Marlin 30/30 needed a little brother.

[Popeye]

I've been looking to expand on my 22caliber plinking fun for some time now. So while I was at the GS the other day I saw this good looking little guy, and decided my Marlin 30/30 could use a little brother named Henry.:D
7839.

[JustinN]

Very Nice! There's just something about lever action guns. I still really want a Marlin in 45-70.

My dad has an old Marlin .22 lever action that is just a fantastic little gun. It's not as small, light, or as easy to load as my 10/22, but there's just something "better" about it.

Congrats!!

[Popeye]

Thanks, Agreed Justin
Ruger 10/22's are lot of fun for putting a lot of ammo down range in a hurry. Especially with the 25 round mags. Bolt actions 22's are pretty cool to as they slow the pace down some and make you work a little between each round before squeezing the trigger. Lever actions fit somewhere in the middle of the two. The 10/22 and the Marlin Bolt action both have optics on them. So to change things up even more I think,at least for now anyway, I'm going to just shoot iron sights with the Henry.

The furniture on it is amazing, and the action on these little Henry's is so smooth. It hardly feels like there's any guts in the rifle. Wish my Marlin 30/30 was as smooth. I'm not saying the action on the 30/30 is bad, but it's not close to the action on the Henry. In all fairness though the Marlin 30/30 is a 1981 vintage.

[Bawanna]

The scope on your Marlin actually looks pretty nice, to me putting a scope on a lever gun is generally sacrilege but the Marlin looks good.

Leave the Henry in iron though.

I want a Wild West Co Pilot now, a take down Marlin that will shoot 45-70 or their Co Pilot hot rod round. Kind of rich for me though.

[Popeye]

The scope on your Marlin actually looks pretty nice, to me putting a scope on a lever gun is generally sacrilege but the Marlin looks good.

Leave the Henry in iron though.

I want a Wild West Co Pilot now, a take down Marlin that will shoot 45-70 or their Co Pilot hot rod round. Kind of rich for me though.

I like to mix things up a little from time to time Bawanna. I figure the SKS and the 30/30 pretty much have the same balistics, but scopes do not work so well on SKS's, so I put it on the 30/30. With these old eyes it makes for alot more accurate shooting.;)

[Bawanna]

I understand. I still put looking cool ahead of being able to hit anything though.

I'd rather have a 66 chevy pickup with no engine than a 2013 Prius off the showroom floor. Looking cool is everything.

I don't like SKS's or AK's with scopes either. Maybe I just don't like scopes?

The Co Pilot which actually looks very much like your Marlin since it starts life as a Marlin don't look bad with a scope either. They do have Scout mounts for forward mounting that is something I'm still trying to grasp.

Just don't seem natural. It works well, just looks funny.

[JFootin]

I saw one of those at my local Walmart awhile back. $299. Bud's is $297 + free shipping, no tax, $20 FFL fee. It would be a couple of dollars less from Bud's. Hmm.

[TheTman]

JustinN my brother has a 45-70 lever action, I think he still wants to sell it. It was in a batch of guns he bought from a friends widow. I think it's a Marlin, with half octogon barrel, and half round. If interested PM me and I'll see if he still wants to sell it, check it out further, get all the details on it, and let you know what he wants for it and all. I think he kept it because none of his friends were interested in buying it. I remember it was in very good shape, and has not been fired since my brother got it several years ago.

[Popeye]

I saw one of those at my local Walmart awhile back. $299. Bud's is $297 + free shipping, no tax, $20 FFL fee. It would be a couple of dollars less from Bud's. Hmm.

That's about right, I paid $309 out the door. Not bad at all for 100% American made little lever action 22 with a great reputation.:amflag:

[AJBert]

The scope on your Marlin actually looks pretty nice, to me putting a scope on a lever gun is generally sacrilege but the Marlin looks good.

Leave the Henry in iron though.

I want a Wild West Co Pilot now, a take down Marlin that will shoot 45-70 or their Co Pilot hot rod round. Kind of rich for me though.
Never knew a thing about the Co Pilot until a buddy of mine bought one a few weeks ago out of the Gun Library. He did some research on it before buying as it didn't tend to have all the work done to it the Wild West does to them.

Turns out it was a real Co Pilot but one of the earliest versions. He called Wild West to find out about getting the rest of the work done to it. Whoever he was talking to asked him how much he paid for it and then offered $400 more than he paid for it, only seeing the pics he had sent.

I told him to leave it alone but I don't think he will go that route. At least I got to learn just a bit more about the vast world of firearms.

