I tried three loads in my Henry, 7.1gr of Red Dot under a 240gr HC RNFP coated from Missouri Bullet Company, 7.2gr Red Dot under Speer 200gr Gold Dot, and 8.2gr Red Dot under the same 200gr Gold Dot. The 8.2 gr Red Dot load drives the Gold Dot a little fast for its best performance, at least at the muzzle. But, the accuracy was probably the best of any load I've tried out of my Henry with the tiny four shot group shown below in the bottom photo. It looks like three holes, but there is actually four shots in that group. The black circle is 3" in diameter. The three holes above the black circle are from the 7.2gr Gold Dot load. Not particularly spectacular accuracy, but the velocity is just about perfect for this bullet at least at very close ranges. The accuracy of the 7.1gr load with the 240gr HC was as always consistent and accurate, not nearly as tight as the 8.2gr Gold Dot load, but predictably consistent. If I use the Henry for hog hunting, the 240gr cast would be the more conservative, reliable choice. I've seen how the 200gr Gold Dot works in properly calibrated organic gel, and it performs spectacular and would probably be excellent with smaller to perhaps medium hogs even though it is not marketed as a hunting bullet.
I also tested the Leopold scope to see if removing and remounting changed the POI. It did not seem to, so I will be able to easily go back an forth on this AR with the Aimpoint and Leopold with little effort. I'll keep flip up sights on my other AR's.
Last, I tried hitting my 12" X 20" plate at 100 yards offhand with the Henry and the AR. I had better results with the AR, finding it quite easy to consistently hit the plate aiming at the lower section, missing once in about 10 shots or so. I hit the plate with the Henry at about a ratio of 3 hits out of every 5 shots or so.
Top photo is from 100 yards offhand with the Henry & AR.
Third photo is Arabella, my supervisor, inspecting the rifles to make sure I cleaned them to her standards
Fourth is from 100 yards with various loads from the AR.
Fifth is my 8" plate with various loads from the AR.
Sixth is 50 yards from the Henry with the 240gr HC load. The difference in the shots higher vs lower, was just me determining a consistent sight picture so that the POI was correct for the distance. I have it figured out now along with adjusting the rear sight elevator for 50, 100, and 210 yards with my slow moving hand loads.
Bottom is two different loads from the Henry. The mediocre/poor group above the black circle is 7.2gr Red Dot under the 200gr Gold Dot. The small group in the circle is the 8.2gr load with the same bullet.
All the black circles are 3" in diameter.
