Henry Golden Boy

Golden Boy vs. Henry Classic: What’s the Difference?

The Henry Classic (.22 LR) uses a blued steel receiver; the Golden Boy adds a polished brass receiver and an octagon barrel for a more ornate, traditional appearance at a higher price. Both use the same side-loading tube magazine fed from the muzzle end and share Henry’s smooth lever action. The Classic is the better choice for a shooter who primarily wants a reliable, attractive .22 plinker without the aesthetic premium. The Golden Boy is the choice when appearance matters—it’s the most visually distinctive rifle in Henry’s rimfire lineup and makes a genuinely impressive gift or heirloom piece. Both shoot equally well.

Golden Boy Caliber Options: .22 LR, .22 Magnum, or .17 HMR?

The Golden Boy is available in all three of Henry’s standard rimfire chamberings. The .22 LR version is the most affordable to shoot—ammunition is inexpensive and plentiful, making it ideal for high-volume plinking and small game hunting. The .22 WMR (Magnum) extends effective range and produces more energy for pest control and varmints out to 100 yards. The .17 HMR offers the flattest trajectory of the three—a 17-grain bullet at 2,550 fps—and is the best choice for accurate varmint work at distance. The tube magazine capacities differ by caliber: the .22 LR holds 16 rounds, the .22 WMR holds 12, and the .17 HMR holds 11. All three share the same Golden Boy action and aesthetics.

How Does Henry’s Tube Magazine System Work?

The Golden Boy uses a traditional Henry-style tube magazine that loads from the muzzle end of the magazine tube rather than through a gate in the receiver. The magazine tube slides forward to expose the loading port, you drop rounds in nose-first, and the tube slides back to lock. This system is intuitive once learned and loads quickly—more quickly than a gate-loading design for many shooters. The Henry design also means there’s no loading gate to snag on clothing or debris. The tube runs beneath the full length of the barrel, making it invisible from the side and maintaining the rifle’s clean visual lines. The only consideration is that the tube loading system doesn’t work well with hollow-point bullets in some configurations—standard velocity round-nose or semi-pointed bullets feed most reliably.

Is the Golden Boy a Good Small Game and Hunting Rifle?

Yes—the Golden Boy’s .22 LR version is a capable small game rifle for squirrel, rabbit, and similar-sized animals at ranges up to 75 yards. The .22 WMR and .17 HMR versions extend that range and are appropriate for larger pest control applications including prairie dogs and ground squirrels. The adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight and brass bead front sight provide an adequate hunting sight picture; many buyers add a compact .22 scope for precision work. The 20″ octagon barrel provides good velocity and a pleasant weight distribution for field carry. The Golden Boy’s walnut stock and brass receiver require slightly more care in wet conditions than synthetic alternatives, but are well-suited to typical small game hunting environments.

Golden Boy as a Gift or Heirloom Rifle

The Golden Boy’s combination of polished brass, walnut, and blued steel makes it one of the most gift-appropriate factory rifles available. Henry offers engraved and special edition Golden Boy variants for commemorative purposes. The “Henry Made in America” heritage—all Henry rifles are manufactured in Bayonne, NJ and Rice Lake, WI—adds sentimental value for buyers who prioritize domestic manufacturing. The rifle’s durability means it genuinely can be passed to the next generation in working condition. Henry’s warranty is transferable and the company has a strong reputation for customer service. For a father/child first rifle experience or a retirement gift for a hunter, the Golden Boy is difficult to improve on at its price point.

Frequently Asked Questions: Henry Golden Boy

What calibers does the Henry Golden Boy come in?
The Henry Golden Boy is available in .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR. The .22 LR is the most popular and affordable; the .22 WMR provides more power for small game at longer ranges; the .17 HMR delivers the flattest trajectory of the three for varmint shooting.

What makes the Golden Boy different from the Henry Big Boy?
The Golden Boy is chambered in rimfire calibers (.22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR) while the Big Boy uses centerfire pistol calibers (.357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt). The Golden Boy’s brass receiver and American walnut stock give it a classic western aesthetic, and its rimfire chambering makes it ideal for plinking and small game at a fraction of the ammunition cost of centerfire alternatives.

Does the Henry Golden Boy have a side-loading gate?
No — standard Golden Boy models load exclusively from the front of the tube magazine by removing the inner magazine tube. The Henry Golden Boy Steel does feature a side loading gate in addition to tube loading. If side-gate loading is important to you, specify the Steel variant.

Is the Henry Golden Boy good for youth shooters?
Yes — the Golden Boy in .22 LR is a classic first lever-action for young and new shooters. Its manageable recoil, beautiful aesthetics, and low ammunition cost make it an excellent training and heirloom rifle.

See Also: Henry Firearms • Lever-Action Rifles • Henry Big Boy • .22 LR Ammo