Anyone have any experience with Henry firearms? Thinking about getting a .22. Their Classic Lever Action .22 is only $310 through Cabela's. Don't need anything fancy. Just for plinking.
I dunno about the Henry, but $310 for a .22 seems a bit steep. I do have prior experience with the Ruger 10/22 and it can be had for less than the price you quoted.
Granted I have not fired one of their .22s but in my experience Henry rifles are quality firearms. I don't have one but I have fired a friend's 30-30 and it is accurate with a nice trigger and the lever action is silky smooth.
Octagon, heavy target barrels? It's my understanding that they were designed with heavy barrels and smooth trigger action, well suited for loonggg range plinking.
The Henry's can vary a lot depending on the model. Depending on which one it is, (if it is the nicer plated, octagonal barreled) that may e isn't too bad of a price. I haven't looked for quite a while. Henry's are good rifles though. Cabela's is a good place to buy if it is a sale promotion, otherwise IMO they are the Art of Shaving in the gun world. Gunbroker is a good place to look and see what they are going for. Just for a plinker, it would be tough to beat a Ruger 10/22, both for price and reliability.
$270 at Cabela's. I'm sure it could be found cheaper, just using Cabela's for a reference. Kinda stuck on a lever action. I like the look.
With the Henry you are partly paying for the cachet of the Old West. But hey it's your hard earned cash. Personally I'd go with a Marlin. 'Course it's the only rifle I own, other than a .54 Hawken kit gun my Dad built, so I may be a bit biased.
I probably put tens of thousands of rounds through a Glenfield branded Marlin 60 while growing up. If you like a tube magazine, go for it. Currently, I have a 10/22 take-down which is fun and does what I need, but the trigger is pretty crappy. If you haven't found it yet, take a look at rimfirecentral forums. Lots of info there.
Henry Rifles are made in America and probably are the finest in lever action from a quality standpoint - especially the .22. They come in both solid blue or with a shiny solid brass receiver. We have "cowboy action shooting" competition every month at our range. Several of the competitors use Henrys. The usual caliber for competition is 38 special/.357 magnum. Henry does make other calibers all the way up to 45/70. The only thing is they are tube fed and not loaded from the side like many other lever action rifles. Having said that - most .22 are tube fed. Henry Rifles come with a lifetime guarantee. Gun shows will have the best prices (especially if you have cash). https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/golden-boy/