[mr surveyor]

A few years ago I bought a slight used (mostly abused) Henry Golden Boy from another shooting friend and gave it to my son (and grandson) to have for a plinker. It had apparantly been dry fired multiple times, thus causing the typical nasty burr on the chamber throat. After multiple fail to extract issues, we took it out to one of the locals that had "tools" and used his chamber fixin' tool. It's worked for the most part, but could still use a bit more fixin. The gun is extremely accurate, and smooth operating, but the chamber burr is a real PITA. The Henry rimfire rifles are top shelf in my opinion.

As for the other Henry lever guns..... not for me. I just don't want a tube loading centerfire rifle. Give me a loading gate.

surv

[Popeye]

Just got back from the range and I only took my 22's today because I had a corizone shot in my left wrist at the base of my thumb yesterday.:eek:
It still smarts a little, and didn't want to push it with the larger caliber pistols. As usual the 10/22 and the 22/45 did there Ruger 22 magic.
I shot them first. Then I shot the Henry. Now I'm not going to BS anyone and say that this is the greatest rifle since the invention of smokless gun powder. What I will say and swear to it, that after approx 150 rounds is it is a very accurate little rifle. It's ability to chamber,shoot, and eject multiple brands and bullet types is excellent. I had "0" issues. Naturally the better the bullet the better the results as far as accuracy goes. I did not have to touch the sites as they are dead nut on. The smooth action that Henry's are know for remained constant up to the last round I fired. How much father it could have gone without cleaning could be anyones guess. IMO it probably have gone to 300 or more without any noticable difference in accuracy or the rifles action or ability to chamber fire and eject the rounds. I chose not to push it any farther on it's maiden voyage to the range. Ok so hear is my unbiased opinion. Even with a sore thumb. If you like lever action rifles, and you also enjoy shooting 22's, and you do not have, or want to spend a boat load of money for a good reliable and accurate 22. You might want to take a look at the Henry Lever action rifles. The rifle (H001)I bought was the most inexpensive rifle they make. They run in the neighborhood of $300+/- and worth every penny. IMO, They really are what most owners,and the company say they are, and I'm glad I bought it, and the fact that every part on it is American made just makes it better yet.:Amflag2: It is definately a keeper.

[Bawanna]

Excellent report. The kind we love to hear but don't hear nearly often enough.

[JFootin]

Thanks Popeye! :yo: Elsewhere I said I am trying to decide on a 22 rifle. I was thinking that the Henry Lever Action would be a good choice for the reasons you stated, although I'd like a smooth pump action because you keep your shooting hand still.

The Henry Pump Action Octagon .22 Rifle
(http://henryrepeating.com/rifle-pump.cfm)
http://shasta4hrifle.com/images/PumpActionHenry.jpg

The Taurus Model 62 (http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=428&category=Rifle)

http://www.taurususa.com/images/imagesMain/M62R.jpg

[Alfonse]

Beautiful, and you will look cool with it.

[Popeye]

Thanks Popeye! :yo: Elsewhere I said I am trying to decide on a 22 rifle. I was thinking that the Henry Lever Action would be a good choice for the reasons you stated, although I'd like a smooth pump action because you keep your shooting hand still.

The Henry Pump Action Octagon .22 Rifle (http://henryrepeating.com/rifle-pump.cfm)
[/URL]
[URL="http://henryrepeating.com/rifle-pump.cfm"]
(http://henryrepeating.com/rifle-pump.cfm)
http://shasta4hrifle.com/images/PumpActionHenry.jpg

The Taurus Model 62 (http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=428&category=Rifle)

http://www.taurususa.com/images/imagesMain/M62R.jpg

I agree "J" but I'm just a big fan of lever actions. It's just such a classic look.
Now pump Shotguns I like. Pump rifles not so much, but hey if that's what you like, then I'd say full speed a head my friend,and good luck with whatever you decide. I still say IMO the Ruger 10/22 is the best bet dollar for dollar. I think I paid around $210 dollars for my 10/22 carbine, and it has thousands of rounds through it and it still shoots as good as the day it was new. The only problem with them is when you put a 25 round mag in one you can't help but squeeze the trigger rapidly. It's just part of the fun of owning one. Todays the first time I've used my 10 round rotary mags in a long time. With the ten round mags in the ruger, and tube fed rifles I seem to take my time a little more. and with ammo getting harder to find that is not such a bad thing.:D

[Tinman507]

Don't think you can go wrong with a Ruger 10/22 if you're not into the lever actions.

