I'm on the downhill ride towards 70. I shot 22s when I was a kid - started out with my Dad's old Stevens Favorite - then shot BP for 50 some years and then bought a couple of 22 rifles. But, back when there was the "22 shortage" . . . I got real tired of getting up early to stand in a line at a store that "might" have some 22 ammo come in that you could purchase in very limited quantities - even had to take a number and hope it lasted until your number came up. I said the heck with it and sold the 22 rifles I had with the exception of my Dad's Favorite. Then I had a chance to by an older, but new in the box, Henry youth model 22 lever rifle with the Brooklyn address - still own it but loaned it out to a friend to use with his grandkids.
This past week, I went to the LGS to pick up a Ruger American Ranch
Rifle in 5.56 that i had ordered. Before I went, I found a brick of 22 LR on the shelf with some other ammo I had tucked away and I got to thinking about how much fun we used to have with the 22s. While I was at the LGS, I asked the fella what they had in 22 rifles as there seem to be a number of them now - Ruger, Savage, Marlin, etc. He gave me what they had on the menu and among them the only thing I heard was "Henry". Years ago, always had a hankerings for one of Henry's 22s with the octagon barrels. Well, they had one of the H001T "Frontier" models in stock and long story short - he offered it to me at a very reasonable price since I was already purchasing the Ruger American Ranch and she came home with me - I never even asked to look at it but waited to unpack it when I got home (I knew I could take it back there was anything wrong with it). All I can say is that she's a beauty! Kind of a light burl in the butt and foreshock - excellent fit and finish but the action? It cycles like hot butter!
Life is too short to have regrets - I'm really pleased with the rifle and now I never have to look back and say . . . "I wish I had . . . . ". We all like different things and that's fine . . . I have several other Henrys in centerfire . . . we all know what a Henry is . . . . but holding this rifle brought back so many childhood memories of tramping across the farm hunting squirrels, rabbits, fox and varmints. While I may have gotten disgusted during the shortage, there is just something about a 22 . . . whether you're a kid or an older guy going through his second childhood. My eyesight isn't the best and my hunting days are over, but I sure look forward to shooting and pinking with this with a new friend I go shooting with out here in AZ. As much as I would like to use the open sights, they won't do the job for me so I put on a compact "Crickett" rimfire scope that I'm sure will allow me to get lots of pop cans and other things just fine.
When I was a kid, we would buy our 22 ammo at the local hardware store in town - in those days, Dad would only allow us to use "shorts" - when we wanted to use LR, he would point out the warning of "Danger - Range 1 Mile" printed on the box. I mowed lawns - no riding mowers for us at that time - and I got 50 cents a lawn - which is what a box of 50 22s cost. Well, the ammo might be a bit more now but the fun is still the same or greater.
Getting this new Henry 22 has taught me something . . . an important thing that you are never too old to learn . . . "never say never". I said I would never have another 22 rifle . . . hmmmmm . . . I was wrong. Now I remember those old feelings of being a kid who couldn't wait for Christmas morning to come . . . now I can't wait to get out and shoot it!
The young ones might not understand . . but you older ones will. I feel heart sorry for the kids today with the way things are. So many will never know the fun or have the memories of tracking a rabbit int he snot and getting your firs t bunny with a 22, of hunting with friends or your Dad or taking your dog with you as you hunt squirrels with a 22 and the dog trees them. All the more reason for us to all try and help kids learn proper gun safety, how to shoot, how to hunt and how to make good memories that will last their lifetime . . . and no better way to do it than with a 22.
Yea . . . I'm glad I got over being stubborn about any more 22 rifles and I really like this Henry . . . . my wife and I don't have kids but I already have a younger person in mind to pass this nice rifle on to when the tim comes. Funny how things come along that can make you feel like a kid again!