Short Stroke

[Flint]

It would seem that a short stroke kit would benefit the Henry where the support hand is between the lever and the follower, as there would be less interference when the lever comes forward.  If a spacer is put in the magazine the width is about the same as the shooter's hand, and the short stroke kit would make it easier to operate, no "Henry Hop" with a spacer, no hand pinching with the forward stroke shortened.

[Coffinmaker]

Flint,

You are quite correct.  I currently have four Henry's, all short stroked and it does make a difference.  I also shoot with "Stick, Mark 1, A1" in my rifles, to enable me to grip the barrel ahead of the frame.  Very Nice indeed.

There is a caveat though.  I have built an awful lot of competition rifles.  I have found, because of simple physics, the Third Generation of short stroke kits works best in large bore rifles.  The current crop of "Super Short" kits (legal SASS minimum lever throw) don't work as well with big bore as they do with .38s.  They are superb for the competitor in .38/357 or 32-20 guns.  Simply not enough mechanical advantage to move large cartridges "as well."

Coffinmaker

Who used to have Five Henry's but sold his "in the white" rifle (dumb move).

[Will Ketchum]

I'm sure glad we don't allow short stokes in NCOWS   We shoot them the way the Old Timers did

Will Ketchum

[Flint]

Coffinmaker, I agree on the super short kits, I've tried them for feel that other shooters have, and I noticed a lot more effort required to lever the gun.   I would want the 3rd gen in any caliber for that reason.

I prefer full strength mainsprings, I've watched too many light strikes on the line (really slows down a fast shooter's run).  I polish the tips of the lever and lifter springs. The added effort is the reason there are aluminum lifters out there, but the 3rd gen works fine with the brass.

[Montana Slim]

IMO, My 1866 (44-40) is more reliable mechanically (and mentally, for the operator) than any short-stroked gun.
I personally would always choose a toggle-link (winchester) weapon with the same logic. I've seen all the train-wrecks to prove it.

Regards,
Slim

[Grizzly Adams]

I'm sure glad we don't allow short stokes in NCOWS   We shoot them the way the Old Timers did

Will Ketchum

Yep!  I have a number of nice condition original 1873s, and I have to say that them Old Timers was a tuff bunch, judging by the effort required to lever the original Winchester 1873!  Not to mention having to shoot their breakfast every morning, walking 25 miles up hill in a blinding blizzard to get to church, and eating cold salt and pepper sandwishes three times a day!   Now those were the good old days!

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Why in the world do you guys insist on adding something to a 19th century rifle that wasn't offered in the Old West by the factory or the average gunsmith back then?

For what its worth...when you modify a gun that drastically, it is no longer is a Henry rifle, you've ruined the original design and shouldn't be allowed here on the Henry forum but on your own modern forum.

Why not start a machine gun forum and talk about your modern modifications over there?

OCB

[Jed Cooper]

Why in the world do you guys insist on adding something to a 19th century rifle that wasn't offered in the Old West by the factory or the average gunsmith back then?

For what its worth...when you modify a gun that drastically it no longer is a Henry rifle, you've ruined the original design and shouldn't be allowed here on the Henry forum but on your own modern forum.

Why not start a machine gun forum and talk about your modern modifications over there?

OCB

   What Bill and Slim said          Jed

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Shouldn't allow no "short-strokes" on this forum.  Post 'em on a porn site!

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Shouldn't allow no "short-strokes" on this forum.  Post 'em on a porn site!

Exacta Mundo.....!!

Bill

[Sod Buster]

Shouldn't allow no "short-strokes" on this forum.  Post 'em on a porn site!

Good plan!
I can't imagine doing that to an 1860 Henry.
Go directly to Jail...do not pass Go.
You are hereby given a Spirit of the Game penalty!   

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Style?   I would NEVER short-stroke!   

[Coffinmaker]

Gee, I just noticed, all my Henry's aren't Henrys at all.  They all have longer frames and accommodate cartridges the Henry was never chambered in.

Guess we ban all the new "modern Henrys" to the new "modern" Henry form too.

Then, well, I guess you'll be there too.  Unless of course, your actually shooting an original and manufacturing your own rim fire ammunition.  In that case, you'll be here, all by yourself.

Some folks are starting to sound like the "other" forum.  "My" way or the "highway."  Here there is room for everybody.

Get over it.

Coffinmaker

[Pettifogger]

Gee, I just noticed, all my Henry's aren't Henrys at all.  They all have longer frames and accommodate cartridges the Henry was never chambered in.

Guess we ban all the new "modern Henrys" to the new "modern" Henry form too.

Then, well, I guess you'll be there too.  Unless of course, your actually shooting an original and manufacturing your own rim fire ammunition.  In that case, you'll be here, all by yourself.

Some folks are starting to sound like the "other" forum.  "My" way or the "highway."  Here there is room for everybody.

Get over it.

+1.  Both my Henry's are .44-40s.  Guess I'll have to junk them because they aren't authentic.  CAS is a shooting sport.  Virtually all the guns used have action jobs or other changes to make them more reliable.  Originals weren't made to withstand the stresses of competition.  Competition guns get fired thousands and thousands of rounds. 

Coffinmaker

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Well....No.....I won't
We shoot reproductions of the Henry....they are the closest rifle we have to the original. Unfortunately they do not make it in a rim fire cartridge....that leaves us with the factory chamberings.

If they did manufacture a exact copy of the Henry, chambered in the proper caliber, there would be some bozo out there wanting to short stroke it. .

The short stroke is a modern modification to a 19th century toggle bolt rifle that no historical record has been found being done by either the factory or a local gunsmith prior to 1900. So no, I won't be there.....

Short stroke kits and other modifications don't belong on this forum. If you don't like the fact there are some of us that feel this is a travesty....tough! get over it.

Modification to any firearm whether it is a Henry or a Marlin belongs on the gun smithing forum not here, and I hope the moderators will have the foresight to move the topic there, even though it was one of the moderators that started this topic.

Bill

[Major 2]

I think the point(s) have been covered suffciently....