Henry Lever Action

ALWAYS USE THE CORRECT AMMUNITION FOR YOUR PARTICULAR FIREARM.

Henry Repeating Arms Firearms are designed to function with a variety of brands and types of factory manufactured ammunition in the appropriate caliber, but not all ammunition produces the same result. Be sure the only ammunition you carry correctly matches the gauge or caliber you are shooting. Never use non-standard, reloaded, or “hand-loaded” ammunition which has not been subjected to internal ballistic pressure testing. Henry RAC recommends that after you read and understand this manual, you go to the range and fire different ammunition which is appropriate to the caliber of your firearm. Once you find the ammunition which functions best, keep using it.

HOW TO PLACE THE HAMMER IN THE SAFETY POSITION.

There are two ways to set the hammer into the Safety position.

With the firearm pointed in a safe direction and the hammer in the fired (down) position, (Figure A- 3), cock the hammer back slightly, about 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch, until you feel and hear the hammer click into the Safety position (Figure A-2).

The hammer will now be locked into the Safety position and if you pull the trigger to fire, the hammer should not fall.

The second way to set the safety is from the Full-Cock position (Figure A-1). Firmly hold the hammer back with your thumb. While holding the hammer, apply just enough pressure on the trigger to release the hammer from the Full-Cock position. Remove your finger from the trigger very quickly, and slowly lower the hammer into the Safety position.

If you do not have a full understanding of how the safety system works, please call us immediately at 201-858-4400 and ask for technical assistance.

Before using your firearm for the first time, it should be cleaned. (See the cleaning instructions.) Your firearm was treated at the factory with either a preservative or oil to protect it against corrosion during shipping and storage. Preservative and oil should be wiped from the bore, chamber and exposed areas using a clean swab or patch before using the firearm.

Purchase cleaning supplies that are specifically designated for your type and caliber of firearm. Many suppliers offer these in kit form for your convenience. Follow the instructions provided. Whenever your firearm has been exposed to sand, dust, extreme humidity, water or other adverse conditions, it should be cleaned and lubricated.

To load the magazine tube, first place the hammer in the Safety position.

Important: While holding the hammer back with your thumb, apply just enough pressure on the trigger to release the hammer from the Full-Cock position (Figure A-1), while continuing to hold hammer with thumb, and immediately and simultaneously remove your finger from the trigger. Slowly and carefully allow the hammer to lower into the Safety position. The method of setting the safety should be practiced on an unloaded firearm until you are thoroughly familiar. If this procedure is not clear, please contact customer service. You are now ready to load.

Remove the inner magazine tube by twisting the magazine knob (Figure B) and pull the tube out until the orange colored follower (black for .22 Magnums and .17 HMR’s) is visible and clears the loading port in the outer magazine tube.

Note: DO NOT LOAD with the muzzle pointed straight up as the bullets could be pushed or lodged into the cartridge.

With the muzzle angled in an upward (not straight up) position, insert the rimmed end of the cartridges into the magazine (Figure C) and allow them to slide down toward the action.

DO NOT ALLOW THE FOLLOWER TO SLAM DOWN ON TO LOADED CARTRIDGES and DO NOT place any part of your hand over the muzzle while loading.

Reinstall the inner magazine tube until it is fully seated and twist to lock, taking care as the inner magazine tube is now under spring tension. The rifle is now ready for operation.

It is suggested that you do NOT dry fire this rifle. Repeated dry firing of a rimfire can eventually peen the edge of the chamber, making it difficult to load and extract cartridges.

DO NOT EXCEED THE CAPACITY OF THE MAGAZINE (SEE SPEC PAGE FOR CAPACITY FOR EACH MODEL).

The rifle chamber can now be loaded by swinging the lever down completely and pulling it back to a closed position in a nice, quick fluid motion.

Important: The rifle is now loaded and ready to fire. The hammer has been moved from the Safety position to the Full-Cock position. Always place the hammer back into the Safety position until you are ready to fire. When ready to fire, take the hammer from the Safety position. Remove your finger from the trigger, firmly gripping the hammer with your thumb, and draw the hammer back into Full-Cock position.

