In a recent piece I wrote here in Outdoors Unlimited I gave my “All American Christmas List”. At the top of that list was a Henry Repeating Arms .30-30. For the first time in my life someone read my list and I soon found myself at Bass Pro Shops picking up my new Henry rifle. I got Model #H009B; the brass model with the classic octagon barrel.
Why a Henry and why a .30-30 you may ask? There are a few reasons. First, Henry Repeating Arms rifles are all American made, not just assembled, but made. They use all American sourced materials and parts; “lock, stock and barrel” as they say. They also have a very rich history in American firearms. The lever action repeating rifle is an American rifle, with Benjamin Tyler Henry perfecting the design and getting a patent for it, while working with Winchester.
I decided on a .30-30 because it is the perfect rifle for use here in the northern New England woods. It is lightweight, doesn’t kick like an army mule and it has plenty of power to take down the large game animals that we have here, namely deer and bear. In New Hampshire we also have boar and a properly placed .30-30 round will take down these critters as well. While I don’t think I would use a .30-30 for moose, moose have been successfully harvested with this round.
Weighing in at 8.3 pounds (the blued steel model only weighs 7 pounds) this rifle comes quick and easy to the shoulder. The straight grip American walnut stock feels good in the hands, allowing me to acquire a perfect sight picture immediately. The receiver is pre-drilled for mounting a scope, though I doubt I will be doing that.
Here in New England we don’t get those shots of 200 yards or more. Most shots are made at 150 yards or less, through dense brush. The Henry .30-30, with its 20-inch barrel and five shot tubular magazine, is perfect for moving through that dense cover. The .30-30 round is accurate up to about 150 yards, so it is more than enough when that deer walks by at 60 yards.
My choice of rounds varies depending on what I am hunting. If I’m after boar or bear then I generally use a heavier 170 grain bullet, like the Federal Fusion. If deer are the name of the game, then I tend to go with the standard 150 grain bullet, like the Federal Premium Trophy Copper.
So Christmas came early for me this year. I can hardly wait for deer season to start next year. I plan on putting my new Henry .30-30 to use at my favorite deer spot in Vermont. Hopefully it brings me luck.