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I’m thinking of getting one of these, to go along with my Ruger 32H&R. For those that have one, now that they’ve been out a while, what are your overall options of them?
Are they reliable with 32 s&w longs and 32 h&r or are they giving problems with the shorter cartridges?
In my Ruger I use the Lee 311-93rn, the NOE 315-115 swc and a Arsenal 314008 (124gr). Anyone useing those in the Henry?
Thanks
Mine will feed longs and H&R mags without a hitch. I've returned to the factory twice for failure to fire issues, it still misfires twenty percent of the time. It's heavy and feels clumsy. On the plus side, it's very accurate with about everything I've ran through it. I originally acquired it due to the relative scarcity of any other rifles in that caliber, I have a contender carbine in .32 Mag but wanted a repeater. End result? Saved my money, found a Marlin and haven't looked at the Henry in a year. Opinion for what it's worth, any .32 is better than no .32. Yes the Henry has short comings, but so does most guns. Based on my experience, I doubt I will buy another Henry. They are very well thought of by a majority of people here and in general.
I am definitely in the minority. I may of just had a lemon, it happens. I'll probably give it another chance when the weather warms up and my rash goes away. If you are anxious to have get a .32, an MGM barrel in a Contender is a good option as well. As to load data, anything that Mr. Ed Harris suggests is a winner, I doubt there is anyone who has put forth more effort into making a .32 shoot well. Good luck with your quest
Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it. This is the kind of info I was wondering about. They look kind of clunky and bulky to me, but I’ve never handled one. I guess I’ll have to find one to handle and see that I think. I really prefer the look/lines of the Marlin or Win ‘92. But the marlin 32h&r go for $2000-2500 around here, if you can find one, and I’m not spending that kind of money.
Right now I’ve narrowed my choices for a 32 cal. rifle down to a vintage Win 92 in 32/20, Cimarron 1873 32/20 or the Henry. Kinda apples-2-oranges (or maybe red grapes-2-white grapes?) but that’s where I am right now.
If your willing to expand your calibers to 32-20, the Marlin 1894CL in is an excellent choice. It will out perform a .32 mag and it's no more harder to reload than any other caliber despite the horror stories. They have a well balanced feel and mine (at least) is very accurate I've used one for years with 4.5 grains of Green Dot and a 31108 or the RCBS 98 grain SWC. From what I've seen on GB the price for a 1894CL is in line with a Henry or near enough to not matter.
Or a Winchester 32 Special ......:p
Ok thanks. I already load 32/20, that’s why I was considering an old Win 92 or a Uberti 1873. I’ll have to look into the Marlin. I’m becoming a marlin guy anyway so that would be right up my alley lol. I’ll have to check the local shops, and then I check gunbroker, I haven’t seen one before I guess.
Ive also had good luck with the 311008 in 32/20. It, the Arsenal 314008 and the NOE 315-118 swc shoot very well in my Cimarron SAA clone.
The 32 special is interesting, but I’ve got my need for 94s covered with 30wcf already lol
Wheelgun, I will put in another plug for the Marlin 1894 CL in 32-20. I've had one for over 15 years now and it is one of my favorite guns. JW
I have the Henry .327. With a Skinner peep sight, using the NOE version of 311008, I find it to be very accurate and really fun to shoot. Mine does not like .32 H&R cases loaded with the same bullet- feed issues. I liked mine so well I bought the .357 version.
Loren
I've got one, only two little things bother me, first it kind of has a slight "hitch" when chambering, it's getting better and I bet that if I'd take the time to tear it down and touch it up inside that would go away?, the second is that the post in the loading tube is HUGE!?, it looks like they use the same tub for several guns!??, I didn't try?, but if a guy wasn't paying attention he could load a round upside down!??
The tube loading doesn't bother me neer as much as I thought it might?, it's prezacktly the same as the 22 rifles.
And yes, it's quite accurate, I hit a small pill bottle across the quarry with every shot, 100grn Federal AE was the ammo I had on hand.
If I could find one in 41 Mag I probably get it too.
I'm not much for lever guns because of an old hand injury, but I tried out a friend's Henry .22 RF and found it was much easier to cycle than other lever guns I've tried.
A Marlin .30-30 I tried many years ago turned out to be one of the most accurate rifles I've ever fired. May get one sooner or later. I can operate a lever action well enough if I use a hand and wrist elastic brace under a leather glove.
The .32 small game lever actions appeal to me. I have a older .32 Hand Ejector and a Iver Johnson Safety Hammerless and have experimented with handloading for those using a home made loading outfit.
If Henry Rifles marketed a .25-20 I think they'd sell and might promote manufacture of that cartridge so it would become more easily available and perhaps a bit lower in price.
The local shop is supposed to get me a price on one after New Years. I don’t usually order stuff cause I like to handle them first but nobody around here carries them in 327, let alone finding one used