You are now ready to fire. Take aim, make certain that you are firing in a safe environment that neither you nor any other person is in danger and when on target, squeeze the trigger.

To chamber the next round, swing the lever down completely and pull it back to the closed position. This process will eject the fired cartridge case from the chamber and transfer a new cartridge from the magazine to the chamber. Important: This leaves the hammer in a full-cocked, ready to fire position. If you are not ready to fire, carefully return the hammer to the Safety position.

When finished firing, always place the hammer in the Safety position. Always unload your gun when you have finished shooting, making certain that the magazine and chamber are empty, before putting your gun away.

To unload the magazine the hammer should be resting in the Safety position. With the rifle pointing upward or in a safe direction, completely withdraw the inner magazine tube from the gun. Tip the rifle downward, allowing the cartridges to slide out into a suitable container. Replace the inner magazine tube. Very carefully, open the action to eject the chambered round, if any.

Cycle the action multiple times to be positive that no live rounds remain in the rifle. Visually inspect the chamber to ensure the rifle is unloaded.

Your H001 Lever Action Rifle is equipped with an adjustable rear sight, a Peep sight or a Fiber Optic Sight. The rear sight is adjustable for elevation (shooting high and low) and for windage (shooting left and right).  Follow your specific sight instructions for more detailed adjustment information.

Loosen the two screws on the top of the base in front of the peep aperture. This will allow you to move the sight base. Tighten the two screws when complete.

HIGH OR LOW (Elevation Adjustment)

In order to shoot higher, you need to raise the rear sight. In order to shoot lower, you need to lower the rear sight.  Re-tighten the screw.

LEFT OR RIGHT (Windage Adjustment)

To adjust your ­ for windage (left/right), we suggest that you move the rear sight to the left or right as desired. Loosen appropriate screw prior to attempting adjustment. To adjust your rifle for windage use a plastic mallet, or a hammer and a brass wedge to tap it in the direction you want your shots to print. For example: if you are shooting to the left, you need to tap the sight over to the right to correct the point of impact. Conversely, if you are shooting to the right then you will need to tap the rear sight over to the left.

NEVER USE YOUR FIREARM IF IT FAILS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND NEVER FORCE A JAMMED ACTION. Forcing the action could make the round explode, causing serious injury, possible death, or severe damage to your firearm or other property.

FAILURE TO FIRE. A misfire occurs when the firing pin strikes the primer and it does not fire.  IF THE FIREARM FAILS TO FIRE DO NOT PUT IT DOWN OR OPEN THE ACTION. ALWAYS HOLD THE FIREARM, KEEPING IT POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION AND WAIT 30 SECONDS. IF A HANGFIRE (SLOW IGNITION) HAS OCCURRED, THE ROUND WILL FIRE WITHIN 30 SECONDS.

If the round does not fire, remove the ammunition, eject the round and examine the shell. If the firing pin indent on the primer is light or non-existent, have the firearm examined by a competent gunsmith before firing again. If the firing pin indent on the primer appears normal (in comparison with similar previously fired rounds) assume you have faulty ammunition.  Segregate the misfired round from other live ammunition and empty cases, reload, and carry on firing.

FAILURE TO EXTRACT (FTE). This is when the firearm discharges the round and fails to extract the spent round from the chamber. This could happen because of a bad extractor or bad/damaged casings.

FAILURE TO FEED (FTF). This is simply when the firearm fails to feed another round into the chamber. Put the lever in the open position and clear the ejection port.

Note: The ejection port should face the ground; this will allow the round to easily fall out (gravity is your friend here). This will work for both left and right handed shooters.

