Waspinator
New member
Like the title says, I went shopping around at several stores today looking for a Henry .22lr. I figured I would post some of my thoughts on the process for those who are inclined to read some ramblings of a shopper 
I looked at a lot of different models and this is my opinions.
Golden Boy (H004) :
Very nice looking rifle. I liked the sights that came on this rifle. I thought it was a bit front heavy though with its 20" octagon barrel. Also, I did not like the drop on the stock on this model. To sight down the barrel, I had to have my head raised up more than I'm used to. Put it back.
Silver Boy (H004S):
Same rifle as above and put it back for the same reasons. But, I mention it because I thought the Silver receiver and barrel band looked nicer in person compared to the "brass" color of the Golden Boy.
Octagon Frontier (H001T):
This is the rifle that I actually Figured I would end up with. On paper it has everything I wanted and nothing I didn't need. Overall one of the better models in my opinion when looking at over-all features. Still, with the 20" octagon barrel, it was a bit front heavy like the GB/SB models, but the regular stock geometry made up for some of the balance issues. Put it back to check some more out, but put it on top of my list.
Small Game Carbine (H001TLP):
My intention was to skip over the 16" barrel carbine models, because I was looking into longer barrel models. That said, I picked this one up since it is a new model this year, so I wanted to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. With the octagon barrel on this being shorter than the 20" model above, gone was that front heaviness. This was actually a perfectly balanced rifle for its size and heft. The peep sight/brass bead combo was very nice as well. I didn't like the large loop so much, but it wasn't too bad. No groove in the barrel for a rear buckhorn type sight. I think they should have added it in for the option at least. I was sorely tempted to buy it, but then I looked closer at the rifle and noticed that the wood furniture's fit on this particular rifle was horrible. Every single other Henry I picked up had real good fit on the wood to receiver. This one was so far off I don't know how it left the factory. Put it back.
Classic Carbine (H001I):
Since I was so surprised by the Small Game Carbine, I decided to try out the Classic round barrel carbine. There again, Not really digging the large loop, but like I said, they aren't that bad (not ginormous like some large loops). But, I found that this one was kind of opposite from the longer barrel octagon models (GB,SB and frontier). This time, the rifle felt a bit stock heavy. Gone was the perfect feeling balance of the 16" octagon carbine. I also didn't like the white stripe rear sight on this model. Decided I didn't like it and put it back.
Classic Rifle (H001):
This is that classic Henry that also happens to be the least expensive. This model has an 18" barrel, so in the middle of the longer and shorter models from above. The balance was perfect. With the shorter round barrel, it was lighter than the long octagon barrel models, so I didn't feel that front heaviness. Also, being longer than the carbine model directly above, it put a little more weight forward, getting rid of that rear heaviness. I really liked this model. Only thing I didn't like so much was the sights used. The front sight is a bit to wide under that hood, other than that everything else is good.
Biggest surprise of the day?
I would have to say the 16" Small Game Carbine. For the good reasons, It was balanced perfectly for it's size and the peep/brass bead combo worked great for quick sighting. Also surprising because out of all the Henry 22lr rifles I've seen today and other days before, it had the absolute worst fit on the wood... almost looked like they put the wrong set on it... I don't know. But, I would recommend trying one out if you come across one. felt great in the hand.
Did I buy one?
In the end, I walked out of the store a proud new owner of the Classic H001. It had everything I wanted, nothing I didn't need, great balance and cost the least. Can't wait to bring it to the range to put it through it's paces. I don't have any pictures, but I think everyone knows what a Classic Henry H001 looks like by now, lol.
Thanks for reading if you made it all the way through
I looked at a lot of different models and this is my opinions.
Golden Boy (H004) :
Very nice looking rifle. I liked the sights that came on this rifle. I thought it was a bit front heavy though with its 20" octagon barrel. Also, I did not like the drop on the stock on this model. To sight down the barrel, I had to have my head raised up more than I'm used to. Put it back.
Silver Boy (H004S):
Same rifle as above and put it back for the same reasons. But, I mention it because I thought the Silver receiver and barrel band looked nicer in person compared to the "brass" color of the Golden Boy.
Octagon Frontier (H001T):
This is the rifle that I actually Figured I would end up with. On paper it has everything I wanted and nothing I didn't need. Overall one of the better models in my opinion when looking at over-all features. Still, with the 20" octagon barrel, it was a bit front heavy like the GB/SB models, but the regular stock geometry made up for some of the balance issues. Put it back to check some more out, but put it on top of my list.
Small Game Carbine (H001TLP):
My intention was to skip over the 16" barrel carbine models, because I was looking into longer barrel models. That said, I picked this one up since it is a new model this year, so I wanted to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. With the octagon barrel on this being shorter than the 20" model above, gone was that front heaviness. This was actually a perfectly balanced rifle for its size and heft. The peep sight/brass bead combo was very nice as well. I didn't like the large loop so much, but it wasn't too bad. No groove in the barrel for a rear buckhorn type sight. I think they should have added it in for the option at least. I was sorely tempted to buy it, but then I looked closer at the rifle and noticed that the wood furniture's fit on this particular rifle was horrible. Every single other Henry I picked up had real good fit on the wood to receiver. This one was so far off I don't know how it left the factory. Put it back.
Classic Carbine (H001I):
Since I was so surprised by the Small Game Carbine, I decided to try out the Classic round barrel carbine. There again, Not really digging the large loop, but like I said, they aren't that bad (not ginormous like some large loops). But, I found that this one was kind of opposite from the longer barrel octagon models (GB,SB and frontier). This time, the rifle felt a bit stock heavy. Gone was the perfect feeling balance of the 16" octagon carbine. I also didn't like the white stripe rear sight on this model. Decided I didn't like it and put it back.
Classic Rifle (H001):
This is that classic Henry that also happens to be the least expensive. This model has an 18" barrel, so in the middle of the longer and shorter models from above. The balance was perfect. With the shorter round barrel, it was lighter than the long octagon barrel models, so I didn't feel that front heaviness. Also, being longer than the carbine model directly above, it put a little more weight forward, getting rid of that rear heaviness. I really liked this model. Only thing I didn't like so much was the sights used. The front sight is a bit to wide under that hood, other than that everything else is good.
Biggest surprise of the day?
I would have to say the 16" Small Game Carbine. For the good reasons, It was balanced perfectly for it's size and the peep/brass bead combo worked great for quick sighting. Also surprising because out of all the Henry 22lr rifles I've seen today and other days before, it had the absolute worst fit on the wood... almost looked like they put the wrong set on it... I don't know. But, I would recommend trying one out if you come across one. felt great in the hand.
Did I buy one?
In the end, I walked out of the store a proud new owner of the Classic H001. It had everything I wanted, nothing I didn't need, great balance and cost the least. Can't wait to bring it to the range to put it through it's paces. I don't have any pictures, but I think everyone knows what a Classic Henry H001 looks like by now, lol.
Thanks for reading if you made it all the way through