Opinions on Henry Golden boy .22

[Babysitr]

I have a chance to buy a NIB Henry golden boy in .22....at a fair price. reviews look good, a little worried about the stock drop as far as shooting goes...maybe something I'll get used to? it will be a fun/range gun...comments welcome!

 

[.38SuperMan]

I have the carbine with the standard receiver. I think it only differs is the finish used on the receiver. My wife gave my one of the carbines for my birthday several years ago which started a live affair for lever actions. My wife was never a shooter until I talked her into trying the Henry. She loved shooting it so much she took it for herself. I wound up buying myself another plus two other Henry’s (45LC & 357).

Both our carbines are very accurate, smooth actions and fun to shoo.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

If you look at their catalog. They state they put more stock drop on the GB. I can't shoot one. When I throw it up all I can see is the back of the hammer. I have to "turkey neck" to see the sights.........BAD DESIGN!!!!!
And the GB receiver is Zamack 5 with a brasslite coating.Again see catalog.

All their other .22's are stocked normal and fit well.

 

[Piwo]

I received one for my 50th birthday years ago. The stock drop I find is fine for off hand shooting and is a carryover from the old days. I find the weight to be steadying for off hand informal shooting as well. Off hand is the only way I shoot it as it is strictly a fun gun!

The rifle is smooth and more accurate than I am. My favorite use is loading it up with a half a box of 22 shorts and blasting away at plinking targets. Coupled with a fixed sight Ruger Single Six in an El Paso rig I feel like a kid again. Which for me is the primary purpose of this rifle and revolver.

 

[s&wchad]

I had one and sold it. The action is very smooth, but I wasn’t impressed with the construction and breaking it down for a thorough cleaning is a fairly involved. You have to remove the butt stock to get the receiver cover off. The cover isn’t actually brass, it’s a coated casting. The frame is also a casting and the design makes it difficult get into the nooks and crannies to remove the fouling.

Scope mounting is also an issue. You need to use a cantilever mount and remove the rear sight. Mine was never scoped, but I don’t know if you can get the cover off and back on with the cantilever in place. I also don’t know if the early version was pre-drilled under the sight for the mount.

I prefer Marlin 39’s and Winchester 9422’s, but they do cost a good bit more. They both have forged receivers and should last a lifetime.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I have done fine with the standard Henry Frontiersman 22 Lever action rifle. Nice shooter rifle no flashy receiver. Can buy a lot of 22 ammo for the price difference.

 

[Ruger 13]

I had one for a few years and it was smooth operating. Most of the time at the range was spent wiping fingerprints of of the receiver! Also…….the receiver is brass plated zinc.

 

[double-dipper]

I have one just for plinking! I didn't care much for the factory sights so I put a fiber optic on the front and a Marble Bullseye sight on the rear.
Much better.

 

[Imissedagain]

As far as cleaning, the 9422 is pretty easy compared to other leverguns.
We almost bought a Henry but a minty 9422 showed up on GB and no one bid but us. IIRC it was $600.

Enjoy whatever you buy OP.

 

[canoeguy]

I have had both Henry .22 lever rifles, the Goldenboy and the H001 plain, straight stock. The Golden Boy shot good, looked good, but I sold it and wound up keeping the H001. The H001 suited me more as it is more of a utility rifle, something you wouldn't mind finding a scratch or two after a field outing.

The H001 will be about $100 cheaper than the Golden Boy.....

 

[arjay]

My son has one,but I don’t like the drop.It is awkward trying to use a chin weld

 

[Gene L]

My buddy has one, the blue one and not the golden boy. It's accurate and has a very smooth action. If I were looking for a less-expensive good .22 rifle, I would look hard at Henry. I don't know if the GB is like the regular rifles with a receiver made of zinc compost with a cover on it. It's smoother than my Model 39,M but I wouldn't trade for it

I think it'd s "forever rifle" that you plan to hold on to it forever, as I doubt it will have collector value in the future. I'm not fond of the brass look, personally. The rifle blue or brass would make a great first rifle for a new shooter.

 

[Babysitr]

Thanks for all the comments, checked it out , and, decided to pass on the golden boy....for me to see the sights good, I had to barely have a chin on the stock. down on the stock and all I could see was hammer! very nice looker!...I ordered an H001 and the H001T from him...My son gets the one he likes best for birthday gift, I get the other! both happy boys!

 

[vinn]

fortunley, i never bought " a henry ".

 

[Tubbsy]

I have a chance to buy a NIB Henry golden boy in .22....at a fair price. reviews look good, a little worried about the stock drop as far as shooting goes...maybe something I'll get used to? it will be a fun/range gun...comments welcome!

I've got a golden boy silver rifle I picked up recently.... and I've fallen in love... definitely worth the money.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I've always wanted a .22 pump rifle with preferably an octagon barrel and exposed hammer. The Winchester 62's & 61's prices are in the strasophere. So are the Remington mdl 12's and such. So.....A couple of months ago I bought the Henry .22LR pump. Exposed hammer & octagon barrel. It shoot good for a rifle made of inexpensive metals. Lifetime warranty. All I have to do now file off those target obscuring awful buckhorn ears on the rear sight.
I'll probably never by a Henry .22 levergun as that base is covered by a 9422, a 39 and a BL-22.