Henry

Henry Lever-Action Rifles: The Core Lineup

Henry’s lever-action series is built around a side-loading gate and a brass or steel receiver that gives every gun a distinctly classic look while delivering modern reliability. The Golden Boy series in .22 LR, .22 Magnum, and .17 HMR is the entry point — a beautiful rimfire rifle that’s been introducing new shooters to lever guns for decades. The Big Boy series steps up to centerfire pistol calibers: .357 Magnum/.38 Special, .44 Magnum/.44 Special, and .45 Colt, making it one of the most popular cowboy-action and home defense lever rifles available. All Henry lever guns share the same smooth, reliable action that has defined the brand.

Henry Big Boy in Pistol Calibers: .357, .44 Mag, and .45 Colt

The Henry Big Boy in pistol calibers is one of the most practical lever-action purchases available — a .357 Magnum Big Boy pairs perfectly with a .357 revolver, sharing ammunition and offering rifle-level velocity from the longer barrel. The .357/.38 Special model is the most versatile, handling both cartridges for economical practice with .38 Special and full-power performance with .357 Magnum. The .44 Magnum model adds serious stopping power for home defense or deer hunting at close range. The .45 Colt is the traditional cowboy caliber and works well with modern defensive loads. All Big Boy models use a brass receiver, walnut stock, and adjustable rear sight.

Henry Big Boy in Rifle Calibers: .30-30, .45-70, and More

Henry’s centerfire rifle caliber lever guns cover the classic American hunting cartridges. The .30-30 Winchester model is a natural deer hunting rifle — the cartridge that has taken more whitetail than any other in history, now available in Henry’s smooth-cycling action. The .45-70 Government model, including the All Weather variant with a weather-resistant finish, is Henry’s big bore offering for elk, moose, and bear — a short, fast-handling lever gun with more stopping power than many bolt-action hunting cartridges. Henry also offers the X Model series in these calibers with a synthetic stock and scope rail for hunters who want a practical field rifle over a traditional aesthetic.

Henry Side Gate: Convenient Loading on Classic Lever-Actions

The Henry Side Gate is a loading system Henry added to most of their Big Boy and X Model lever-actions in response to years of customer requests. Henry’s original design loaded from the front of the tubular magazine — reliable but requiring both hands and a flat surface to reload. The Side Gate adds a traditional spring-loaded loading port on the right side of the receiver, identical to the loading gates used on Winchester and Marlin lever-actions, allowing rounds to be pushed into the magazine one at a time without removing the follower. Henry Side Gate models carry the same quality barrels and smooth actions as standard Henry rifles — the only change is the loading system. If you plan to hunt, compete in cowboy action shooting, or simply want the ability to top off your magazine quickly, look for the Side Gate designation when selecting your Henry model.

Henry Homesteader 9mm: The Modern Henry

The Henry Homesteader is Henry’s first semi-automatic rifle and their most significant new platform in years. Chambered in 9mm, it accepts Glock and SIG magazines (depending on configuration), runs reliably on standard and +P 9mm ammunition, and is built to the same American-made standards as the lever guns. It’s positioned as a home defense and ranch rifle — affordable to feed, easy to shoot accurately, and compact enough for storage in a vehicle or safe. The Homesteader fills the pistol-caliber carbine category that has no lever-action equivalent, and at its price point it’s one of the most practical home defense rifles available.

Henry Lever-Action .410 and .22: Rimfire and Shotgun Options

Henry produces two lever-action platforms that stand apart from the rest of the lineup. The Henry Lever Action .410 shotgun is one of the most distinctive firearms in any category — a tube-fed lever-action that holds up to five .410 shells, handles both 2½” and 3” loads, and offers a smooth shooting experience unlike any pump or semi-auto. It’s popular for small game, pest control, and buyers who simply want something different. The Henry Golden Boy and Classic .22 LR lever guns are perennial favorites for introducing new shooters to the platform, with a tube magazine that holds up to 21 rounds of .22 Long Rifle for extended range sessions.

Choosing the Right Henry for Your Needs

For a first lever gun or a gift, the Golden Boy .22 LR is the classic choice — beautiful, reliable, and affordable to shoot. For home defense or a pairing with a revolver, the Big Boy in .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum covers both jobs. For deer hunting, the .30-30 or .45-70 X Model offers practical performance at a price well below comparable bolt guns. For a modern semi-auto carbine, the Homesteader 9mm is the most practical new Henry in the lineup. Browse our full rifle selection or see our .410 shotguns including Henry’s lever-action .410 model.

Frequently Asked Questions: Henry Firearms

Where are Henry rifles made?
Henry Rifle Company manufactures all of its lever-action rifles in the United States — primarily at their facility in Bayonne, New Jersey with additional production in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Henry’s tagline "Made in America or Not Made at All" reflects their commitment to domestic manufacturing across their entire product line.

What is the best Henry rifle for deer hunting?
The Henry Big Boy in .30-30 Winchester or .45-70 Government are the most popular choices for deer hunting. The .30-30 is the classic whitetail cartridge for timber hunting under 150 yards; the .45-70 delivers more energy for larger deer and hogs at similar ranges. Henry’s Big Boy Steel in .30-30 with the Side Gate loading system is particularly practical for hunting use.

What calibers does Henry make?
Henry produces lever-action rifles in .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, .357 Magnum/.38 Special, .44 Magnum/.44 Special, .45 Colt, .327 Federal Magnum, .30-30 Winchester, .35 Remington, .38-55 Winchester, .45-70 Government, and .410 bore. The Homesteader adds 9mm to the lineup in a side-loading gate semi-automatic format.

How smooth is the Henry lever action?
Henry lever-actions are widely regarded as the smoothest-cycling production lever-actions available — smoother than comparable Marlin and Winchester models out of the box. The brass or steel receiver models use a one-piece brass or steel receiver machined to tight tolerances. The smooth action is one of Henry’s primary competitive advantages and is consistently noted in independent reviews.

See Also: Henry Big Boy • Henry Lever Action • Lever-Action Rifles • .30-30 Ammo • .44 Magnum Ammo