Henry Lineup Decoder: Golden Boy, Big Boy, Side Gate, X Model & Long Ranger Explained

Henry Repeating Arms makes superb rifles and confusing names. Golden Boy, Big Boy, Side Gate, Steel, X Model, Long Ranger — walk into the catalog cold and it reads like a boxing card. Here's the decoder ring, model by model, with the one-sentence verdict on who each rifle is actually for.

Golden Boy — The Heirloom Rimfire

The Golden Boy is Henry's flagship .22: polished Brasslite receiver, octagon barrel, American walnut. It exists to be beautiful and to be shot a great deal, in that order, and it succeeds completely at both. Variants run .22 LR, .22 WMR, and nickel-finished Silver editions.

For: first rifles, gifts, grandfathers, and anyone who thinks shooting should be pretty.

Big Boy — The Centerfire Classic

Big Boy means full-size centerfire in pistol calibers: .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt. Modern production adds the side loading gate (more on that below) while keeping the removable tube. Brass, steel, color-case-hardened, and All-Weather finishes exist across the family.

For: the revolver owner, the ranch, the person who wants one rifle that plinks cheap and hits hard.

Side Gate — A Feature That Became a Family

For decades Henrys loaded only through the magazine tube. The Side Gate models added the traditional Winchester-style loading gate on the receiver — so you can top off from the side and still unload safely through the tube. Best of both worlds; our side gate vs tube guide covers why it matters.

X Model — The Blacked-Out Modern

The X Model takes proven Henry actions and dresses them for this century: black synthetic furniture, large loop, fiber-optic sights, threaded muzzle, and M-LOK accessory slots. Available in serious chamberings including .45-70. If you want a suppressor-ready lever gun, this is the shelf.

For: the shooter who likes the action old and everything else new. See our modern tactical lever guide.

Long Ranger — The Different Animal

The Long Ranger is barely the same species: a geared, six-lug rotating-bolt action feeding from a detachable box magazine, chambered in pointy-bullet rifle cartridges — .223 Rem, .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308. Because there's no tube, spitzer bullets are safe, and the accuracy potential rivals bolt guns.

For: hunters who want lever handling with 300-yard capability.

The Cheat Sheet

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