After spending some quality time with Henry’s Frontier Model Long Barrel 24″, a fine .22-caliber lever action rifle that helped me regain a bit of my wishful childhood, I was left wanting little more from a lever action rimfire target and small game shooter. Then I opened the Small Game Carbine . . .
The .22 Magnum Henry Repeating Arms Small Game Carbine (above, bottom) is quite literally the cooler, tougher brother of the sleek-sister Frontier Model Long Barrel 24″ (above, top), and for good reason.
The two rimfire rifles were cut from the same Frontier Model cloth, but with a shorter barrel, larger lever loop, Skinner sight, and more powerful caliber (though it’s also available in .22 LR), the Small Game Carbine is a serious step-up for small game hunters.
At first glance, the most obvious change is the length of the 16.25-inch blued steel octagon barrel. What the shorter barrel gives up in the way of sight radius it rightfully earns back with quicker swing and more compact profile. The reduced length is also the primary cause of its 5.75-pound weight, a 1.75-pound reduction from the 24″ LR Frontier model.
Like its sibling, the Small Game Carbine sports a nice flat crown and 45-degree chamfer that is somewhat consistent across models (above, right).
Upon further inspection of the barrel, shooters will notice what is arguably the most exciting upgraded feature of the Henry Small Game Carbine rifle – a bump up to .22 Magnum (aka .22 WMR).
However, the magazine tube is shorter to match the carbine-length barrel and the cartridges longer, so capacity of the dovetail-set tube is limited to nine rounds.
The large lever loop is most likely the second most noticeable feature, and the only “embellishment / extra” listed for the Small Game Carbine. In fact, only two “embellishment / extra” features are available throughout the entire Frontier Model line of rifles. “Suppressor-ready” being the other feature; found on the Frontier Model Long Barrel Threaded Barrel 24″ rifle.
Designed to accommodate gloved hands and make shooting bigger-bored rifles more comfortable, the large loop isn’t exactly necessary for this caliber. However, it’s a welcome addition for those planning to draw this carbine from a sheath – or anyone that prefers a little extra finger room.
Mechanically, the lever takes charge of a high-quality black-finished aluminum receiver that plays host to a “Slickest Gun in the West” action. And with a silky-smooth feel and distinct, resonating feedback, the Small Game Carbine’s action lives up to its name.
Now, this isn’t the most precisely-made rifle in the country, and on paper it’s a lower-end model, but I was impressed with how well Henry buttoned-up the Small Game Carbine rifle’s receiver. The folks making these rifles clearly take pride in their work.
Atop the rear of the receiver sits a solid steel Skinner sight. Equipping the Small Game Carbine with this style of rear sight is ideal for small game hunting because it allows the hunter more visibility around the bead. And given critters’ propensity for perpetual, stop-and-go movements, a Skinner sight can aid with quick adjustments and follow-up shots.
Fully adjustable, the sight pivots off of the forward top screw for windage adjustment. A small set screw on the side of the sight releases the peep which, when rotated, allows for changes in elevation.
Skinner peep sights offer a range of interchangeable apertures to suit each shooter’s needs. The Small Game Carbine came with a “Standard” model screw-in aperture (0.096″)(above, left). Removing the aperture insert returns it to a wide-open “Ghost Ring” (0.200″)(above, right).
A top view of the two Frontier Model rifles (above) shows the difference in rear sighting systems. The Small Game Carbine (above, bottom) has a drilled and tapped receiver, while the Long Barrel 24″ (above, top) has a dovetail cut in the barrel and accompanying set screw.
Henry kept the bright brass adjustable front bead consistent across all Frontier Model rifles. It looks just as good atop the Small Game Carbine, as any.
Working in unison, the Skinner rear sight and bright brass bead front sight allow for precise shooting and wide peripheral vision. The sight picture above shows the Standard Skinner rear aperture.
If your preference is glass, the 3/8″ dovetail grooves paralleling the top of the receiver play impeccable host to a mounting bracket such as the BKL Technologies BKL-261 scope mount, which was used in conjunction with a Vortex Diamondback 2-7×35 Diamondback scope for accuracy testing.
