4 Mile Drifter Posted December 23, 2023 Share Posted December 23, 2023 I'm planning to buy my grandson a rifle for his birthday. I'd like to get him a lever action with the hopes that it might lead him down the CAS road in the future. I know Henry's reputation (I've got a Big Boy in 38/357). Not great CAS guns but reliable and sturdy. I don't know anything about the Rossi Rio Bravo and hope y'all can provide some insight and point me in the right direction. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missouri Marshal SASS #50682 Posted December 23, 2023 Share Posted December 23, 2023 I don't know anything about the Rossi but the Henry is a great gun. Accurate and smooth as butter right out of the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster Ron Wayne Posted December 23, 2023 Share Posted December 23, 2023 No comparison . Henry 100% much better action design . I bought all three of my Grandsons Henry Rifles . If you buy them the Youth model, The have a shorter length of pull . And Henry will sell you a full length stock at a discount latter to fit the kids as they get bigger . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ “Reb” Wainwright 110206 Posted December 23, 2023 Share Posted December 23, 2023 I know your question relates to being able to reliably compare the two guns, which I cannot. I can pile on to the previous posts, though, to state that my 12yo son has been shooting a Henry in CAS for three years now, with untold thousands of rounds on steel and it has been flawless. He’s about to graduate to 38s, and the thought of giving up his Henry is his one concern. He’ll prob move to 38 revolvers but keep shooting his Henry for a bit because he’s so confident with it. Hope this helps in your quest. Bless you for passing down the tradition to your grandson. JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted December 23, 2023 Share Posted December 23, 2023 I ain't much familiar with the Rossi, but I can vouch for the Henry. Its nice from the box....... BUT, it can be modified to be as slick, fast and reliable as any .22 you've ever fired. PLUS, it can be short stroked to eliminate about 1.25" from the lever travel arch. I vote: HENRY ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renegade Plowboy Posted December 23, 2023 Share Posted December 23, 2023 Buy the Henry from Slaters in house guns and have him slick it up right outta the box. You might end up liking it more than your cowboy setup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Mile Drifter Posted December 23, 2023 Author Share Posted December 23, 2023 Thanks y'all. Like I said I've got a Henry and love the gun but have never modified it for CAS. The Rossi is close to $100 cheaper but that old saying seems to be true - you get what you pay for. I'll be getting him the Henry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dantankerous Posted December 23, 2023 Share Posted December 23, 2023 The Henry... for all reasons listed above. I have a Widdermatic Henry .22 and it is simply too much fun... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anvil Al #59168 Posted December 23, 2023 Share Posted December 23, 2023 Love the Henry .22's Big Boy not so much. Great .22 for SASS. Have 5 Golden Boys (bought one for each grandson when they were born) and have one for me. Grandson got started in SASS with his. I shoot a match now and then with mine. Never a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangler Rich SASS #42157 Posted December 23, 2023 Share Posted December 23, 2023 My 4 year old grandson already has a "Widdermatic" 22, hasn't shot it yet, but it is his. Thanks Widder for the instructions on how to improve those 22 Henry's. WR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 When you buy (or send your own Henry to Slater), his modifications are the Widder Soft Stroke. We've been friends a long time and when I retired, I helped him learn the mods on the Henry .22 and he does a fantastic job on them. Slater's business number is: 865 / 591-5129 He is also a member of the SASS Merchants as a gun dealer. ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Bascomb, SASS # 47,494 Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 Another vote here for Henry. I bought a used Golden Boy and experienced a rupture of the barrel where it threaded into receiver. Sent it back to Henry and instead of fixing it they sent me a BRAND NEW Golden Boy! Quick, seamless service. Can't beat their warranty service. New rifle was a little stiff (newness stiffness) so I followed Widder's posted advice from the Wire as to what to look for and change ..... Bolt width, etc. Short stroked and polished movables, What a pleasure to use! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 Of all the folks here that recommend the Henry, how many of you have thoroughly handled the Rossi? Phantom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 im going to tell you to get out to the shops and shoulder both , i found the fit a person slightly differently , one of them will suite you better than the other i think , i have the henrys in 22s and the rossi in centerfire , ilike both for its individual self i bought the henry 22 because i liked it better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 29 minutes ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said: Of all the folks here that recommend the Henry, how many of you have thoroughly handled the Rossi? Phantom I have. Decent enough gun. Wood was so so, finish good. Kinda rough to cycle compared to a Henry but better than my 39, surprisingly. Didn't like the plastic barrel band up front. Looked cheap. The Henry is more money but worth the extra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 12 minutes ago, Michigan Slim said: I have. Decent enough gun. Wood was so so, finish good. Kinda rough to cycle compared to a Henry but better than my 39, surprisingly. Didn't like the plastic barrel band up front. Looked cheap. The Henry is more money but worth the extra. There are Henry's with plastic barrel bands too. Phantom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 16 minutes ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said: There are Henry's with plastic barrel bands too. Phantom Yep. But these were blocky and cheap looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackrabbit Joe #414 Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 I got a Iver Johnson Lever Action, caliber 22 S.L.LR. with the Widder short stroke. 16" barrel with LOP of 12 3/4". Large Loop Lever with regular lever attached and can be removed and has a rifleman action screw. Got this at the old Smitty's store many years ago. Lots of fun running this and slicker than Owl crap. Merry Christmas pilgrims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cottonmouth Mark Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 17 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said: I ain't much familiar with the Rossi, but I can vouch for the Henry. Its nice from the box....... BUT, it can be modified to be as slick, fast and reliable as any .22 you've ever fired. PLUS, it can be short stroked to eliminate about 1.25" from the lever travel arch. I vote: HENRY ..........Widder This! Widder turned me onto a guy that does that work. Have a Henry Golden Boy 22 with that work done. Fantastic rifle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 10 hours ago, Michigan Slim said: Yep. But these were blocky and cheap looking. Okay...got it. It's not the fact that they were plastic, but rather they looked cheap. Phantom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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