Henry Side Gate .30-30 Winchester
Model: H009G
Henry Side Gate .30-30 Winchester
Model: H009G
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Henry Side Gate .30-30 gives you two ways to load: drop shells through the traditional loading tube at the muzzle, or feed them one at a time through the side gate on the receiver. That side gate is what separates this model from Henry's standard .30-30 and makes it practical for hunters who top off on stand — no need to pull the magazine tube while seated in a treestand. At 112 oz (7 lbs) with a 20-inch barrel and 39 inches overall, it handles like a straightforward woods rifle.
The capacity is 5 rounds, which is 2 fewer than the Marlin 336 Classic or Winchester 94. Marlin 336 Classic and Winchester 94 both hold 7. What the Henry trades for that shorter tube is American-made walnut furniture and a brass bead front sight on a clean blued steel receiver — a combination that owners consistently describe as the nicest factory finish in the .30-30 segment. The adjustable semi-buckhorn rear is serviceable for hunting distances. When the time comes to mount glass, the receiver is drilled and tapped. For thick-cover hunting under 100 yards, owners commonly skip the scope — the stock irons hold zero well enough that the added weight isn't earning its keep.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- American-made with walnut and blued steel. Henry's factory fit and finish is widely regarded as the best in the .30-30 segment — wood-to-metal contact at the receiver is tight, and the bluing is even throughout.
- Side gate plus removable loading tube means you can top off from the receiver without muzzle-unloading the whole tube — useful on stand.
- Transfer bar safety is more modern than the Winchester 94's half-cock design, and Henry builds it into the action without requiring a manual thumb safety.
- 5-round capacity is 2 rounds less than both the Marlin 336 Classic and Winchester 94. For most deer hunters that's irrelevant, but it's a real spec gap.
- Henry is a modern company founded in 1996 — it has no ancestral connection to the 1860 Henry rifle. The name carries heritage appeal but the pedigree is recent.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get the Side Gate, the standard Henry .30-30, or the All-Weather version?
The standard Henry .30-30 (H009) loads only from the muzzle tube — no side gate. The Side Gate (H009G) adds receiver loading, which is more practical for hunting since you can top off quietly without removing the tube. The All-Weather (H009GW) swaps the walnut stock for weather-resistant synthetic and adds a stainless finish for about $100 more at MSRP. If you're hunting in wet conditions regularly, the All-Weather is worth the premium. If you want the best-looking finish at the lowest price, the standard Side Gate is the pick. The standard no-gate model makes the most sense only if you want the muzzle-load feel of a traditional Henry and cost is the deciding factor.
Can I use pointed (spitzer) bullets in this rifle?
No. The .30-30 uses a tube magazine where the tip of one round sits against the primer of the round ahead of it. Pointed bullets create a primer-to-tip chain that can fire under recoil. All factory .30-30 loads use round-nose or flat-nose bullets, and Hornady's FTX line uses a flexible polymer tip specifically designed to be safe in tube magazines. Stick to any factory .30-30 load and this is not an issue.
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