True to the Frontier Model line of rifles, the Henry lever gun features a 1/4-cock safety. It can be enabled with either a round chambered or an empty chamber by simply pulling the hammer back about 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch until it clicks. When engaged (above, right) the trigger will be unable to release the hammer.
The Small Game Carbine’s trigger appears to be the same as the Long Barrel 24-inch rifle; classic grooved curved-blade trigger sits fourteen inches from the end of the stock. It’s both comfortable and controllable.
However, the trigger’s sequence is an improvement over that of the Long Barrel 24-inch I reviewed. The Small Game Carbine’s trigger has zero take-up, just about 1/16-inch of smooth creep, and an abrupt and crisp break at 3.2-pounds.
The Carbine’s American walnut furniture is once again above its pay grade. Very well-finished and extremely smooth to the touch, the guys at Henry put together a nice matching set of dark pieces for this rifle which display a pleasing grain.
As previously experienced, the buttstock and end plate were seemingly finished as one piece and are seamless to the touch. The end plate’s polymer composition detracts from the overall quality feel of the rifle, being as it is the only plastic part to be found.
On one unfortunate instance the rifle, up in a vertical wall rack, tipped over and contacted another rifle about a foot away. It was seemingly a light contact, but proved to be enough to put a nice ding (above) in the forestock — one that surprised me, given how well the rest of stock has held up during testing.
At the range I set up for standard accuracy testing and some good-old-fashioned plinking. I found the Caldwell Stinger to be the perfect rest for the rifle, allowing consistent, unobstructed cycling of rounds without breaking my sight picture.
Munitions consisted primarily of Armscor 40-grain jacketed hollow point, CCI 40-grain MAXI-MAG HP jacketed hollow point, CCI 40-grain MAXI-MAG total metal jacket, and Hornady 30-grain V-MAX ballistic tip rounds.
Rounds are loaded into the Carbine one a time through the loading port, located in front of the forestock on the underside of the magazine tube.
Once the spring-loaded magazine tube has been removed, simply line up the shape of the cartridge to the shape of the port and drop them in. If the round you’re attempting to load isn’t the same shape as the port, don’t load it!
Given I was practically attempting to dodge rain drops, the Henry Small Game Carbine fared well on paper. At 50 yards CCI’s 40-grain MAXI-MAG HP managed 0.78″ groups while Armscor’s 40-grain JHP measured in at just under an inch, 0.99″.
I was rooting for the Hornady V-MAX but, unfortunately, even with consistently-great 3-shot groups, I just couldn’t put tougher a respectable 5-shot group with it.
Shooting a gun on the bench is what it is; there’s a purpose. But a lever gun is mean to run free, swinging from target to target with report on arrival. And I’ll tell you, the Small Game Carbine is just as fun to shoot as most MSRs. It’s extremely maneuverable, reliable, very accurate, and has a manageable recoil that will put a smile on any shooter’s face.
The Henry Repeating Arms Small Game Carbine in .22 WMR is a fantastic lever action gun. The $125 price increase over its 24″ Long Barrel relative doesn’t quite feel right to me, but the shorter barrel, larger lever loop, Skinner rear peep sight, and .22 WMR caliber sure do feel great.
Additionally, with a very smooth action, reliably accurate octagon barrel, and American walnut furniture, this Frontier Days lever action rifle is a classic gun to consider for your collection, cabin, or caballero accoutrement.
Specifications:
Henry Repeating Arms Small Game Carbine (.22 WMR)
Price as reviewed (Model # H001TMLP): $620.00 MSRP
Technical Specifications:
- Calibers: .22 WMR
- Barrel Type: Octagon Blued Steel
- Barrel Length: 16.25″
- Rate of Twist: 1:16
- Overall Length: 33.75″
- Length of Pull: 14″
- Weight: 5.75 lbs.