[AJBert]

Now I'm not going to BS anyone and say that this is the greatest rifle since the invention of smokless gun powder. What I will say and swear to it, that after approx 150 rounds is it is a very accurate little rifle. It's ability to chamber,shoot, and eject multiple brands and bullet types is excellent. I had "0" issues. Naturally the better the bullet the better the results as far as accuracy goes. I did not have to touch the sites as they are dead nut on. The smooth action that Henry's are know for remained constant up to the last round I fired. How much father it could have gone without cleaning could be anyones guess. IMO it probably have gone to 300 or more without any noticable difference in accuracy or the rifles action or ability to chamber fire and eject the rounds. I chose not to push it any farther on it's maiden voyage to the range. Ok so hear is my unbiased opinion. Even with a sore thumb. If you like lever action rifles, and you also enjoy shooting 22's, and you do not have, or want to spend a boat load of money for a good reliable and accurate 22. You might want to take a look at the Henry Lever action rifles. The rifle (H001)I bought was the most inexpensive rifle they make. They run in the neighborhood of $300+/- and worth every penny. IMO, They really are what most owners,and the company say they are, and I'm glad I bought it, and the fact that every part on it is American made just makes it better yet.:Amflag2: It is definately a keeper.
Sounds exactly like what I would report on my Henry Big Boy in .44 mag! It's the first Henry I've owned but more than likely not the last. Been chomping at the bit as to whether get the .22 in lever or pump, as I do love a .22 in pump, also.

[mr surveyor]

I had an original "shorts only" 1892 Winchester (made in 1917) which the Taurus is (somewhat, although still a taurus) patterned after. I traded an obscure item to a good friend for that gun in 1970 (we were both 17) as his mother wanted it out of the house. All my buddy knew is that it was a gun his late father (died in a military training accident in Korea in the early 60's) had owned. I loved that gun with all my heart and soul ... even dropped a mangie coyote with it from an idling tractor at over 100 yards in 1978. About the time of my 35th highschool class reunion in 2006 I had the opportunity to get reacquainted with my old buddy, and having lost my own father about 3 years earlier I got to thinking how tough it was for my buddy to have never really had the opportunity to experience all those years with his own father. At the reunion I gave him directions to my house and told him he needed to come by the next day so I could return something to him I had been in possession of since we were kids. Next day, choking back tears, I handed him back his father's gun. He was, and still is grateful, but I'd doubt his gratefulness can overcome my remorse. That little pump gun was as much a part of me, and who I was, for 36 years as any thing I've ever had in my possession. Life goes on.

I do like the .22 cal pump guns.


surv

[Bawanna]

Your an honorable man and what a wonderful unselfish gesture. Painful as it must have been.

[Popeye]

I had an original "shorts only" 1892 Winchester (made in 1917) which the Taurus is (somewhat, although still a taurus) patterned after. I traded an obscure item to a good friend for that gun in 1970 (we were both 17) as his mother wanted it out of the house. All my buddy knew is that it was a gun his late father (died in a military training accident in Korea in the early 60's) had owned. I loved that gun with all my heart and soul ... even dropped a mangie coyote with it from an idling tractor at over 100 yards in 1978. About the time of my 35th highschool class reunion in 2006 I had the opportunity to get reacquainted with my old buddy, and having lost my own father about 3 years earlier I got to thinking how tough it was for my buddy to have never really had the opportunity to experience all those years with his own father. At the reunion I gave him directions to my house and told him he needed to come by the next day so I could return something to him I had been in possession of since we were kids. Next day, choking back tears, I handed him back his father's gun. He was, and still is grateful, but I'd doubt his gratefulness can overcome my remorse. That little pump gun was as much a part of me, and who I was, for 36 years as any thing I've ever had in my possession. Life goes on.

I do like the .22 cal pump guns.


surv

Your a good man Surv. That touched my heart. I'm sure that meant alot to your friend and still does. I'm sure everytime he looks at, or touches that rifle he thinks of his dad.

[JFootin]

Don't think you can go wrong with a Ruger 10/22 if you're not into the lever actions.

Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing. Tons of options available for it, too. I think I'll have to wait for the madness to die down, though. Not going to pay a crazy Gunbroker price for one.

[Popeye]

Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing. Tons of options available for it, too. I think I'll have to wait for the madness to die down, though. Not going to pay a crazy Gunbroker price for one.

