Stupid Question?

[SFC]

I bought an 1860 Henry 2 years ago, because they look cool and I've always wanted one.  I've never shot it due to back-to-back deployments to Iraq.  My question is about the follower.  I was told you have to hang on to the follower and follow it forwarding while shooting.  I know some of you old timers can give me some good advice.  Thanks!

[sharps50/70]

No, you don't need to touch the follower when shooting.  In fact, it's better if you don't as you might not allow the follower to keep pressure on the rounds in the magazine tube.  I just shoot mine in the normal manner, hand on the magazind tube, and then move my hand over in front of the follower when it works it's way back toward the breech.

Rich

[Sod Buster]

... hand on the magazind tube, and then move my hand over in front of the follower when it works it's way back toward the breech.

The "Henry Hop" 

[sharps54]

The other option is to make a "stick" to load in the magazine after the rounds that will keep the follower far enough out that it won't hit your hand. I bought a used Henry and it came with the stick so I use it. In fact I shot my Henry for the very first time today at the Pungo Posse match in Wakefield, VA and it worked great! Nothing like .44-40 black powder fun! I can post the measurements and photos of my "stick" if you like. You know what I meant, no broke back here! 
Mild Myles

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I can attest after shooting a Henry for most of my 13 years in CAS (exc ept when shooting my Spencer), that the "Henry Hop" becomes an unconscious second nature.  Kinda like an immediate action drill with an M4

[Will Ketchum]

I can attest after shooting a Henry for most of my 13 years in CAS (exc ept when shooting my Spencer), that the "Henry Hop" becomes an unconscious second nature.  Kinda like an immediate action drill with an M4

I agree and doing the hop is part of the mystique of the Henry experience.  The Old timers didn't put a stick in the magazine because it would get in the way of a reload.  Henrys were used both in the Fetterman and Wagon Box fights by civilians.  In the Fetterman fight 2 civilians bodies were surrounded by spent cases.  They were the only ones who weren't mutilated in a testament to the fight they put up.  The civilian at the Wagon Box fight is credited with shooting over 300 of the attackers.  ( a figure I have always had a problem with because I didn't feel many would take that much ammunition with them)  So there were times that a person did have to reload their Henrys

Will Ketchum

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I suspect what somebody was trying to explain to you was to hang onto the follower and follow it forward when loading, not when shooting. It is very important to not let go of the follower with a modern centerfire Henry when loading the gun. Letting go of the follower so that it slams against the column of cartridges in the magazine is dangerous and can result in a cartridge firing in the magazine. It is also important to not load with the rifle held vertically so that the cartridges fall unimpeded on top of each other. Tilt the magazine so the barrel is tilted up slightly more than horizontal and allow the cartridges to gently trickle down the magazine, rather than dropping straight down.

Of course nobody put a spacer stick in their rifle in the old days. It cuts down on magazine capacity. I use a spacer stick in mine because we never load more than 10 rounds in CAS, and nobody is shooting back at me. Putting in the spacer stick I don't have to do the Henry Hop. And with the spacer stick in place if the follower ever got away from me it would only have about 1/2" of free travel before striking the column of cartridges. I believe this is a slight safety improvement as the spring would not have a chance to accelerate the follower to full speed in just 1/2". At least, that's what I think.

[litl rooster]

  I believe Driftwood read thru the question best....


Now who's he calling Old Timers?

[Driftwood Johnson]

Will Ketchum called you an Old Timer. I didn't.

I believe most of the Old Timers he's talking about are Really Old Timers and are probably all dead now.

[sundance44`s]

I seen an ole timer in the mirror this morning ..dang he`s a good lookin oletimmer  ....so hard to be humble when ya get better lookin every day ..

[Charlie Bowdre]

Yep , I was shaving the other day and my Dad ( God Bless em ) was staring back at me!!.

If ya have to be an oldtimer might as well be a good looking one!

Dutchie

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Yep , I was shaving the other day and my Dad ( God Bless em ) was staring back at me!!.

If ya have to be an oldtimer might as well be a good looking one!

Dutchie

My problem:  The last time I went camping, I MAY have dipped into the happy juice a bit much.    Next morning, I sleepily got up, grabbed my shaving gear and shaved three times before I realized I was staring at a bear! 

   

Keep yer powder dry!