Henry Mini-Bolt Youth, Single Shot, .22LR - Review

[Fl0und3rz]

Got my oldest son out a few weekends past with his first rifle, camping, firewood, etc.

It's a Henry mini-bolt youth, single shot, .22LR.

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/mini-bolt-youth/





On the way out, we covered and explained the four laws of gun safety, for which he was a great student, and his attention was high. After we got out, cut firewood, and set up camp, he was chomping at the bit. We set up some cans and clay pigeons at about 15 yards, and after explaining the hold, explaining the sights, discussing trigger discipline, he took his first shot.

One clay pigeon exploded. The look on his face was priceless. A few more shots and we put it away for the night, got a nice dinner and a good night sleep. Next day was filled with dead pigeons, cans, etc., and lots of smiles.


I highly recommend the Henry mini-bolt youth.

It has the 5-6 year old LOP, decent trigger, bright and color contrasting fiber optic sights, which made sight picture discussion and learning easy, and beyond being single shot, the bolt does not cock the firing pin, which helps slow down the process of loading, shoulder the rifle, sight picture, cocking etc., as a little bit of added safety measure for carrying the rifle loaded (some day).


I also finally got to shoot some of my .45 LC handloads out of my Bisley Blackhawk (250 grain XTPs at about 100 fps.).


Fun times and memories to last a lifetime.

[magnanimous_j]

Sharp looking rifle. Perfect first gun.

[b23]

Bought one of these for my daughter when she was about that same age but back then all you could get were the ones with a black stock.  Also, the trigger in the one I bought her was terrible so I had my gunsmith friend tune up the trigger and paint the stock in what he calls "Chick Web".  She was thrilled with the results because it matched her favorite jacket.

[Fl0und3rz]

Nice job.  Yeah, the trigger is not the best, and I wll have to take a look at it at some point.  But, in all, I like the platform. 

I expected sight picture and aiming to be more difficult than it ended up being, and I believe the different color three dot sight system to be the primary reason it was so easy.  My boy complained about the lack of the same on his BB gun (black notch and blade).

For that reason, I'd recommend similar sight systems for new shooters.  It was surprisingly simple to teach.

[lokidog]

I bought one of these 17 years ago when my daughter was 4 at a Friends of the NRA banquet.  They are nice guns, but not for little fingers that have a hard time getting the shell in the chamber.

I don't know why they could not have built a loading ramp into the action, they've been around for 50+ years.  I ended up getting her a Stevens Favorite which is actually a cooler looking gun and a lot easier for little hands to use.

[Fl0und3rz]

Yeah, that does seem like an oversight.  Mine is a little older, and he managed alright.  Even with my Remington 510 Targetmaster, there is a loading ramp, but there is still possibility of misalignment and munching the soft lead bullet.  It does slow things down though and make things more deliberate.

Now that he's got iron sights and trigger down, next step is the 10/22 and some 10 and 30 rounders.

[lokidog]

Yeah, that does seem like an oversight.  Mine is a little older, and he managed alright.  Even with my Remington 510 Targetmaster, there is a loading ramp, but there is still possibility of misalignment and munching the soft lead bullet.  It does slow things down though and make things more deliberate.

Now that he's got iron sights and trigger down, next step is the 10/22 and some 10 and 30 rounders.

 

I couldn't understand why a gun designed for kids wasn't a little more user friendly.  They are good shooters though.