Thinkin of getting a Henry .17hmr

[L_Kilkenny]

Need some input here folks. Mostly worried about accuracy and trigger as compared with a comparably priced bolt gun. Figure not many of you have the .17 but even .22lr and .22M info would be helpful.

Opinions?

LK

[Pitchy]

I have the Golden boy , think that`s what they call it.
It`s a 22 LR, very accurate, nice trigger and fit and finish is excellant.
The only thing that bothers me a little is the fact that the reciever isn`t brass and some say the coating comes off. I`ve had mine for about a year with no problems yet.

[geobru]

I fired a used Henry 22 lr that I bought for my SIL a year or so ago. I liked the gun. Smooth action, good fit and finish. The only thing I didn't like was the stock sights, which can be replaced. When the front sight broke, Henry replaced the plastic front barrel band with a metal one, plus a new sight at no charge.

Good gun + great customer service = satisfied customer!

Regarding accuracy, I shot that gun along side my BL22. The trigger on the Henry was crisp and very similar to the Browning. I was more accurate with the Browning, because the sights are better on it. ie. My old eyes can see them better. The Henry front sight is wider and was harder for me to line up on the small target I was using. IIRC, at 20 yards, the BL-22 group was dime sized and the Henry was just under quarter sized. I am sure that someone with younger eyes could do better than that.

just my 0.02!

[earlmck]

LK, Gunreports.com has a nice writeup on the Henry .17 this week. I'm on their "free" email list so I think you can just get that report off the website. Anyway, they talk about an excellent trigger and excellent accuracy (after they tried several different brands to find what it liked).

[msmith1228]

I have never owned a Henry but have shot several. They are accurate, have slick actions and a decent trigger. I found the 17 HMR to be impressive in ideal conditions at the range but disappointing as a hunting cartridge. Try the 22 magnum, my brother and a couple of friends have them and love them.
Mack

[Buck Elliott]

Here in mountain country, where winds can be squirrelly and unpredictable, I would also opt for the .22WMR... From a levergun, fired off-hand, none of the cartridges mentioned is much more than a 125-yard proposition, but the tiny .177 pills seem more apt to drift on the breeze..

I don't own a Henry, but several shooting buddies have them, and the overwhelming choice is the .22 WMR... The quality is good, and accuracy is very good, but they can't hold a candle to my Winchester 9422M in any particular, with the exception of availability..

Receivers of the Henry Golden Boy is made of Zamak, a zink alloy, with a long history in fireames manufacture..

[L_Kilkenny]

I hear what you boys are saying on the .22M but I've been there, done that (more than once), won't do it again. YMMV.

From your reports it seems like the trigger may be acceptable on these guns but I'm still worried about the accuracy. I figure there isn't much of a point in shooting a cartridge with a great deal of inherent accuracy in a platform that ain't up to the task. I know what the little magnum is capable out of a bolt action but I'd much prefer a lever action and the gun use will be for varmints out to 200 yards. Is the Henry .17 up to the task?

LK

[Rusty]

I had a Henry in .22 mag that I just traded off to my son. I just couldn't warm up to it. I went and got a CZ Full Stock to replace it. A horse of a different color.

[earlmck]

From your reports it seems like the trigger may be acceptable on these guns but I'm still worried about the accuracy.

Well the "gunreports.com" article says they got 1/3" groups at 50 yards with the ammo it liked best, which should be quite adequate. They stayed at 50 yards because it was a windy day.

I think this link would get you there: http://www.gunreports.com/gow/long_guns ... 633-1.html

[geobru]

Earl - Good article. Thanks.

[jager3]

I have owned a Henry in a .17HMR. I got the model with the octagon barrel, blued/black receiver, and straight stock (less drop at comb than Golden Boy for scope use). I also had (have) a Savage bolt 93 Bull Barrel .17HMR at the time I bought the Henry for comparison. Now understand that for 3 years I refused to buy a .17HMR because I expected it to be obsoleted, foul the bore too easy, subject to every "whiff" of wind, and would not be any more accurate than the "standard" .22WMR (my apologies to those who have accurate .22WRM's). Well, I was wrong on all those counts and have shot many a squirrel and prairie dogs to satisfy myself that it is more accurate than the "garden variety" of .22Mags and, at least, the equal to the very best of that same caliber in a very inexpensive gun. It is no more wind sensitive ,(IMHO) than the "Mag" because of its faster velocity (mine "clocks" 2600fps consistently with 17gr rounds), doesn't foul the bore as bad (less powder residue), and is effective to 135 yards or better. There is a gun site that is dedicated to this cartridge with some pretty "heady" claims on kills on coyotes that I won't quote because few would believe it! After shooting this round for a couple seasons I am more and more impressed with its capabilities for such a "miniscule" bullet.
I do not have the same accolades for the Henry .17HMR, and I did scope it. My Henry was not as precise as my Savage "bolt", nor was the trigger near as "crisp". I was disappointed that the scope on this lever made it feel "out-of-place" for such a smooth action lever gun that performed so well in the few .22lR models I had shot. Long story shorter, I traded the .17HMR in and got a Golden Boy in a .22Mag. I figured if the accuracy of my .17HMR Henry wasn't much better than most .22Mags I had owned I'd rather have the Mag in a lever that looked like a "Cowboy" rifle and a caliber that would shoot a heavier bullet. (I can still shoot reasonable well to 100 yards with my old "Peepers".) Interestingly enough, my Golden Boy shoots the 45gr "Dyna Point" Winchester more accurately than my previous Henry in the .17HMR. My story and I'm "sticking to it" . Either way, the Henry is a great little rifle, just not my choice of actions for the .17HMR. Good luck and Merry Christmas!

