HENRY LEVER-ACTION X MODEL 410 SHOTGUN

Well, here is a very interesting shotgun on test! Its lever-action form means that it looks like something from the old Wild West, but it is in fact a shotgun chambered for the .410 shotgun round!
It is not as daft as it may seem, as the .410 cartridge is a similar length to the .45-70 round that this Henry action is based on. Although it is obviously designed for the USA market, it still has a lot to offer the UK buyer too.
Its polymer stock sections make it a practical vermin gun, with a more modern look too, and the side gate loading is new, meaning that it can be loaded or ‘topped up’ quickly and reliably. You also get M-LOK and Picatinny rail systems for extra gadgets and sights, as well as an Invector multi-choke system and a fibre-optic sight! All for £1425.

Let’s have a look then
Where to start? My experience with lever-action rifles lies with the .22 LR variety and a .45-70 Marlin 1895, which is the basis for the test gun. The all-steel action means the gun has a chunky weight of 7lbs 7oz. Size-wise, it is quite a short, compact shotgun with an overall length of 38.5”.
The external action and barrel show satin/matte bluing. The flat top is drilled and tapped for sight mounts, so a Weaver 63B Mount (sold separately), for example. To the right side, there is an elongated ejection port, and below this is a steel loading gate that is brightly blued. It feels substantial and indeed it is. The lever itself has a highly polished blued finish and a slightly enlarged loop for easy access. It’s very easy to operate, as the forward motion of the loop disengages the bolt and allows its 4.75” length to cycle back and cock the exposed hammer. It is a very old system that has stood the test of time. There is no safety or half cock but you can de-cock the hammer by holding it and releasing the trigger. This is a single-stage unit and when tested on the Lyman gauge, it broke at 4lbs and 6oz. So, not too bad.
Inside the face of the hammer is a transfer bar safety. When the hammer is in the forward position, the bar drops down to create a gap between the hammer and the firing pin, thus preventing the gun from firing if dropped. The transfer bar only engages the firing pin if the hammer is fully cocked and the trigger pressed. That’s your safety system.
The bolt itself has a cylindrical form and traverses very cleanly. It shows a large right-sided claw extractor, and at the end of its cocking path, a small ejection spur swings out of the action wall and connects with the case’s rim to ping it out cleanly.

Loading up!
Loading is interesting, as you have two methods to choose from. There is a 17” magazine tube under the barrel that stops 1.75” from the muzzle, and it has a brass liner. This mechanism is spring-loaded, so when you twist the tip to unlock it from the magazine sleeve, it can be withdrawn, and six .410 shells can be loaded into the 2.75” loading slot. The gun only accepts 2½” cartridges, and you can pop one in the chamber, giving you a total of seven shots. This obviously makes this a Section 1 shotgun and you will need a firearms certificate to own one.
Alternatively, you can just load the cartridges individually via the loading gate on the right side of the action. Also, when you want to unload, just cycle the lever to eject a loaded round, or remove the mag tube to dump the shells.

What else?
Up top is a 20” barrel with a 0.75” diameter. It boasts a multi-choke system of the Invector type, so although you only get a full choke, additional choke restrictions can be purchased easily. There is no rib, obviously, but a green high-viz fibre-optic front sight is all you need.
Stock-wise, you get the basic lever-action design for this model but instead of wood, you have a high-density black polymer. It’s certainly tough and very weatherproof, meaning it’s built for longevity, and its low comb makes it ideal for the single sight fitted. You do have moulded-in panels of stippling to the pistol grip and fore-end for extra grip, and the solid black rubber recoil pad grips well too. The length of pull is 14.25”, so pretty good for a compact shotgun.
The two moulded-in sling swivel attachment points are useful, as are the Picatinny rail and two M-LOK slots at the tip of the fore-end for additional accessories, like lamps, lasers etc.

Field test
We only had the full choke, so I tested the Henry at 25 yards, which is my customary distance for .410 pattern boards. Then, I had some fun shooting at static clays to test the fast firing sequence and reliability, simulating rat shooting, for example.
Loading the X Model via the loading gate or magazine tube was simple. I am used to loading .22 LRs via a tube, so found this a bit easier, although topping up via the port while after ferals or rats has its advantages.
First up were Eley’s Fourlong cartridges. These use a 65mm case (remember, 2½” only) and contain a sporting load of 12.5g of No.6 shot. We had a total of 119 pellet strikes, with 80 inners and 39 outers. The pattern was really good and centrally placed, meaning these cartridges would be dynamite on rats or squirrels. There was a slight high bias to the shot pattern.
Next were the Lyalvale Supreme Game cartridges, boasting 14g of No.6 shot, however, it was with these that I encountered my first problem. Although described as 2½” cartridges, they were in fact 67mm long and not 65mm long. These few extra millimetres were all it took to jam the Henry! I had the same problem with the Remington 2½” shells, which again were actually 67mm, not 65mm. So, the moral of the story here is to only use 65mm cartridges!
Up next were Gamebore’s Hunting 65mm cartridges. These contained 11g of No.6 shot and were quite mild to shoot. They always pattern well and we had a total of 107 pellet strikes. So, not far behind the Eley, with a great pattern showing 69 inner strikes and 38 outer hits. The full choke was working very well, and I would leave it in place as this is a short-range gun that produces excellent .410 patterns.
Finally, I tried some Fiocchi cartridges (11g of No.6 shot) that were also 65mm long. These functioned perfectly in the gun and produced a total of 101 pellet strikes on the board. There was a slight left bias due to the wind, with 64 inners and 37 outers.
In truth, any of the 65mm cartridges tested will get the job done, and I was amazed at the lack of recoil and superb handling of the X model. I am not a great lever-action fan, but this Henry might be the gun to change my mind.

Conclusion
Henry is known for building reliable, affordable, and well-made lever guns, and this unusual .410 X Model is no exception. I can see many uses for the shotgun, despite its FAC rating. Its amazing agility, reliability, and patterns were fantastic for a .410. I had great fun and want more!