Henry 45 70 Side Gate Lever Action Rifle Review

Photo of Man Holding Rife | Henry 45 70 | Featured

October 26, 2021 / Comments (3)

Reviews Rifles

The Henry 45 70 is a real-life “beauty and the beast.” It's the finest rifle you'll ever play with, but it's also the most dangerous in the hunting game.

Read on as we dive deeper into this weapon's appearance and performance.

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Henry 45 70: Your Firearm for Big-Game Hunting

Snow Wood Nature Man | Henry 45 70

Gun Specs

The “45” in Henry 45 70 stands for the .45 caliber. Meanwhile, the “70” comes from the 70 grains of black powder. In other words, the Henry 45 70 is a .45 caliber bullet, moved by 70 grains of black powder.

Here are its other specifications:

  • Barrel Length: 18.43 in
  • Overall Length: 37.5 in
  • Weight: 7.08 lbs
  • Length of pull: 14 in
  • Capacity: 4 rounds
  • Action type: Lever action large loop

Aesthetics and Ergonomics

Hunting Bird Sun Dusk Weapon | Henry 45 70

The Henry 45 70 is so attractive, you might not even want to use it!

Once you take this rifle out of its box, you'll be stunned by its appearance. Even photos don't do this weapon justice.

It features exquisite artistry, craftsmanship, and attention to detail that you can hardly see in modern rifles.

It has a steel construction, with a matte blue steel finish on the receiver. The barrel shines softly, which makes the bluing evident.

Its woodwork, which is made by American Walnut, gives this weapon a sleek look. It also has fancy checkering on the forearm and on the pistol grip, which makes this Henry more visually appealing.

Additionally, you can find swivel studs both at the front and at the back. These aid in steadiness and muzzle flip control. The serrations on the hammer also make it easy for you to grab this mechanism.

One thing that you'll love about the Henry 45 70 is its rubberized and ventilated recoil pad. It's going to cushion the firearm, and it can make it easy for you to carry this rifle on your shoulder. The barrel is also crowned, protecting your weapon from damage in case it falls.

Weighing at seven pounds, this weapon is kind of light, which makes it ideal for hunting.

But the main kick and the real beauty of Henry 45 70 lie in its side-gate loading port option. Apart from the tube port, you can also use the side gate to load up. With this firearm, you're getting the best of both worlds! Reloading is now quick and easy, and you don't have to lose your sight picture!

Basically, you can now load your firearm through the side gate, and unload it via its magazine tube. All you need to do is push those rounds into the tubular magazine, and you're good to shoot!

This is way different from the previous Henry models wherein you have to use the tube-fed magazine, disassemble, add cartridges, then reassemble the whole system just so you could load your rifle.

However, one drawback of this Henry model is that it has no external safety. Well, worry not! There are bars that leave the hammer in a full down position and block the access to the firing pin. This will prevent you from accidentally firing should your thumb slide from the hammer.

Caliber

Brown and Silver Round Coins | Henry 45 70

Did you know that the caliber .45-70 was designed in 1873?

Yes! This caliber has been around for almost 150 years! But, it's still popular today with shooters and hunters.

After the Civil War, the US Government adopted this caliber to be the standard service cartridge for the US Army.

This caliber is the best when it comes to lever-action firearms. And since Henry 45 70 is chambered for this type of caliber, it just shows how powerful this rifle can be. It can reach up to 3,350 yards and still be lethal.

Versatility and Accuracy

Another thing that you'll love about Henry 45 70 is its range–it's just remarkable!

Its semi-buckhorn rear sight and brass bead front sight are both perfect for exact one-shot stops and rapid follow-up shots. These are helpful whether you go whitetail deer or boar hunting.

But you can also use this rifle for long-range hunting! Its receiver is tapped and drilled, which means that it's ready to accept sights and scopes.

In addition, its trigger pull is clean and crisp, allowing for fine control and accuracy.

With the right setup, you'll be surprised by this firearm's level of precision. Your shot can still be lethal despite firing from a thousand yards away.

RELATED: How To Choose The Best Rifle For Wide Open Space Hunting?

Functionality

Henry 45 70 has a smooth lever. It effortlessly glides back and forth. That's why even if this rifle has that extra recoil, you'll still have a lot of fun using it.

You'll instantly notice this if you've tried shooting other lever-action rifles. Others just don't have the same level of smoothness as what the Henry has.

Price

Shopping Business Money Pay | Henry 45 70

The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of Henry 45 70 is $969. With its classic style, stopping power, precision, and dependability, this firearm is worth its price tag.

It also does have a lifetime warranty! What else could you ask for?

Overall Verdict

Woman in Black Hoodie Standing on Grass Field | Henry 45 70

The Henry 45 70 would win the hunting game–hands down!

This firearm is exceptional when it comes to shooting large, wild animals. From caliber to functionality, this weapon hits powerfully. It has got a huge knockdown power for your big-game hunting. Its reliability and accuracy, not to mention its aesthetics, are solid.

This rifle is the type of firearm that you can proudly pass down to your family for generations.

Check out this video by Henry Repeating Arms as they showcase another side gate lever-action rifle from their collection:

When it comes to lever-action rifles, Henry is the first in line. This company is known as one of the leading firearms manufacturers in the US for a reason. Their rifles are of excellent quality, and the Henry 45 70 solidifies this trademark.

Whether you're hunting a deer, shooting at a range, or collecting firearms, the Henry 45 70 is a must-have.

So, if you haven't gotten your hands on this weapon yet, now is the perfect time to check it out!

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