Henry 30-30 accuracy?

[Vaquero]

Hello neighbors,
...
I am looking at the H009G or maybe an X model in 30-30. What are you guys getting in the real world for accuracy?

BTW, I do handload and shooting nothing buy my own cast bullets. Right now I shoot a Lyman 311041 over IMR 3031 in my Savage 219 single shot.

Thanks for your replies and any suggestions.

Welcome from the Tualatin Valley!

I have both and H009B and H024 (gated) in 30-30. I have no complaints with accuracy within 100yds. I haven't tried beyond that.
My favorite factory ammo is Federal Fusion. My reloads are with Leverevolution powder with Hornady #3035 and Sierra #2000, both 150gr bullets.

Have you ever tried any 170gr ammo in either?
Of the 30-30s I have, the 2 Marlins that I shoot the most they both shoot the 150gr pretty good, but shoot smaller groups with a 170 gr bullets.
Just curious.

RP

[Mags]

...
Have you ever tried any 170gr ammo in either?
Of the 30-30s I have, the 2 Marlins that I shoot the most they both shoot the 150gr pretty good, but shoot smaller groups with a 170 gr bullets.
Just curious.

RP

I've shot some 170gr factory ammo in the H009 a long time ago. I don't recall there being any difference in performance compared to 150gr. At the time 150gr was more available and so I just stayed with it. And that carried over into what I reload for.

[GFK]

I can agree. My Henry is not as picky as my Marlin. My Henry pretty much iked all grains (150, 170 and 160) that I tried. Yet, my Marlin seems to like 150gr.

[DsGrouse]

The only reason i mentioned the 170's is that for subs i want the extra 20grains of mass. At 1050 fps it's 50 more foot pounds of energy .

367 vs 416

[Vaquero]

These both shoot the 150's fine, its just the 170's seem to always get tighter groups. This is my first rifle and I killed a bunch of deer using the 150gr factory ammo. After I started reloading I noticed that the 170's were grouping a tic better.
Not that it really matters at the usual yardage that I hunt with them. And my 308mx really likes a 170gr pill so I just keep more of those on hand.
Here's a small comparison I did a couple years ago.

20221211_181142.jpg

RP

[GFK]

Nice looking Marlin! And, nice shooting!

[leverjc]

I do not know if Henry has improved their barrel quality in the last couple of years but I would not accept delivery of one without checking the bore with a scope. I have never owned a Henry in 30-30 but the two Henrys I have bought have been back to the factory seven times over barrel issues. If I were to buy a new one I would go with Ruger as their barrel are hammer forged and are less likely to have a dull cutter pushed too fast to make a clean bore,

I do have four 30-30's, two Marlins, an Uberti and a 1940 Winchester. All but the pre cross bolt Marlin have excellent accuracy. The marlin has a sloppy chamber and heads space issues. There are a lot of things that affect the repeatable accuracy of lever action besides the bore, like barrel band tightness and stock fit to the action. if you have a good bore and chamber the rest can be worked on.

[sghart3578]

I do not know if Henry has improved their barrel quality in the last couple of years but I would not accept delivery of one without checking the bore with a scope. I have never owned a Henry in 30-30 but the two Henrys I have bought have been back to the factory seven times over barrel issues. If I were to buy a new one I would go with Ruger as their barrel are hammer forged and are less likely to have a dull cutter pushed too fast to make a clean bore"

It's funny that you mention the barrel quality of Henry. The Henry X in 357 magnum is a prime example. In my original post I mentioned that I am very happy with it but it took a little while to get there.

I bought the rifle used. The price was hard to pass up. I am a Marlin fan and have 1894's in several calibers. The Henry would shoot groups of 6-8" at 75 yards. Not 100 yards but 75 yards. I shoot nothing but cast lead so I proceeded to slug the bore. The slug went about 1" into the muzzle then fell all the wy through to the chamber. I did it twice because I couldn't believe it the first time.

To make a long story short Henry replaced the barrel and paid shipping both ways, even after I made it clear that I was not the original owner. It now shoots as well or maybe slightly better than my Marlin

After reading your post and other entries in other forums I can only assume that Henry is pushing product out the door at a break neck pace. Then do quality control via customer complaints.

I am now having second thoughts and will probably stick to my 336 from 1965 and my Savage 219 from the 30's.

[220]

Cant comment on the henry in 30/30 but my 1978 manufacture marlin shoots very well.
When I purchased it the previous owner guaranteed it to put 5 federal 150gr into under 2" at 100y, I have never checked, it will put 3 hornady leverevolution into 4" at 300y and my 160gr FTX reloads into moa at every distance I have tried.
When the kids were little I was after a lower recoil load so tested some of the sierra 125gr, the first to loads tested both put 5 shots into 1" at 100y.

[Mr. Neutron]

While not the most “impressive” group I’ve ever shot (or seen/shot with, say, my scoped .30-06…….), I felt these 2 groups were good and “huntable” for my brass framed .30-30. I wish I could say that they were offhand shooting, but they were off a bench. Was double checking my impacts before hunting season. I probably won’t bother movin’ my zero point to the left; probably won’t affect the outcome of a hunt.

One group was at 50 yds.; one from a hundred. Shot with a Skinner peep rear sight, and a brass post front one. Hornady 150s with 37 grains of LEVERevolution. Good for 2425 fps through my chrono. I’ve no doubt a scope would tighten this up a good bit, but feel like a scope on a lever rifle should be illegal…….

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