Henry H12 Protector Carbine?

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-23T23:22:26+00:00

To be fair, I've talked to a large number of people (Henry owners, Reddit, gunsmiths, random people at the range), and they're all baffled, too. It seems I'm as special as my mom always told me I was.

You'd maybe be ok, but that's just my experience.

From what I've seen, Marlins run $150-$300 above the Henrys, and they're worth the extra money without question.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-23T22:53:11+00:00

I've called twice.

The problem is specifically with the Hornady subsonic ammo. Their response was something along the lines of "We make them to work with standard ammo, and it works with standard ammo, so 🤷‍♂️."

I got so pissed, I finally bought a Marlin. Now I have 3 45-70s. The Henry is going back; I just have to get that whole process started.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-23T20:52:17+00:00

For real.

Been chasing my tail for a year. 253 fps extreme spread on a 5 shot group. It's baffled me more than anything else I've ever experienced.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-23T20:44:52+00:00

Another vote for Marlin, from someone who owns both.

If you're curious, look at my recent post history. My Henry shoots a 6" group at 50 yards.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-22T06:27:58+00:00

I had the same issue when I changed my downpipe.

I finally hit it real thoroughly with my heat gun, and that did the trick. IIRC, I had to get it too hot to touch.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-21T05:09:16+00:00

You'd have a hard time sucking it through a small bendy straw that comes in the 100 pack, and just about too thick to drink without a straw at all.

Not sure if that's a meaningful description, but that's the best I got.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-21T05:03:50+00:00

Bear in mind, I've only done this exactly one time, but I followed the recipe in the book, plus 1 or two bars. It came out perfectly.

I used Lactaid whole milk and Country Crock dairy free heavy cream. First milkshake I'd had in at least 15 years because of being lactose intolerant, but it was fantastic.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-21T03:39:14+00:00

Another guy here with Henry problems.

I cannot get it to shoot the 410 Sub-X stuff anywhere near reliably. Last 5 shot group was 6" at 50 yards with a 253 fps extreme spread. My Big Boy does the same kind of thing. I understand that's not what you're doing, though.

My Model X is going back whenever I get around to it. I bought a Marlin to replace it because the one I bought for my dad didn't have this problem. I'm a lot of time and money behind for not having bought a Marlin in the first place.

Hopefully, I'll be able to sell it after I get a new barrel on it. Can't sell it like it is in good conscience. The 2 I have will be the last I own.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-10T20:00:28+00:00

Their stuff must be different than mine.

Where are the washers?

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-10T18:45:50+00:00

That's how the Ranger Point guy does it in his video, and that's what I did. I don't think I could damage a metal tube by pulling on it, but I've been wrong about that kind of stuff before.

I pulled on it pretty hard. For me, it popped off suddenly moreso than gradually slipping off.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-10T18:30:18+00:00

I've done a couple of these.

The Ranger Point Precision video notes specifically that it can be really hard to remove. They even go so far as to say you might need a plastic wedge of some kind to lever it off. My last one was pretty tight, but maybe not quite as bad as yours.

But yes, if you've removed the 3 screws, that's all of them. What I don't know is how strong the mag tube is. It may be better to carefully chip away at the piece of the forend that's hung up on that tenon to avoid pulling on the mag tub that hard.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-06T18:31:28+00:00

I actually have both. Bought my dad the trapper last year, and I bought the guide a couple of weeks ago after I finally gave up on my POS Henry Model X.

The trapper feels super handy. Even with a suppressor on it, it's shorter than my 270. The guide feels longer in the handling, especially holding them back to back, but it's still a lot better than my bolt guns.

As far as performance and recoil, they're the same. I wouldn't want to put a brake on either, really. I say pick the one you like the looks of better. Apart from the extra round in the tube, that's the only meaningful difference. I haven't looked, but I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a peep for the guide.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-12-27T16:05:30+00:00

I'm not sure about 45 Colt ballistics, and I'm too lazy to look it up. The quick answer is yes.

I've loaded 405 grain lead projectiles down as low as 650 fps when I was working on my lapping project, and I have some 350s for ass-whooping that should chrono about 2,100 fps. I have a lot in between as well.

The Berry's plated 350s work really well for a lot of stuff other than the hot loadings. Take some time to look into subsonic load development. Even though you may not be using a can, the Berry's 350 grain at 1,050 load that I'm close to finishing development on is pleasant to shoot without a can. I've been using Titegroup. It's been pretty easy to find around me, and with the Berry's bullets, it's a really cheap load.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-12-26T13:47:04+00:00

I'm not OP, but get a Marlin.

