My Henry .22 LR Lever Action Rifle
This was the first rifle I ever bought, and even after adding several other rifles to the collection, it remains one of my favorites.
I had always wanted a lever action rifle. There's something satisfying about cycling the action and sending rounds downrange. After thousands of rounds, I still find myself reaching for the Henry whenever I head out to the property.
The rifle holds 15 rounds of .22 LR ammunition in its tube magazine and comes equipped with iron sights from the factory. Henry also included a 3/8-inch grooved receiver, making it easy to mount a scope for shooters who prefer optics.
For most of its life, I've run the rifle with iron sights. I've always thought that's how a lever action .22 should be. It's quick to handle and perfect for casual shooting sessions.
My Most Used Rifle
Out of all the rifles I own, this Henry has easily seen the most use.
Part of that comes down to cost. It's hard to beat .22 LR when it comes to affordable shooting. A few ammo boxes loaded up can provide an entire afternoon of entertainment without making a dent in the wallet.
Most of my shooting is done at resetting steel targets between 25 and 40 yards. I'll often spend an afternoon working the lever and sending hundreds of rounds downrange.
It's also one of the rifles I regularly carry while walking through the bush. Whether I'm checking trails, working on projects, or simply exploring, the Henry is a natural choice for rabbits and squirrels at closer ranges.
Maintenance Matters
One thing I've learned after years of ownership is that this rifle likes to be kept clean.
In my experience, somewhere around the 300 to 500 round mark, fouling begins to build up enough that feeding can become inconsistent. Most of my shooting is done with bulk ammunition, which tends to be dirtier than premium loads, so higher-quality ammunition may allow for longer intervals between cleanings.
After excessive buildup, the rifle will begin to jam.
Fortunately, the fix is simple.
A thorough cleaning has the rifle loading and firing like new again.
As long as I stay on top of maintenance, the rifle has been extremely reliable.
Looking for More Accuracy
Recently, I've started looking at the Henry a little differently.
After testing different ammunition types through my CZ 457 in .22 WMR and seeing how much ammunition can influence accuracy, I became curious about what this rifle might be capable of with the right load.
I've always fed it bulk ammunition because that's what made sense for the type of shooting I was doing.
Now I'm planning to mount a scope and spend more time shooting from the bench.
The scope may not replace the iron sights permanently. I still enjoy shooting the rifle the way it came from the factory. Instead, I want to see which ammunition the rifle shoots best and how much the rifle's accuracy can be improved through testing.
Once I find a preferred load, I'll likely use that ammunition for small game hunting while continuing to use bulk rounds for everyday plinking.
Final Thoughts
The Henry .22 LR has done exactly what I hoped it would do when I bought it.
It's affordable to shoot, fun to operate, reliable when maintained properly, and perfectly suited for both plinking and small game hunting.
There are more accurate rifles in my collection and rifles better suited for longer distances, but few get used as often as this one.
Even after all these years, it's still one of the first rifles I grab when I'm heading out to spend an afternoon at the property.
And with a scope and ammunition test planned for the near future, I'm looking forward to seeing what this rifle is really capable of.