WARNING: BEFORE PERFORMING CLEANING PROCEDURES, MAKE SURE THE HAMMER IS IN THE FIRED-DOWN POSITION, WHICH ALLOWS YOUR SAFETY TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. OPEN THE ACTION AND MAKE CERTAIN YOUR FIREARM IS COMPLETELY UNLOADED. KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE WARNINGS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

KEEP ALL AMMUNITION AWAY FROM THE CLEANING AREA. NEVER TEST THE MECHANICAL FUNCTION OF YOUR RIFLE WITH LIVE AMMUNITION. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE WARNINGS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

NOTICE! It is very important that the bore of your rifle be cleaned thoroughly and promptly after shooting. Do not leave discharged (empty) cases in the chambers for any length of time, as the chemical composition of many cartridges contain moisture which can “sweat” out of the shell and onto the chambers’ surfaces, and possibly cause corrosion and rust.

WE SUGGEST THAT YOU USE A MILD SOLVENT from a well-known brand. For convenience, compatible cleaning solvents are available on www.henrypride.com.

Regular cleaning is important in order for your gun to operate efficiently and safely. Taking proper care of it will also maintain its value and extend its life.

NOTICE!  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TAKE YOUR FIREARM APART FURTHER THAN EXPLAINED IN THIS MANUAL. Your firearm is a specialized, finely fitted mechanism. You may permanently damage it by attempting to disassemble the inner mechanisms. If further disassembly for service or cleaning is required, take your firearm to a qualified gunsmith.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO TAKE YOUR HENRY LEVER ACTION APART TO KEEP IT CLEAN. SHOULD YOU WISH TO TAKE IT APART, UNSCREW THE RECEIVER COVER TANG SCREW (PART #50 AND PART #55) AND REMOVE THE BUTTSTOCK FIRST. THEN UNSCREW THE FOUR RECEIVER COVER SCREWS (PART #42) AND LIFT OFF THE RECEIVER COVER WHICH WILL EXPOSE THE INTERNAL PARTS.

IMPORTANT – DO NOT USE AGGRESSIVE SOLVENTS.

Your gun should be cleaned every time it is used. A minimum cleaning includes wiping down the action and oiling key parts. Regular maintenance will also include cleaning the barrel.

For cleaning, we suggest that you first open the action by cycling the lever forward. Inspect the chamber and bore for brass, copper and powder fouling. A normal amount of powder residue can be expected and is not serious. It can usually be removed by the following procedure.

WHENEVER POSSIBLE, CLEAN THE BORE IN THE DIRECTION OF BULLET TRAVEL. When you fire your gun, powder residue is deposited into the barrel bore. Improperly cleaning from muzzle to breech will cause this powder residue to be carried from the bore into the chamber and action, causing fouling of intricate parts and warranting more thorough cleaning by a qualified gunsmith. To properly clean from breech to muzzle, use a pull-though cleaning kit, such as those available on www.henrypride.com. If desired, a cleaning rod and patches may be used, but care must be taken to avoid damaging the muzzle crown as well as depositing fouling into action.

NOTE: USE A CLEAN PATCH EACH TIME YOU GO DOWN THE BARREL.

NEVER GO BACK AND FORTH REVERSING THE BRUSH. This will bend the bristles on the brush. This is the equivalent of bending a wire back and forth until it breaks.

USE ONLY A FEW DROPS OF SOLVENT/LUBRICANT OIL. Use only the amount of solvent that the patch will absorb. If you use too much, the solvent or oil will drip down into the trigger mechanism; this will cause a gummy trigger. If you use too much oil, it will drain back toward the stock and could cause premature failure of the wood.

NEVER RUN A BRUSH IN THE BARREL FIRST. This will damage the firearm. The brush will pick up dirt, moisture or powder residue and deposit it into the chamber or receiver. Never dip a brush in solvent. The solvent at the brush core will collect dirt and drop it into the receiver and chamber. Remember – Rust is neglect. Make sure all exposed metal surfaces are coated with a film of oil. After being subjected to damp weather, thoroughly wipe the bore and metal surfaces. Then apply a new film of oil. If exposed to a soaking rain, snow or salt spray, a more thorough cleaning and oiling may be necessary.

Wipe the bolt clean of any debris with solvent and a patch or small rag. Lightly oil bolt.