- Receiver Finish: Black
- Rear Sight: Skinner Peep Sight
- Front Sight: Brass Bead
- Optics Mounts: 3/8″ Grooved Receiver
- Stock Material: American Walnut
- Buttplate/Pad: Plastic
- Safety: 1/4 Cock
- Embellishments/Extras: Large Lever Loop
Ratings (out of five stars):
Quality: * * * * *
From the American walnut stock and foregrip, Skinner rear peep sight, and large lever loop, to the “Slickest in the West” action, Henry Repeating Arms is committed to delivering a high-quality product.
Reliability: * * * * *
Henry’s Small Game Carbine cycled, fired, and ejected all 40-gran and 30-grain .22 WMR loads we tested from a variety of manufacturers.
Accuracy: * * * * *
This .22-caliber carbine’s 16.25″ blued-steel octagon barrel has no trouble touching rounds on paper. I wouldn’t hesitate to take the Small Game Carbine out on a small game hunt.
Overall: * * * * *
I don’t consider .22 WMR to be a “plinking” or target practice load. It’s a small game hunting load. Henry Repeating Arms’ lever action Small Game Carbine does the caliber justice with a host of top-notch features and a nice octagon barrel that can surely take any game within its Skinner peep sight.
The reason that it’s easier to buy an AR15 in Florida than a handgun is because the gun grabbers didn’t hate semi-auto rifles as much as they did pistols back when that legislation was passed. The cognitive dissonance is astonishing among the left. “What? We hadn’t banned those yet?”
[sarcasm]
Glad to see so many highly skilled investigators with inside knowledge of the FBI commenting on this post. If only they were part of the FBI, none of this would have ever happened.
[/sarcasm]
Why do we carry guns? Why do we refuse to give up our gun rights when things happen? Partially because no matter what we do to protect ourselves and avoid danger, there is a chance something will happen. And we will need it. No matter what laws are passed, people will break them. People are flawed, fallible creatures. They make bad choices, and sometimes they lead to negative consequences no one could have foreseen. The FBI, an organization made of people, is not going to be perfect 100% of the time.
S*** happens, people. Cost of a free society. You can only prevent so much crime. Hell, North Korea has crime issuea and it’s an isolated police state under martial law with thought police. Until we harden the inside of our schools by arming teachera, this will continue. It doesn’t matter what steps the FBI or anyone else take.
Shut down and shutter Rolling Stone, imprison the writers and editors, NO FIRST AMENDMENT FOR YOU !
Water board them until they admit to working for the evil POS (D) and satan.
THIS IS JUST A ‘BULLSHIT PREFACE’ FOR THEM “DOING MORE”.
EXPECT A NO-KNOCK WARRANT JUST FOR BLOGGING HERE.
BECUASE . . . THEY THINK YOU JUST ASKED THEM TO.
Why in the world would you call the FeeBI instead of the local Anglo-American heritage sheriff?
The position of Sheriff is elected, so they want to look like they are protecting the childrenz.
Because the vaunted “see something, say something” type campaigns give a number that goes to the FBI. And everyone knows the FBI are the top LE agency in the country, so why wouldn’t you call them!
See something, say something, and then sit by and watch it happen.
The FBI is simply not a reliable or dependable criminal investigation organization.
“The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.” Genesis, before the flood.
“As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:17.
Things will get even worse before He comes. Best be prepared. And well armed.
Only now does the national government admit there are “evil” Russians up to no good in America!!!!
Rolling Stone better keep abreast of what has already happened. NO the Feds did not repeal the Second Amendment “exactly” but what they did do was tell all the States this summer that the Second Amendment was “defacto repealed” because by refusing to Hear the Assault Rifle Ban in Maryland the States now could ban anything and everything they wanted to ban and California did just exactly that with their confiscation of Assault Rifles to be carried out over a period of two years. And the Attorney General in Massachusetts without passing any new law simply decreed that She was “reinterpreting the 20 year old Assault Rifle law” to fit her anti-gun agenda and overnight banned assault rifles and of course the courts winked and nodded their approval. The list goes on as State after State is seizing on the moment to gain absolute power over the troglodyte proletariat who now work for minimum wage 7 days a week with no holidays, benefits or adequate health care, which is heaven on earth in Capitalvania, the land of 21st Century economic slavery which is a repeat of the Middle Ages and Serfdom, something the Republicans have long worshiped in their “Bible of Blind Greed”.
