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Al Doyle

Review: The Henry Repeating Arms Single-Shot .243

Don’t overlook this Henry single-shot .243 rifle for simplicity during the hunting season.

Henry’s handy little single-shot rifles are available in blued or stainless steel, in a variety of common centerfire hunting calibers. Photo: Henry Repeating Arms
Henry’s handy little single-shot rifles are available in blued or stainless steel, in a variety of common centerfire hunting calibers. Photo: Henry Repeating Arms

In a field where “tacticool” has become more than just a popular buzzword for marketers, why would a company produce a new line of firearms that could fit right in with the gun market of 1905?

Every Henry Repeating Arms gun is made in America.
Every Henry Repeating Arms gun is made in America.

Check out the extensive selection of single-shot rifles and shotguns from Henry Repeating Arms that fits this description.

These old-style singles come in five calibers — .223, .243, .308, .44 Magnum and .45-70 — and debuted in late 2017. Henry sent a .243 model for review,and several things were obvious even before I took the gun to the range.

Single-shot rifles work very well for left-handers.
Single-shot rifles work very well for left-handers.

The rifle’s wood was dense, dark and nicely grained, which seems to be the rule with Henry products. At a time when black polymer stocks are quite popular, seeing wood on a rifle can be a flashback experience, and even more so when a prime cut has been turned into a stock.

The first three shots out of the box with the Henry .243 single shot. Recoil was modest.
The first three shots out of the box with the Henry .243 single shot. Recoil was modest.

Likewise, the rich bluing was pleasing to the eye. Amazingly, all of this came on a gun with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of just $448.

It would be easy to assume that Henry obtains wood from the abundant tree crop near its Rice Lake, Wisconsin, assembly plant, but the company relies on other suppliers.

“We use American black walnut sourced from Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas,” said Henry Arms owner Anthony Imperato. American is the operative word here, Henry’s motto is “Made in America, or not made at all.”

The black walnut stock is checkered to provide a more secure grip.
The black walnut stock is checkered to provide a more secure grip.

Henry’s new line of singles comes with ambidextrous locking lever that opens the action when pushed to the left or right. Since there is no bolt in the face, this type of action is especially well suited for left-handers.

Upper Midwest winter weather made it difficult to take the rifle out for testing. A brief trip to the range on a blustery day provided some trigger time with the Henry. Giving up deer hunting many years ago meant I was rusty on shooting guns made for the field, so there was a certain eagerness to try this one out.

Henry sources American black walnut from Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas, for use in its stocks.
Henry sources American black walnut from Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas, for use in its stocks.

The mild recoil of the .243 Winchester cartridge combined with an ample rubber recoil pad made the Henry soft on the shoulder. Clearly, this single shot would be a good choice for a wide range of hunters.

It’s capable of bagging whitetail or mule deer, pronghorn antelope and small- to medium-sized hogs.

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Testing was done with an adjustable folding rear leaf sight paired with a brass bead at the tip of the barrel. This setup will work at short range, but the rifle comes drilled and tapped with three holes accommodate optics mounts, so most hunters will opt for a scope mounted on a Weaver 82 rail.

Some experimenters have gone to a red-dot sight on a Picatinny rail, which might seem odd on such an old school rifle. It isn’t difficult to visualize an adjustable peep sight on the Henry as a classier option.

My first few offhand shots were in the 2-inch range from 50 yards offhand, but cold and shooter error are to blame for groups opening up after that. Winchester and Remington 100-grain ammo was used.

With more practice time in a warmer climate and the addition of a scope, there’s no doubt the Henry has minute of angle potential.

This target includes a trio of 3-shot groups from a benchrest at 50 yards. The two groups on the right were shot with Winchester 100-grain ammo, while the center triangle is from Remington 100-grain rounds.
This target includes a trio of 3-shot groups from a benchrest at 50 yards. The two groups on the right were shot with Winchester 100-grain ammo, while the center triangle is from Remington 100-grain rounds.

The 22-inch barrel has a twist rate of 1:10 and, when combined with the short action of a single shot, makes for a dandy rifle that handles smoothly and carries nicely while hiking in the woods. I didn’t put a
gauge on the trigger, but it broke around 6 to 7 pounds — lighter than a double-action
revolver.

Generous checkering provides a firm grip, and everything was assembled to tight tolerances. My only complaint was Henry’s choice of an extractor rather than an ejector for spent cases.

The blued version of the Henry Rifles single shot.
The blued version of the Henry Rifles single shot.

All calibers are available with steel frames, but collectors might prefer the brass-framed version available in .44 Magnum and .45-70. (The MSRP is $576 for brass models.) Henry also produces a brass-framed single-shot shotgun in 12, and .410 gauges. Prices for steel and brass-framed shotguns are identical to the single-shot rifles.

One-round rifles are a niche market with dedicated fans. When Harrington & Richardson — the former leader in single-shot sales by volume — left that market a few years ago, it created a void that begged to be filled.

Is that why Henry chose to add this new line of hunting arms?