A gun brought out of prolonged storage should also be cleaned before shooting. Accumulated moisture and dirt, or solidified grease and oil, can prevent the gun from operating properly. We recommend the use of pull through cleaning kits or cleaning with a rod type kit. Overtime, depending on the amount of use and how it is stored, we do recommend that you take your Henry to a gunsmith to have it inspected at which time it can also be cleaned more thoroughly.

When storing your firearm, do not encase it in anything that will attract or hold moisture, for example, leather or heavy cloth. Also, do not store firearms with a plug inserted in the barrel because this can be a contributing factor to moisture accumulation.

If your firearm is to be stored for an extended period, the bore, chamber and internal surfaces should be oiled with a high-quality lubricating oil or preservative intended for firearms. The external parts; receiver, bolt and barrel should be coated with an anti-rust oil.

Before using your firearm again, be sure to clean it. Every time you clean your firearm, check it for signs of wear. If wear is noted, do not use the firearm, have it checked by a qualified gunsmith.

Make sure your firearm is in good mechanical condition before firing it. Periodically have your firearm checked for signs of erosion, cracking, or wear by the factory or a factory certified gunsmith.

NEVER LOCK A LOADED FIREARM AND NEVER LOAD A LOCKED FIREARM!

ALWAYS CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOUR FIREARM IS NOT LOADED BEFORE CLEANING, STORING, TRANSPORTING IT, LAYING IT DOWN, OR HANDING IT TO ANOTHER PERSON so that it cannot be fired when it is unsafe to do so.

ALWAYS KEEP AND STORE YOUR FIREARM AND AMMUNITION IN SEPARATE, LOCKED LOCATIONS, OUT OF REACH AND SIGHT OF CHILDREN AND UNTRAINED PERSONS. Safe and secure storage of your firearm and ammunition are your responsibility.

NEVER LEAVE THE KEY TO THE LOCK FOR YOUR FIREARM WITH THE STORED FIREARM!

NEVER ASSUME THAT A “HIDING” PLACE IS A SECURE STORAGE METHOD.  Others may be aware of your storage location or come upon it by chance. It is your personal responsibility to use common sense when storing your firearm and ammunition and to always make sure they are not accessible to children or other unauthorized persons.

NOTE: Do not store your firearm in an air-tight container, and do not seal or attempt to seal the barrel to exclude dust, as the internal steel surface is more likely to rust or corrode by doing this.

BEWARE OF BARREL OBSTRUCTIONS. Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before shooting. Mud, water, snow or other objects may inadvertently lodge in the barrel bore. A small obstruction can cause a dangerous increase in pressure and may damage your firearm and cause injury to yourself and others.

BEFORE CHECKING FOR A BARREL OBSTRUCTION, BE CERTAIN YOUR FIREARM IS COMPLETELY UNLOADED. After assuring yourself that the firearm is completely unloaded, open the action and look through the barrel to be sure it is clear of obstructions. If an obstruction is seen, no matter how small it may be, clean the bore with a cleaning cord or a patch as described in the CLEANING section of this owner’s manual.

BE SURE ALL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS SLINGS, SCOPES AND OTHER ACCESSORIES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR PARTICULAR FIREARM AND THAT THE ACCESSORIES DO NOT INTERFERE WITH ITS SAFE OPERATION.

It is your responsibility to understand and follow all of the instructions in the safety manual that accompanied your firearm, as well as those which may be supplied with your ammunition and any accessory.

NEVER DISASSEMBLE YOUR FIREARM BEYOND THE FIELD STRIPPING PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THIS MANUAL. Improper disassembly or reassembly of your firearm may be dangerous and can lead to serious injury or death.

NEVER MANIPULATE, ADJUST OR CHANGE ANY OF THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF YOUR FIREARM UNLESS SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED TO DO SO IN THIS MANUAL.  Improper manipulation of any other internal component may affect the safety and reliability of your firearm and may cause serious injury or death.

NEVER ALLOW ANY ALTERATION OR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS IN YOUR FIREARM UNLESS PERFORMED BY A QUALIFIED GUNSMITH USING AUTHORIZED PARTS. If you do otherwise, improper functioning of your firearm may occur and serious injury or death and damage to property may result.