading. I can see its not the quickest. But, once you get one you won't want to put it down!!

[clovishound]

I've just had some CAS guys say Henrys were slow for competition and I'm sure they meant the tube loading. I can see its not the quickest. But, once you get one you won't want to put it down!!

They probably meant they cycle slowly. For one thing, the design does not allow "short stroking" the action like other designs. "short stroking" is changing the lever action to operate with a shorter throw of the lever. This helps make chambering a round quicker in a competition where fractions of a second can make the difference between winning and losing. My .357 Henry operates as smooth as silk, but it doesn't seem to like rapid fire.

CAS competitors normally have their firearms worked by a gunsmith to facilitate quick action. It is a speed sport, not an accuracy sport.

[tractortad]

Has anyone actually seen a round go off while loading a Henry? It seems like it's always a "I heard it from a guy who heard it from a another guy" kind of story about a round going off in a centerfire Henry tube. When I look at the shape of every 357/38 (or 44s/44mag) bullet that I have shot I really don't see how it could happen. If it really were a problem wouldn't Henry include a warning about it in the owner's manual? I think this issue may be one of those "urban gun myths"...