Known for its lever-action rifles and carbines, Henry also makes a line of very classy and affordable single-shot shotguns, like this attractive brass receiver model. Photo: Henry Repeating Arms
Known for its lever-action rifles and carbines, Henry also makes a line of very classy and affordable single-shot shotguns, like this attractive brass receiver model. Photo: Henry Repeating Arms

“Consumers and some of our dealers asked us to make single shots,” Imperato said. Since Henry is known for traditional lever-action rifles, extending the firm’s line to single-shots made sense.

Hunters who enjoy the challenge of going afield with just one round on tap have other reasons to opt for a single shot. These rifles are sleek and handle smoothly. A well-made single-shot is much more than a utilitarian game getter.

Looking for more of a hunting challenge? Take a Henry single-shot rifle or shotgun on your next trip. It
combines simplicity and the art of the gunmaker.

For Information On Henry Firearms Please See:

This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest 2019, 73rd Edition.

G42 Review: Finally, a Glock in .380!

Glock G42 review.

The Glock 42 in .380 ACP is the firm’s first attempt at a pocket pistol, and it’s also the first American-made Glock.

The Glock 42 in .380 ACP is the firm’s first attempt at a pocket pistol, and it’s also the first American-made Glock. In a category where minimal weight has become the Holy Grail, this 13.76-ounce package could seem chunky to people who like anorexic pistols.

That might be hilarious to those who carry Model 1911s or Beretta 92s on a regular basis, but fractions of inches and single ounces count for much in the pocket pistol game.

Someone who owns a Rottweiler could care less about the difference between a six-pound toy poodle and a 4.7-pound Chihuahua, but dinky-dog specialists would call it an issue. Likewise, a few ounces on a modern .380 can be a big deal.

The G42 Review

The Glock 42 looks like the rest of the family, but it’s the baby of the bunch. Here is how it compares to the Model 22.
The Glock 42 looks like the rest of the family, but it’s the baby of the bunch. Here is how it compares to the Model 22.

First impressions count for much, and the Glock 42’s grip and balance scored high in that department. Those who handled the 42 immediately remarked on how well the gun pointed and especially how well it filled the hand.

Anyone with hands in the small to medium-large range shouldn’t have any problems with getting a comfortable hold – something that can’t be said for many of the currently produced small pistols.

A 10.2-ounce Taurus 738 in an Uncle Mike’s pocket holster slips unobtrusively into my front pocket, but the bulge from a Glock 42 is less discreet. What a difference 3.56 ounces can make. There are definitely lighter options in 6+1 capacity .380 ACPs.

.The Ruger LCP tips the scales at 9.42 ounces, while the Diamondback DB380SC comes in at 8.8 ounces and the Kel-Tec P3AT is even scrawnier at 8.3 ounces. Perhaps the closest thing to a direct comparison is the 12.5-ounce aluminum-frame version of the Colt Mustang.

So why tote a Glock 42 when it means more planning (or possibly an inside-the-waistband holster) to carry than the competition? Well, guns are made for shooting and this sample came through on the range. The little Glock was cutting nice groups from its first round out of the box.

Trying different brands of ammunition is an absolute must, as the TulAmmo Brass Maxx .380 ACP that shot flawlessly and accurately in the aforementioned Taurus 738 often jammed in the 42. A switch to Prvi Partizan, CCI aluminum-cased Blazers and Winchester .380s resulted in trouble-free ejection, two-inch groups at 25 feet and punching cardboard with ease.

As one gun-savvy tester put it, “I’m not a Glock guy, but I really like the 42. It’s not something you would want to use at 40 yards, but this is a very accurate pistol. It shoots to point of aim.” A local farmer who dropped in on this test fire session was pounding out the center of the target after taking just a few rounds to sight in.

What about the ultimate test for a small pistol? The Glock 42 never stuttered on Winchester 95-grain PDX1 Defender hollowpoints. Accuracy was comparable to what was obtained with roundnose ammo.

This is the result of the first three shots out of the box with the Glock 42 using Prvi Partizan .380 ACP roundnose. The light recoil made it very easy to handle.
This is the result of the first three shots out of the box with the Glock 42 using Prvi Partizan .380 ACP roundnose. The light recoil made it very easy to handle.

Why was the 42 so accurate? It’s those extra ounces and fractions of inches. The 3.25-inch barrel is longer than most other small .380s. Combine that longer radius with typical Glock sights as compared to what sits on the slides of other pocket pistols, and a person might be willing to tote a bit more weight rather than go for the ultimate in concealability.

Pocket pistols are usually carried for dealing with up close and personal encounters of the dangerous kind. When the goon is only feet or inches away, the idea of a proper two-handed stance and deliberately sighting in becomes ludicrous. In such situations, a quick one-handed draw and fire is often the only option.

Glock’s dual-action recoil springs, combined with the mild-mannered .380 ACP brings the 42’s recoil down to minimal levels. Follow-up shots definitely aren’t a problem.

Is there a more memorable way to describe the 42’s polite handling? I was also playing around with an Italian-made .38 Special single-action revolver after testing the little Glock. A box of cast reloads for Cowboy Action practice was labeled “2.0 grains Bullseye – mouse farts.” The Glock 42 kicks like a mouse fart, and the MSRP of $480 doesn’t stink.

This article is excerpted from Gun Digest 2015.

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