Uberti Henry weight & balance

[KWK]

I've got an itch to get a Henry, but there are none for sale near me (as fas as I can tell). I tried an Improved Henry with the 24" full octagon, and that's a might nose heavy as it is.

How's the balance of the stumpy Henry's offered by Uberti, 18.5 or 16.5 inches? Has anyone here ever weighed either?

I know neither length is per the originals, but neither are the chamberings offered; besides, the Volcanics were available in 16.5", so I wouldn't be (too) ashamed to have one of the short Ubertis.

Karl

[Pettifogger]

If you plan on using it for CAS skip the 16" model.  They won't hold ten rounds no matter what you do to it.  You might not even get ten in the 18" version.  I have a 22" and it balances very nicely.  Noticeable difference from the 24" model.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

If you plan on using it for CAS skip the 16" model.  They won't hold ten rounds no matter what you do to it.  You might not even get ten in the 18" version.  I have a 22" and it balances very nicely.  Noticeable difference from the 24" model.

The 18" will only hold 15" worth of ammo in the magazine.  Most .45 Colt is loaded to a OAL length of 1.55" to 1.6".  That means only 9 rounds.  I use .45 S&W and can fit 10 in mine.

The balance of the carbine is less front heavy than the full length rifle.   With a buckhorn rear sight, it is a fun carbine to shoot.

They can be very hard to find.  

[KWK]

They can be very hard to find.

The listings for them are indeed few.

I don't see myself needing 10 rounds. The Henry is a nifty bit of Victorian engineering; this gun would just be for fun.

Thanks for the comments. I'll try to expand my search for Henry's to handle. Chicago & St. Louis are the nearest large metro areas to me. Any big dealers in CAS type guns in either of those cities?

[KWK]

Wonders never cease: I went to look at a used rifle I'd spied two weeks ago, and there was a new 24" Henry on their CAS rack. It wasn't quite so nose heavy as I imagined, but perhaps I was bit excited at the find. The action was very smooth. I think the 18.5 would be best for me, but I'll mull it over. Thanks again.

[Sod Buster]

I'm very happy with my 24" Henry. 

[Trailrider]

Also depends on the condition of your back! Which is why I mostly shoot Rossi M92's nowadays instead of my Military Model Henry.

[Coffinmaker]

 
A 16" Henry can load 10 rounds, but only if the  rifle is .45 Colt.  You have to use the Cowboy 45 Special case with a short bullet and cartridge stop modified Carrier Block.  Works a treat.  Balance of the rifle is excellent.  My standard 24" Henries are a bit nose heavy bt still shoot well.

Coffinmaker

[KWK]

A 16" Henry can load 10 rounds, but only if the  rifle is .45 Colt.

Just curious, what about flush seated wad cutters in a .44-40? Not that I need to do it, but it seems the inline feeding of the Henry should allow it with a suitable cartridge stop.

[Pettifogger]

Flush seated Wad cutters will drop down through the mag tube easy enough, but remember they have to go in the chamber.  They' ll jam in the carrier as the OAL would be to short and assuming you got some to go through the carrier OK wadcutters don't chamber for crap in a rifle.

[KWK]

A more noticeably bottlenecked case such as the .38-40 I think could feed reliably with flush mounted wadcutters. It's a matter of whether the shoulder or the mouth lies lower with the case resting in the carrier. As for the cartridge length, it was already agreed a new stop would be needed for a shorter cartridge.

With the Henry, though, the .44-40 is only very slightly bottlenecked. I should have just answered my own question by pulling a .44-40 from my cartridge collection. I just did that, and on a flat surface, it lies with the rim and the case mouth touching--there's not enough shoulder--so no wadcutters.

[cactus joe]

to each his own, but i like the feel of my hrnry 24' barrel. shooting from a standing position it holds better on target then my winchester carbine. I can see where it might be a little clumsey for fast action shooting such as cas competion, but for leiserly range shooting that i do i love it.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

My 24" Henry weighs exactly one pound more than my 24" '73. For fast CAS shooting the heavy barrel is very useful, it stays on target and does not bounce when the lever is worked. I can't imagine why anybody would want to shoot wadcutters in a toggle link rifle, they were designed for round nosed bullets.

[litl rooster]

 A)

I'm very happy with my 24" Henry. 

B)

Flush seated Wad cutters will drop down through the mag tube easy enough, but remember they have to go in the chamber.  They' ll jam in the carrier as the OAL would be to short and assuming you got some to go through the carrier OK wadcutters don't chamber for crap in a rifle.

C)

to each his own, but i like the feel of my hrnry 24' barrel. shooting from a standing position it holds better on target then my winchester carbine. I can see where it might be a little clumsey for fast action shooting such as cas competion, but for leiserly range shooting that i do i love it.

D)

Howdy

My 24" Henry weighs exactly one pound more than my 24" '73. For fast CAS shooting the heavy barrel is very useful, it stays on target and does not bounce when the lever is worked. I can't imagine why anybody would want to shoot wadcutters in a toggle link rifle, they were designed for round nosed bullets.

E)   All of above




E

[KWK]

I can't imagine why anybody would want to shoot wadcutters in a toggle link rifle, they were designed for round nosed bullets.

Simply speculation, for those wanting to increase the cartridge count in their magazine. A shorter case and round bullets are the only way given the available Henry chamberings.

[KWK]

As mentioned in an recent thread, I have a 16.5" .44 WCF at home for inspection.

As for the balance, the thing is still surprisingly heavy, but it definitely points nicely with no particular nose heaviness, yet it still hangs on target. It shoulders well, and the sights fall to my line of sight readily.