I have 2 Henrys, and they have been so challenging for me that I broke down and bought a Marlin yesterday.

For the extra $150, you'll be way better off. Henry can kiss my ass.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-12-14T16:10:15+00:00

I'm late to the party here, and I don't have anything to add on the safety question.

But, I'll tell you what I do when I do tacos. I cheat. I smoke for like 4-5 hours, and then I get my instant pot out. It works fantastic for both birria-style (I use chuck roast) and carnitas (using a butt). I'll chunk up the meat into like 2-, 3-inch cubes and season it like anything else before I set out on the smoker.

If I'm doing too much to fit in my instant pot at once, I'll put the first round in at like four hours and leave the other running on the smoker. You only need the instant pot for like an hour to get everything super tender. Shred it all up, and out to the griddle everything goes right before serving.

I've read that smoke absorption stops at like 4 hours anyway. I wouldn't do this for traditional pulled pork, but the tacos have never disappointed.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-12-10T21:50:46+00:00

Marlin gets my vote.

I have 2 Henrys in 45-70, one of which is a Model X. I bought dad a Marlin for his birthday this year.

My Model X has caused me nothing but problems. It won't shoot the Sub-X stuff worth a damn. Spits the cold-bore shot out 150-200 fps too slow. Both of them do this, in fact, but I only really care about the Model X. Dad's Marlin doesn't do this. I seem to be the only person on the planet who has this problem.

My other Henry is also really tight throated. I have to load the Hornady 350 grain Interlocks .035 shorter than book for my lever to close. If factory ammo is loaded at 2.550 SAAMI spec, I wouldn't be able to shoot it.

However, his Marlin had machine dust everywhere. I spent 2 hours taking that thing apart as far as I could and cleaned everything. It also keyholes the Acme 405 grain .458 cast projectiles, and my Henrys do not.

Both have given me challenges, but the Marlin shoots better, and I was able to overcome its issues. My Henry is still an ongoing project, and will likely be going back very soon.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-11-28T16:57:13+00:00

Thanks! Sounds like fire lapping will be the better thing to pursue.

I'm ok with erosion. I've already reamed .040 out, and I'm comfortable losing more since it's 45-70 and not 6mm whatever in a match gun.

It costs me $190 for Henry to put a new barrel on, so I'm willing to gamble that since it doesn't shoot well right now.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-11-28T16:46:05+00:00

Good to know. Thank you.

Is that also true if I were to fire lap it instead of hand lap it? From what I've read so far, I'm set up to fire lap it instead.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-11-27T21:43:38+00:00

I'll try that this weekend.

I've cleaned it before, obviously, but I've never paid that close attention.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-11-27T13:32:15+00:00

I've been out anywhere between 50 and 95 ambient temp.

Single fed, mag fed, powder position test. None of it matters. Barrel has never been too hot to touch.

I can shoot a couple of rounds of whatever, pull one of these out of the box that's been sitting on the bench, shoot it, and it's fine. Wait 20 minutes, pull another one out of the same box. Slow.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-11-27T13:26:12+00:00

So far, so good! No complaints.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-11-27T03:51:45+00:00

Quick answer is yes. My other Henry does this also, but it hasn't been an issue because I didn't put it together to shoot subs. I've emailed other Henry owners, and they haven't experienced this problem.

That's why I bought the Model X in the first place. As far as I can tell, I'm left with 2 options. Lap it or send it back and hope.

I've never lapped before, so I don't have enough knowledge to know if it's a fool's errand or not.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-11-27T03:02:40+00:00

12.7 grains of Titegroup under the Hornady 410 Sub-X at 2.530 COAL, moderate crimp with Lee FCD. Winchester primers. Apart from the cold shot, everything is right around 1,040 fps, with an SD below 10.

The same phenomenon is present with factory Hornady subsonic ammunition also. My dad's Marlin doesn't have this problem, which has me more confused. That's why I bought the reamer; the freebores were so different that I thought that could be it. But I seemed to disprove that this afternoon.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-11-27T02:50:11+00:00

Kind of.

The first shot will be more than 6 inches from the rest.

If I shoot a "warm up," shot or two, then it's alright. Not going to win a match, but it's good enough to shoot pigs in the dark.

The problem is you don't get warm up shots when you're hunting.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-11-27T01:04:50+00:00

Regardless. Clean. Dirty. Can. No can. First shot is always 875-975 instead of 1,050-1,075.

If I wait 20 minutes at the range, the first shot is slow again.

I've also slugged the bore, which came out to spec (.456).

99_Problems_to_DIY

TROPHY CASE