Admittedly, when Henry made the announcement that they were getting into the realm of handguns, I was skeptical
To say that this revolver is as good as any other large caliber revolver would not do proper justice to Henry. This revolver, like most other Henry products, is a cut above the competition
As Henry Repeating Arms made their handgun debut a little over a year ago, I have not had the opportunity to get my hands on one until now, and satisfaction is a word I would use.
Admittedly, when Henry made the announcement that they were getting into the realm of handguns, I was skeptical. The first photographs released in my mind were a vain attempt to break into the handgun world by making another revolver reminiscent of Heritage Manufacturing or the older models of Iver Johnson revolvers. I’m not trying to belittle either brand, but they are known for being cheap revolvers. Therefore, I expected that Henry had taken a concept from those styles and put their name on it in order to sell it at a Henry-style price. I was certainly wrong.
To set the scene, I took a firearm transfer around Christmas 2023 for a customer whom I was unable to produce one of these revolvers for on my own abilities. I did have the opportunity to see and feel this new product, but I was not able to put it through any tests of my own. While I was quick to realize Henry had done a good job in building this revolver, I was still not sold on its quality.
Now, it is the day after Christmas 2024, and I have finally been able to receive one of these revolvers from one of my distributors. The first look was certainly satisfactory, as Henry always produces a good-looking firearm. The Henry Repeating Arms H017GDM is the .357 Magnum version, which also accepts .38 Special cartridges, with what they are calling the “gunfighter grips,” as I like this style better than the “birdshead” grip myself. This was most certainly a well-built firearm to match the sleek look of it.
Once the initial phase of inspection was over, the real tests began. I pulled back the hammer, and with a smooth, gentle pull of the trigger, I released the hammer while holding it, careful not to let it fall on an empty chamber. Again, this action was so smooth. What does the inside look like? I can tell again that this is very well made. I didn’t take this revolver completely apart, but I took the grips off to look around a little bit, and I was happy with my findings. For point of reference, I did get out my trigger pull gauge. This revolver holds a very consistent four-pound trigger pull in single-action mode. I decided there was no reason to test it in double action, but this is a very smooth operating handgun used either way.
Finally, the moment of truth has arrived. After a couple of hours of looking at this gun and putting it through all these tests, it was time to do what I had been wanting to do for over a year: test fire it. I dragged out my target stands that we use for the Concealed Carry Courses and put a silhouette target on it, setting the target at the CCDW qualifying distance of seven yards, and then I began to fire. The first shot hit paper right where I was aiming. The smooth action of this revolver right out of the box is something I’ve never experienced. The second shot landed about four inches to the left, and I take all responsibility for it. It was a double-action shot, and I was not prepared for this gun to operate so smoothly when fired in the double-action fashion. The last four shots left a grouping on this paper target of about three inches, which for me, with a handgun, is very good shooting.
To say that this revolver is as good as any other large caliber revolver would not do proper justice to Henry. This revolver, like most other Henry products, is a cut above the competition and can be obtained at a lower price compared to some other brands. The MSRP on these revolvers is $928, which is well worth the price for the quality and workmanship. Though it is several months from the Whitetail season in Kentucky, I fully intend that when it comes around again, I will have a Henry revolver sitting in my chest rig holster as I’m walking in and out of the woods.
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