HENRY GOLDEN BOY
Posted May 19, 2023
Henry Rifles’ Golden Boy rifle has become a popular firearm in its own right, lauded both for its look and its functionality. The Henry Golden Boy is an aesthetically pleasing gun that functions as well as any rifle on the market.
The rifle itself is a .22 lever-action, hammer-fired design that allows for rapidfire shooting when needed. The construction is robust and reliable, allowing for the Henry Golden Boy to serve well in the field for hunting or target shooting. In its standard finish, the gun is factory blued and comes with a beautiful American walnut stock and forend. The entire package is quite attractive, with the rifle’s tasteful engravings and the gold-plated receiver.
The gun is available with either a round or octagonal barrel. The round barrel is 20-inches long and the octagonal barrel is 20.5-inches long. Both barrels have a 1:16 twist and come with adjustable open sights. The adjustable rear sight is fully adjustable for both windage and elevation, and the front sight is adjustable for elevation. The front sight has an integral blade and fiber optic insert. The fiber optic insert is an interesting addition that helps the shooter quickly acquire the target.
Shooting the Henry Golden Boy is a pleasure. The gun is well balanced, making it easy to carry in the field, and recoil is pretty much nonexistent. The light weight makes it easy to shoulder, and the recoil impulse is gentle and pleasant. The takedown lever is easy to operate, allowing for a quick field strip and cleaning of the gun.
The accuracy of the Henry Golden Boy is superb, with the rifle easily holding groups of one inch or less at 25 yards with quality match-grade ammunition. The rifle is incredibly easy to shoot accurately, and with practice is capable of taking small game easily out to 50 yards or more.
The Silver Boy, a model of the Henry Golden Boy, comes with an entirely silver-plated receiver, trigger guard, and buttplate. While this model is more for show than anything, it is still quite attractive and eye-catching. The Silver Boy also adds a new twist to the ordinary Henry Golden Boy, making it a unique gun for any collection.
Whether you're a shooter or a collector, the Henry Golden Boy makes a great gun. It’s well made, looks great, and shoots accurately and reliably. Whether used in the field or just stored in the safe, the Henry Golden Boy will impress. It’s an excellent choice for shooters of all ages and skill levels, and will serve for decades.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Large capacity magazine
- Fast cycling action
- Lightweight and easy to transport
- Versatile round selection
- Easy to use
- Excellent accuracy
Cons:
- Expensive to own
- Limited aftermarket support
- Limited ergonomics
- Difficult Cleaning and Maintenance
- Magazine reliability issues
Who Should Buy
Individuals should buy the Henry Golden Boy if they are interested in owning a feature-filled and elegant lever-action rifle. This firearm is reliable, accurate, and easy to use, making it a great choice for marksmen, hunters, and shooters.
The Henry Golden Boy may not be the best choice for some, including those who are interested in purchasing a firearm for self-defense purposes. The Golden Boy is not designed for such use and may not be a reliable firearm for those purposes. Additionally, those who are strictly in the market for a shotgun or AR should look elsewhere.
Comparisons
| Product Name | Action Type | Magazine Capacity | Barrel Length | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Golden Boy | Lever Action | 16 | 20" | 7.5 lbs |
| Marlin 336C | Lever Action | 6 | 20" | 6.5 lbs |
| Winchester 94 | Lever Action | 10 | 20" | 7.4 lbs |
| Rossi R92 | Lever Action | 10 | 20" | 7.3 lbs |
| Winchester 1895 | Lever Action | 10 | 22" | 8.2 lbs |
Features / Specs
• Manufacturer: Henry Repeating Arms
• Model: Golden Boy
• Type: Lever-action rifle
• Calibers: Different varieties in 22 Short, 22 Long, and 22 Long Rifle
• Capacity: 16 in the tubular magazine plus one in the chamber
• Barrel Length: 20”
• Overall Length: 38.5”
• Weight: 7.3 lbs.
• Stock/Finish: American Walnut with Brasslite Receiver/Blued
• Sights: Fully adjustable Semi-Buckhorn rear, ramped blade front sight with brass bead and wide-scan hood
• Safety: Transfer bar system
• Features: Engraved receiver, Brasslite buttplate, Octagon barrel, 1860 Henry Rifle Lever & Loading Gate Engraving
Popular Accessories
- Sights: Henry Golden Boy Rifle Sights, Williams Fire Sight Set, and XS Lever Rail with Ghost Ring,
- Stocks: ACE Benchrest Stock, Boyds Hot Laminate Stock, and Magpul Pro 700L Stock.
- Slings: Blackhawk Sling, Uncle Mikes Tactical Sling, and Butler Creek Steel Push Pull Sling.
- Magazine: Henry Big Boy Six-Round Magazine, Butler Creek High-Capacity Magazine, and Magpul PMAG 10-Round Magazine.
- Cases and Boxes: Henry Golden Boy Hard Case, Rifle Guard For Henry Golden Boy, and Plano All Weather Case.
- Tools: Wheeler Professional Bore Scrubber, Frog Lube CLP, and Wheeler Trigger Pull Gauge.
- Mounts: Warne Maxima Steel Rings, Tactical Solutions 1" Scope Mount, and Weaver Top Mount Rail.
- Lights and Lasers: Streamlight TLR-2 Rail Mounted Laser, Crimson Trace Laser Guard, and Surefire M600V-Z68 Weapon Light.
Accuracy
The accuracy of the Henry Golden Boy rifle is typically excellent. As a lever action rifle, the Golden Boy is well known for its accuracy out to around 100 yards, with some offerings having the capability to reach out even further. Thanks to its comparatively light body design, the Golden Boy is able to maintain a consistent stock-to-shoulder interface, making repeatable accuracy possible without need for heavy stabilization. This makes it easy to make precise off hand shots as well as offering plenty of accuracy for use with a scope or other aiming device. For the most part, expect the Golden Boy to make consistent two inch groupings within 100 yards, with some users even reporting one inch groups at 100 yards with hunting loads.
