Glam Shots Photo Gallery
Normally, I would start diving into the history of Henry Repeating Arms and how it fits into the uniquely American sense of frontier freedom and individual grit. As a proud Wisconsinite, I’d also wax poetic about Henry’s Wisconsin roots and dedication to American-made quality firearms.
Yet, we’ve already done that in previous articles – it is a very American story – but Henry went the extra mile to make these Father’s Day rifles particularly elegant. So, I think I’ll just shut up for a bit and let this rifle speak for itself as we run through some of the glamorous imagery this classy lever gun had to offer on my first range trip.
Specs & Features
While Henry’s Golden Boy Silver line sports shiny nickel plating, the brass receiver underneath is where the guns get the “Golden Boy” moniker. The buttery-smooth action is a particular point of pride in the Golden Boy line, and this gun is no different.
I found I could easily toss the lever open and closed with just my thumb, and the lockup remained nice and tight even while traipsing around in the brush. Perhaps the most surprising feature for me was the strikingly light and crisp 3.5-pound trigger, which is an enjoyable change from the budget semi-autos I typically take to the range.
Here's a closer look at that trigger and the rifle's smooth lever:
Coupled with the sights, the trigger and lever make this an easy gun to shoot offhand.
Related: Henry’s Golden Boy in .22 LR Is a Modern Blast from the Past
Here’s a look at some of the other basic specs for this Golden Boy Silver Father’s Day Edition rifle:
Weight: 6.7 pounds (unloaded)
Overall Length: 38.5 inches
Barrel Length: 20 inches
Sight Radius: 17 inches
Length of Pull: 14 inches
Receiver Width: 1.1 inches
Handguard Width: 1.2 inches
Stock Width: Tapered 1.2-1.4 inches
Barrel Width: 0.69 inches
Chambering: .22 S/L/LR
Capacity: 16 for .22 LR – 21 for .22 Short
Optics Ready: Drilled and tapped (mount type: GB-CSM)
Trigger Pull: 3.5 pounds
Another important note about Henry Golden Boys is the hammer safety. No, there is no thumb, button, or lever safety. But the guns still host several proven safety features that are particularly fit for a lever-action design.
You can engage and hear the hammer safety when you pull the hammer back to the 1/4-cock safety position and it clicks. This stage locks the trigger completely while preventing the forward motion of the hammer.
If you need to lower the hammer with a round chambered, you can also hold the hammer back, gently pull the trigger, control the hammer’s partial forward motion, release the trigger, and then guide the hammer down with your finger off the trigger. This will similarly lock the trigger and prevent manual firing.
The Golden Boy guns are also available in .17 HMR and .22 Mag, which will allow you to stretch your accuracy legs better with faster-flying, flatter-shooting bullets. Youth models with shorter barrels and lengths of pull are plentiful if you want a matching set for the kiddo to enjoy. I know I do, but more on that below.
Finally, but not insignificantly, Henry stands by its pledge that its guns will be “made in America or not made at all,” which includes a generous Henry guarantee and warranty. They spell it out all over their website and product packaging:
“When you choose to spend your hard-earned money on a Henry, you have my personal satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime warranty for the life of the product,” states Henry’s founder and CEO, Anthony Imperato. “Your 100-percent satisfaction is of utmost importance, and our award-winning customer service team is empowered to do whatever it takes to make sure you are happy with your Henry.”
Range Time
Reliability has been stellar, with no issues so far after more than 200 rounds of mostly pure plinking fun with affordable target .22 ammo. Accuracy has also been similarly stellar, relative to my ability to run iron buckhorn sights.
Here’s a look at what I got during my first range visit at 50 yards:
Given my plinking ammo and relative inexperience with this gun so far, I’m confident this gun can cut those groups in half if I do my part. The length of pull and mechanics of a lever gun make the workspace for my shooting hand nice and small, which lends itself to quick follow-up shots.
After more than 200 rounds, I can say this Henry is looking to be a reliable shooter with decades of range visits ahead of it. Folks consistently put thousands of rounds through these guns. In fact, we’ve had the Golden Boy guns out on the range before, and they are an absolute blast.
Here’s a look at the childlike joy adults get to have with one of these smooth shooters:
Sixteen rounds of .22 LR in the tube goes quickly, and hits on squirrel-sized targets are easy. I’d be happy taking this gun into the woods with a bit more practice for hunting small game.
Final Thoughts: Father-Daughter Plans
As fate would have it, I’m preparing for the birth of my first daughter as I write this article. Thankfully, Henry offers a Silver youth model with a 17-inch barrel and shorter 13-inch length of pull.
The model drops the weight down to 6 pounds but keeps the capacity fun-sized at 12 rounds of .22 LR. One of these youth models is already in my safe, waiting for a day when I can take my daughter to the range to shoot it for the first time.
At 33.75 inches long, the Henry Golden Boy Youth and Silver Youth rifles are just as skillfully crafted and beautifully furnished as the adult models. Prices are also quite fair for guns that should outlive any of us.
Consider them an investment in the future that you get to enjoy today.
If you are feeling extra ambitious, you can always pair your Henry’s Golden Boy rifles with the plinkster-friendly 10-shot Golden Boy revolver. I can’t speak for all the fathers out there, but I think it’s a better pairing than any wine I’ve ever had.