I totally agree the Ruger 10/22 is a fine semi auto rifle for the money.The options and after market excessories are endless. Like I've mentioned before, I would not get rid of it unless someone offered me crazy insane money for it , and I'd still have to think it over a couple of times.
However if your talking about lever action 22's I believe the Henry is probably dollar for dollar the best choice. It shoots Shorts, Longs and LR rounds. The reason I say this is because,The first thing you notice is the walnut stock and forearm and the way they fit,and the quality of the finish. It's just flat out beautiful. The next thing you notice is the rifles action. It's smooth as silk, and is not sloppy in the least,and trigger is IMO very nice and crisp and predictable after you've shot a few rounds. The balance of the rifle with a full tube of LR 22's is in the middle of the rifle, which makes it fun for adults or for children to handle. It also does not seem to mean a thing if you are right or left handed either, as the spent brass ejects out of the way, Know matter which shoulder you use. The safety is not a PITA cross bolt safety like many of the newer lever action rifles. It has a half cock safety like the older marlins and can be carried safely with a round in the chamber. The iron sights seem pretty good but could be better when shooting at indoor ranges at black targets. They do make a after market fiber optic front glow site for it and they do have a built in rail for a scope rings or a red dot on the top of the reciever, but is hardly detectable unless your looking for it.
So I'm sure if you consider everything, yes I'm sure there are better lever action 22's in todays market, but if your talking about the best lever action dollar for dollar, pound for pound, I think you'd have to look long and hard for a rifle with the quality,price, and proven reliability of the Henry. I've tried my best to be a cridical as I can be, but have not found anything not to like. IMO it's just a fine little lever action 22 that anyone reguarless of age or gender could certainly enjoy shooting for a long time.

[JFootin]

Now you've got me leaning back in that direction! The handling of all ammo, even shorts for plinking without ear protection, and the fact that they can still be found at around $300 are attractive considerations. :D

[Popeye]

"JF" I have looked at this rifle with a very critical eye. To give the most unbiased report as possible. I absolutely hate gun reviews that always sound like the pistol or rifle being reviewed is the greatest thing since the Big Bang. To me those reviews are totally worthless, as no gun pistol or rifle is perfect, or fits everyones needs or more importantly wallet.
I've tried to find things that I do not like about it. At first I thought I did not like the fact that the reciever had a finished cover over it instead of being a finished machined part of the reciever. That was until I layed it down next to my 30/30 Marlin, which unfortunately has a small scratch in the reciever. That is when I realized that if that was a removable cover on the 30/30 that scratch on the reciever would not be there if it bothered me that much simply because I could have bought another cover for it and the problem solved. That is also when I realized that hey, if I wanted to upgrade that cover to one of there brass Golden Boy looking reciever covers I could do so anytime I please with a standard flat Screwdriver in about five minutes. The black reciever cover is painted black not blued,and appears to be baked on.(not sure) This I thought was maybe a little on the cheap looking side of things. However having said that, I had to keep reminding myself I'm also talking about a $300+/- American made rifle here, and not some 22 lever action rifle costing twice as much.
I have also seen where some owners have removed the painted surface on the reciever cover and polished it to a chrome like shine,and clear coated it to keep the finger prints off. Where others have done the same but given it a more brushed look. Sombitches look good to, they did a nice job on them. One of the things I noticed and liked was the the bullet tube spring rod is Brass not some cheap piece of aluminum tube. It also has a rubber "O" ring on it at the barrel end to keep it in place that can be replaced if ever nessary with a simple "O" ring from a local hardware store. It does not rely on the bullet feeding spring to hold it in place like some other tube feds. On the spring rods other end there is a polymer plunger that helps center the rounds in the spring feeding tube. It kind of wiggles a little but I suppose it's designed like that to load the many different bullet types and loads it takes. The whole rifle looks well thought out to me. Fair warning though I'm not a gunsmith, nor do I play one on the net.
When it's come to the Henry Repeating arms Co. I have no fish in that pond. So I'm not trying to sell anybody on anything. Just trying to give and honest review on what I think of this little rifle. So as I mentioned if someone is looking for a 22 Lever action rifle that will not break the bank that you can take out in the woods beat the hell out of it and not be afraid if you put a few nicks or scratches in it and still have a good reliabe rifle and a good time. then I'd say the Henry is a good viable option for that person. If anyone is looking for a much more expensive 22 Lever action to just plink with that is suitable to be a wall hanger when not in use then The Henry 22 Hoo1 would not be for that person.
If there is one thing I do know about Henry rifles philosphy ( and you can read this for yourself all over the net) is that they were meant to be enjoyed and shot,by men and women, young and old, and the Company wants you to feel that they have your back and will go out of there way to make sure that happens. I really like there attitude. I wish other companies felt that way.

[JFootin]

Good report, Popeye. I am having trouble finding any guns in stock at online dealers. I think I'll visit my LGS and see about ordering one. They add 10% plus tax to their cost, so I should be able to get a good price on it. Might as well take my time, though, because 22 ammo is scarce or way overpriced.