Henry Rifle Forums

After a long work week, got in some range time for an hour or so. My 1860 Henry, 45 Colt. Actually it was today I shot...I just wrote the wrong date on the targets....what's my name again?
Warmed up at 25 yds. Hadn't shot for a couple of weeks so I like to start out on the 25 yd board. 250 gr Winchester LFN. 12 rounds which is 1 full load in the mag tube. Tried to put 1 in each corner and the rest in the middle. Off hand standing as always, and factory open sights. Just cleaned the rifle last week so it shot pretty darn nice, action is very smooth.
Next at 50 yds. Off hand standing. There was a bit of a wind today which was not much of a factor at 25 yds, but as you can see I had to compensate a little. 38 rounds with 23 in the big diamond. The 2 at the very bottom right and left were my lame attempts at the 2 smaller diamonds on the bottom. Windage not bad, elevation not good.

Oh well, it was great to get out and shoot, and as always, a quick time warp back to the late 1800's, which is where I belong anyhow.

shooting off hand, I'd take those targets any old time .... just curious, since it doesn't have a wooden foregrip, your impressions of handling the 1860 would be appreciated

It's a heavy rifle. 10 lbs without the ammo so 12 rounds adds a little more. That long machined 24" one-piece barrel/mag tube is a work of art and takes up the recoil, so you don't really feel the shot. Sights are very easy to acquire, and the rifle is very accurate. If I'm not on target it's me, not the gun. Shoulders nice, and even though I really love the look without a stock cover, I have one coming for it from Ricochet Roy's. The stock gets marked up easy so it will help protect it a little. The action is very smooth, and trigger pull is light although I don't know how many lbs. The mag tube tab is not a problem, at least for me. I don't notice it. You have to move your hand on the barrel a little but you get used to it. Besides, it's part of the 1860 cool factor. It is a really great rifle to shoot, loads of old west fun!

info appreciated .... please post pictures of it with and without the stock cover

Good shooting sir, I get the impression that you like this one. And probably going to keep it.

Here she is....I'll post some pics when the stock cover shows up in a couple of weeks....

Agreed. The 1860 cool factor is a nice part of your old west fun, and you are close to "living" back then as you ride the Southwest Alberta Cow Country. At least much closer than most of the Henry Folk are. You would have enjoyed "travelling" with Marty McFly in BTTF III.

RanchRoper wrote:The mag tube tab is not a problem, at least for me. I don't notice it....Besides, it's part of the 1860 cool factor. It is a really great rifle to shoot, loads of old west fun! ~~~ It was great to get out and shoot......back to the late 1800's, which is where I belong anyhow.

Ah, the Henry is a lady!

RanchRoper wrote: Here she is....I'll post some pics when the stock cover shows up in a couple of weeks....

Thanks folks, appreciate the comments. Yes you can't help but scan the horizon for buffalo herds when you hold one these rifles...

Looks like ya got er dialed in pretty good.
Good shooting!

Nice job RR and those Ubertis are great rifles for sure. I have shot one like that before as a friend of mine did have one. You are able to shoot right on your own place arent you?

RR, what can I say? As always, beautiful shooting with a beautiful rifle, all the more so with those open sights. Can't be more true to that tradition than that.

Had no idea the gun has that kind of weight, so I'd need to eat some Wheaties or something to shoot it more than a few shots. Do they make it in a short rifle version?

There is a 20" barrel carbine version as well. HRA makes one too but only in 44-40.

Have a lot of respect for the 44-40 and, of course, it is very traditional, but no way can I squeeze in another cartridge to reload and factory 44-40 ammo is much harder to find around here than 45 Colt. Can almost always find 45 Colt ammo in our area. Would love to see HRA do one in 45 Colt. Thanks to our USFA Colts, Marlin and a Contender barrel, all in 45 Colt, I'm pretty much locked into 45 Colt. That's a good thing, because I love the cartridge. Obviously, you do, too.

I think Cimarron has a 20" carbine version in 45 colt. I looked at it from a carrying perspective on my saddle but went with the traditional 24".
44-40 is not easy to find in abundance here either.

Just heard that Ricochet Roy is shipping my new stock cover today. Will post pics when it arrives.

BigAl52 wrote:Nice job RR and those Ubertis are great rifles for sure. I have shot one like that before as a friend of mine did have one. You are able to shoot right on your own place arent you?

Shooting at home is a fine line. I have a neighbor that is borderline on the limit of allowable distance as an "occupied dwelling" in the firearms laws. Plus a road as well. I spoke with the local RCMP and they said why push my luck. So I shoot at the range 10 minutes from home.

Well at least its close. I have a 40 minute drive to the Pawnee Grasslands where I shoot. But the drive aint all that bad just the time.

I have a Uberti 1860 and have to get off of my bottom and get it to the range. Been somewhat busy.

Yes sir, time to put some lead through it.

RanchRoper wrote:

BigAl52 wrote:Nice job RR and those Ubertis are great rifles for sure. I have shot one like that before as a friend of mine did have one. You are able to shoot right on your own place arent you?

Shooting at home is a fine line. I have a neighbor that is borderline on the limit of allowable distance as an "occupied dwelling" in the firearms laws. Plus a road as well. I spoke with the local RCMP and they said why push my luck. So I shoot at the range 10 minutes from home.

Sounds like us. We can legally shoot on our property and some of our neighbors do all the time, but in the interest of safety and getting along with the neighbors (the noise factor being one issue), we restrict shooting on our property to air guns, only. Our club range is about a ten minute drive and it is an excellent facility, so all our rimfire and centerfire shooting is done, there. Also nice to visit with friends we meet at our range.

I agree. I'd love to shoot my rifle at home but in Canada you run the risk of losing firearm privileges if there's a problem. Not worth it. Our range is close.
Handguns cannot be legally discharged anywhere except a range.