[4t5]

Not to steal a thread,but I'm interested in one of their pump guns,any experience with one of those?

[frankjg]

I have a Henry .17 engraved Golden Boy and it is a really fun gun to shoot. Comparing the action is difficult as what is smooth for one may be rough for another shooter. As a example, the Henry is rough as compared to my Shiloh Sharps but its very smooth as compared to Winchester levers. I shoot Hordany Mach 2 and it almost like shooting a BB gun.

[AJMD429]

I hear what you boys are saying on the .22M but I've been there, done that (more than once), won't do it again. YMMV.

I always wanted a .17 HMR levergun, and almost got a Henry (because I always wanted a Henry, too...), but I lucked onto a used Ruger 96/22M in .22 WMR. Since they use the same barrel mounting system as the 10/22's, I just ordered a .17 HMR after-market 'lightweight target' barrel for the 10/22, and with about five minutes and a hand-file, cut the second extractor groove the 96 series requires. It uses the same 9-shot flush/box magazines as the .22 WMR version, so literally the only switch was the barrel. It seems to shoot well - 3 shots inside a dime at 50 yards, though I have to have a scope on it to see well enough to do that (plus shoot off a rest/bench).

So, as far as the concept of a .17 HMR levergun - a really FUN combination, and maybe moreso than the .22 WMR, because of the flat-shooting round - I haven't shot mine at 100 yards yet other than at gongs, but anticipate it will be a fun gun at 100 yards as well.

As far as the Henry leverguns, my son's is a .22 LR one, and we agree that it is way slicker than any other leverguns we've shot or own, although the Ruger 96's are right on it's heels, or maybe even equals, other than they aren't as 'traditional' and trim.

When I do make the 'Henry leap', it will likely be for a .17 HMR though.

[L_Kilkenny]

Thanks for all the input. I'm still on the fence but think I'm fallin towards getting a .17 in a bolt gun. I've been around a couple Savage .17hmr's and their dime size groups at 100 yards is just dang hard to pass on. When I'm figuring on targets smaller than 2" out to 200 yards in the field than I'm gonna need all I can get.

Thanks for the article link. To tell the truth, the lack of success getting the 20 grainers to shoot well is having an effect on my decision. Coon and fox are on the menu.

LK

[crs]

L_K,
Have you seen the new Hornady .17 Hornet? Looks hot, with velocity 0f 3600 fps.
If you really want a .17, try the Hornady site or Google .17 hornet and see if it looks promising.

Since I already shoot a .22 Hornet and use Hornady VMAX for small varmints, I am sticking with it.

[L_Kilkenny]

L_K,
Have you seen the new Hornady .17 Hornet? Looks hot, with velocity 0f 3600 fps.
If you really want a .17, try the Hornady site or Google .17 hornet and see if it looks promising.

Since I already shoot a .22 Hornet and use Hornady VMAX for small varmints, I am sticking with it.

Ya, I've seen that and I'm also a big fan of the .17 fireball. But I'm in a budget kinda mood and finding a sub $400 .17 centerfire or even a .22H is next to impossible. In reality, I'd like to stay below $300. Overall I'm looking for an inexpensive option to bridge the gap between a .22lr and my .243. Don't NEED to, just WANT to. The only hold the .17hmr has on me is it's 200 yard capability. Without that I wouldn't look at it twice.

Given more spare change in my pocket I could definetly see a .17 centerfire in my future.

LK

[tman]

If i need more than a .22 LR, i go to the 223. Never saw the "sense" of a 22magnum. 17, even more so. Then again, what do i know?

[JB]

If i need more than a .22 LR, i go to the 223. Never saw the "sense" of a 22magnum. 17, even more so. Then again, what do i know?

I agree, but sometimes the law dictates the rimfires. I know guys that hunt with a 22 magnum because centerfires aren't allowed in their area, yet they need more than the 22LR can provide. In my state you can't hunt coyotes at night with a centerfire, so the 22WMR is the best option.