Public pressure affects the Supreme Court and has done so throughout its entire corrupt history. 100,000 Japanese Americans were thrown into Concentration Camps in WWII losing their jobs, homes and freedom because of public panic, racism and pressure on the Government. The newest “boogieman” is the Second Amendment and it is hardly surprising the Republican side of the Court linked arms and kissed the Democrats when refusing to hear the Maryland Case. They were again simply bowing to public pressure to hand on to their corrupt jobs.
With the mess the Republicans have made in Congress coupled with their blind greed tax rape plan they have guaranteed that they will lose both houses in 2018 and the Presidency in 2020 which will pave the way for the Democrats to finally seize the moment on an outright ban on all modern weapons and the confiscation of those weapons with of course little or no compensation as to their market value.
You can thank the Republicans under Reagan for doing away with affordable mental health care and thank the NRA for resisting “universal background checks” for assuring that nut cases, criminals and lunatics have had an unlimited supply of all the guns and ammo they need which has resulted in our big cities being worse than war zones and the nut cases mowing down people now on a weekly basis. The world is not asking the question “Has the NRA lost its mind” but rather “Why has the U.S. lost its mind” by not adopting gun control that keeps the majority of weapons out of the majority of the hands of the criminals and lunatics. But the answer is we have one of the most corrupt Governments on the planet and Politicians do not do what is right for the American people such as a National Health Care Plan and also much needed gun control laws because they are only Prostitutes of million dollar paying Special Interest groups that in a civilized society should not be allowed to exist. Special interest groups help cause the downfall of the Roman Empire and History repeats itself today in the U.S.
Rome disintegrated and its society imploded for much the same reasons we are destroying ourselves today. Rome bankrupted itself with too large an army, too many wars of rape, pillage, and conquest which later had to be fought with mercenaries as the population would not defend their own country any longer, the rich controlling all the money, the rich putting the jobless on welfare because they had stolen their jobs by taking their farms and running them with slave labor, taxing only the lower classes not the rich, and of course blaming their running the economy into the ground not on themselves but blaming it on Romes immigrants who actually were responsible for originally making Rome a prosperous country.
Yes History does indeed repeat itself and in our case its chilling how closely we have followed in Romes footsteps and down the same path to the destruction of our society.
As one Vietnamese Official said recently “Your self destruction proves that, yes there is a God”. Considering what the U.S. did to his country and its people it is not a wonder he made that statement and is now gloating over it.
“As my mother used to say, some people don’t have the brains they were born with.”
I’m ging to have to borrow that!
“We must provide the citizens of our communities with the… \physical tools to fortify their positions…”
Duh. About time.
“Be honest, you don’t need that AR-15.”
I know. I have an AUG instead. Oh, and you don’t need to write your column, either, but I’m not telling you to stop. Words have power. Words kill. (Or something like that.)
“States like Connecticut can help shame Congress into adopting common-sense measures…”
Like turning previously law-abiding into felons? How’s that working for the Constitution State?
“Go down to your local recruiting station and join the fucking Army.”
First off, that conjures an interesting mental image. Anyway, what about the other branches of the armed services? Don’t they shoot guns, too?
I dunno, RF. Quite a collection of maroons this time.
I love my Henry .22 Mag Small Game….eyes not 25 anymore or even 50. Popped a Groundhog in the corn in spring….held high first shot/all me….2nd shot DRT at 80 yards.
Morning, I have 6 Henry’s . Got the 22 mag carbine a few months ago. A sweet weapon, great balance and an easy easy carry.
Question: I want to add a scope but like iron sights, Skinner. Do you know of a scope rail/mount that fits the 3/8″ as well as allowing the iron sights to remain; it gives the rifle even more flexibility
I’ve found similar results with the ammo referenced. Federal works very well in them- 40-45 grain
Great recap by the way. Thanks. Don