THE NEW HENRY X MODEL IN .45-70 ADDS TACTICAL TOUCHES TO A TRADITIONAL HUNTING RIFLE.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW

“THE NEW … HENRY X MODEL LEVERACTION RIFLE … PROVIDES A ROCK-SOLID, FAST-CYCLING ACTION, ALONG WITH FEATURES THAT GIVE IT ADDITIONAL VERSATILITY AND TACTICAL UTILITY OVER PREVIOUS MODELS.”

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that things, even in a comparatively prosperous country such as ours, can deteriorate quickly. As a result, many people are rethinking their preparedness strategies.

Naturally, when it comes to firearms, you want the right tool for the job. But, in times of crisis, you can never be certain what that job might be. A survival scenario might entail you needing to procure food or defending yourself against animals that want to procure you as food. Survival might also mean defending your property and critical supplies when the lights go out on civilized society and we’re thrust back into to the “Dark Ages” and everyone must fend for themselves.

At 38.6 inches in overall length, the Henry is easy to maneuver in tight cover. (Photo: Henry Repeating Arms)

So, when it comes to choosing a long gun, I want something that’s versatile, fast-handling, reliable and chambered for a hard-hitting cartridge. In addition to its being effective for hunting large game, I want to be able to accessorize it to make it work in a tactical situation without being concerned if I have to cross into jurisdictions that criminalize the possession of “scary assault weapons.”

One great choice combines the old and the new. The "old" is the .45-70 Government cartridge, which the U.S. military adopted way back in 1873. With the right load, it can take any animal that walks the Earth. The "new" is the Henry X Model lever-action rifle that provides a rock-solid, fast-cycling action, along with features that give it additional versatility and tactical utility over previous models.

While the author chose the Henry X Model in .45-70 (top) for its power, it’s also available in pistol calibers, including .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum and .45 Colt. (Photo: Justin Holt/Henry Repeating Arms)