What the side gate changes
Classic lever guns like the Winchester 1894 load through a spring-loaded gate on the side of the receiver. Henry's traditional design instead loads through a removable inner tube at the front of the magazine, which many shooters liked for safe unloading but disliked for topping off quickly. Henry's Side Gate models add a loading gate on the receiver while keeping the removable tube. You get both: fast loading through the gate and easy, safe unloading through the tube.
Why that matters in the field
- Topping off: after a shot, you can slip a round through the gate without taking your eyes off the game or removing the tube.
- Unloading: pull the inner tube and let the rounds slide out, rather than cycling every round through the action.
- Familiarity: shooters who grew up on gate-loading lever guns feel at home.
Side Gate Big Boy .357 / .38
The .357 Magnum Side Gate fires .38 Special too, which makes practice cheap and gentle. .357 from a rifle barrel gains meaningful velocity, which makes it capable on medium game at modest ranges where legal. It pairs naturally with a .357 revolver. Our .357 lever gun guide covers the cartridge in depth.
Henry Side Gate Big Boy .357
.357 Magnum / .38 Special
Side Gate .45 Colt
.45 Colt is a classic Old West cartridge that pairs with single-action revolvers such as the Ruger Blackhawk. In a rifle, it is a pleasant, heavy-bullet cartridge for cowboy action shooting and, with appropriate loads, hunting. Loads vary widely in pressure; use ammunition rated for your rifle. The listing shows 10+1.
Henry Side Gate .45 Colt
.45 Colt · 10+1
Side Gate .45-70 (chrome)
The .45-70 Side Gate is a big-game rifle with a striking chrome finish. .45-70 fires heavy bullets that hit hard at woods ranges. Our .45-70 modern loads guide and big-bore lever guide cover the cartridge and its competitors.
Henry Side Gate .45-70 (chrome)
.45-70 · 4+1
Comparison
| .357 / .38 | .45 Colt | .45-70 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recoil | Mild | Moderate | Heavy |
| Ammo cost | Lowest (.38) | Moderate | Highest |
| Best for | Practice, small to medium game | Cowboy action, hunting | Big game, woods |
Ammunition in a tube magazine
All Side Gate rifles feed from a tube magazine, so use flat-nose, round-nose or specially designed soft-tip bullets. Our tube magazine safety guide explains why and what to buy.
Side Gate vs the competition
The Smith & Wesson 1854 and Ruger-era Marlins also load through a side gate. We cover those in our S&W 1854 explainer and Marlin comeback article. For a modern, synthetic Henry with a side gate, see our X Model guide.
Bottom line
The Side Gate fixes the one complaint many shooters had about Henry centerfires. Choose your caliber by use: .357 for versatility, .45 Colt for cowboy style, .45-70 for big game.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Henry Side Gate?
A Henry lever gun with a loading gate on the receiver in addition to Henry's removable inner magazine tube.
Can you still unload a Side Gate through the tube?
Yes. Keeping the removable tube lets you unload without cycling every round through the action.
Does the .357 Side Gate shoot .38 Special?
Yes. .357 Magnum rifles can fire .38 Special, which is milder and cheaper for practice.
Is .45 Colt good in a lever gun?
Yes, for cowboy action shooting and, with appropriate loads, hunting. Use ammunition rated for your rifle.
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