Henry Side Gate .45 Colt Review: Ten Rounds of Cowboy

A ten-round tube, a side gate and a classic Old West cartridge. The rifle is straightforward; the ammunition choices are where owners go right or wrong.

What this rifle is for

The Henry Side Gate in .45 Colt does not try to be a hunting specialist or a tactical platform. It is an easy-going, good-looking lever gun built around a cartridge with deep roots in cowboy culture, and the reasons to own one are mostly about enjoyment and consistency with a revolver you already have.

The Henry Side Gate in .45 Colt is listed with a 10+1 capacity, which is notably deep for a lever gun in this class, and it loads through a receiver side gate. As our Side Gate explainer notes, Henry's side-gate rifles keep the removable inner tube so you can unload the way you always have. Barrel length, weight and sight details are items to check on Henry's page for the exact model number.

Why people pair a lever gun with a revolver

The classic idea is simple: shoot the same cartridge from a rifle and a handgun. You buy and carry one kind of ammunition, you learn one set of load preferences, and the rifle's longer barrel gets more from the same round than a revolver does. In cowboy action shooting, that pairing is the whole format, and pistol-caliber lever guns are central to it. If you are curious about the revolver side, the network's Ruger Blackhawk guide covers a common .45 Colt single-action option.

Check the rules of the match or range you plan to use before you buy anything specifically for competition. Requirements on calibers, ammunition and equipment vary by organization and event.

The ammunition issue that matters most

.45 Colt is one of the more varied cartridges on the shelf. Ammunition is available at a wide range of strengths, from mild loads meant to match the pace of old firearms to hot loads intended only for the strongest modern revolvers. The cartridge is the same size across that range, so you cannot tell by looking.

What that means for a lever gun owner:

• Do not assume every .45 Colt load is appropriate for your rifle. The Henry manual and the ammunition maker's labeling are the authorities. If a box says it is for use only in certain strong revolvers, leave it for those.
• Pick standard-pressure factory loads to begin with. They are the straightforward choice for a lever action, and they are plenty for plinking, target work and casual shooting.
• Respect the tube. Use flat-nose or round-nose bullets, or loads designed for tube magazines. Our tube magazine safety guide explains why.
• Check overall length. Odd bullet shapes can affect feeding. Try a box before buying a case.

For cast lead loads, the network's guide to shooting cast lead explains the basics from the revolver side. Whether a given lead load suits your rifle's barrel and your cleaning habits is a matter of reading the manual and the ammo maker's guidance.

How it compares with .357 and .45-70

The .45 Colt sits in a pleasant middle ground. It shoots with moderate recoil in a rifle and carries a large-diameter bullet, but it is not a long-range cartridge. Expect it to be a short-to-moderate-range tool.

Hunting with it

Whether .45 Colt is legal and appropriate for the game you hunt depends on your state, the species, and the load. Some places regulate legal cartridges for deer, so check your state wildlife agency rather than assuming. If you hunt with it, choose bullets designed for the job, practice at realistic distances and keep shots within the range where you can place the bullet precisely.

Who should buy it, and who should not

Buy it if you:

• Own, or plan to own, a .45 Colt revolver and want matching ammunition.
• Enjoy cowboy-style shooting, plinking or a relaxed range session.
• Want a deeper magazine than most lever guns offer.

Look elsewhere if you:

• Want the broadest range of cheap practice ammunition. A .22 lever or a .38 Special / .357 rifle gives you more options.
• Need to shoot pointed bullets or reach long distances. A box-magazine Henry Long Ranger is a better fit.
• Want the most compact rifle possible. A deep tube means a longer magazine assembly.

Using the rifle safely

A ten-round tube magazine is a lot of cartridges in a row, so loading and unloading discipline matters.

Keep the magazine tube clean, keep your ammunition dry and store the rifle locked and unloaded.

Bottom line

The .45 Colt Side Gate is a fine rifle for people who enjoy a classic cartridge and a classic rhythm. Pay attention to ammunition pressure, avoid pointed bullets and verify the model's details on Henry's site, and it should make a fun, versatile companion to a matching revolver.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.