7 Best Used Henry Survival Rifles For Bug Out Bags That Stand Up to Hard Use

Imagine the scenario: a sudden storm has washed out the only road from your remote cabin, and the power is out for the foreseeable future. Or maybe you’re packing for a long overland trip and need a compact tool for putting food in the pot. A reliable, simple, and effective rifle can be an indispensable piece of equipment, and for many, a well-made Henry fits that role perfectly.

Disclosure: This site earns commissions from listed merchants at no cost to you. Thank you!

Henry U.S. Survival AR-7: The Ultimate Pack-Away Rifle

When space and weight are the absolute highest priorities, the AR-7 is in a class of its own. This isn’t the rifle you take to the range every weekend; it’s the one you stash in a float plane, toss under a truck seat, or pack in a canoe for a deep wilderness trip. Its genius lies in its takedown design—the barrel, action, and magazines all store neatly inside the waterproof, floating stock.

Assembling it is quick, but it requires practice to be smooth under pressure. The .22 LR chambering is ideal for small game like squirrels, rabbits, and grouse, providing sustenance without a lot of noise or recoil. It’s a specialized tool designed for a very specific job: to be there when nothing else can.

However, the AR-7’s unique design is also its primary tradeoff. It lacks the rugged, all-day durability of a traditional rifle. The focus here is on portability, not battlefield toughness. It’s a true survival tool, meant to be carried often and used when necessary to procure a meal, making it a perfect fit for a minimalist bug out bag or vehicle kit.

Henry H001 Lever Action .22 for Abundant Small Game

If your plans call for a more robust and frequently used small game rifle, the classic H001 Lever Action is a fantastic choice. This is the quintessential "trapper’s rifle." It’s simple, incredibly reliable, and its smooth action is a joy to run. Unlike the specialized AR-7, the H001 is built for consistent, repeated use.

The tube magazine holds a generous number of .22 rounds (15 rounds of .22 Long Rifle), and it can cycle .22 Long and .22 Short ammunition as well, adding to its versatility. This makes it an excellent tool for managing pests around a homestead or for an extended period in the backcountry where small game is your primary food source. It’s also an outstanding platform for teaching new shooters the fundamentals of marksmanship and safety.

The main tradeoff is its size. While not overly heavy or long, it doesn’t break down or pack away like the AR-7. It’s a traditional rifle that needs to be carried as such, either slung over a shoulder or secured to the outside of a pack. For a dedicated food-gathering tool in a bug out bag, its reliability often outweighs its conventional form factor.

Henry Garden Gun for Quiet, Close-Range Foraging

Sometimes, the goal isn’t just to get food, but to do it quietly. In a situation where you don’t want to advertise your location, the Henry Garden Gun offers a unique solution. Chambered for .22 caliber shotshells, often called "snake shot" or "rat shot," this smoothbore rifle is exceptionally quiet, often no louder than a powerful air rifle.

This isn’t a rifle for reaching out to a rabbit at 50 yards. Its effective range is very short, typically inside 15 yards. Its purpose is for dispatching snakes, rodents, or taking small birds or squirrels at close range without alerting everything in the area. The tiny shot pattern also minimizes meat damage on small game, which can be a real advantage.

Think of the Garden Gun as a highly specialized foraging tool. It’s not a primary defensive firearm or a general-purpose hunter. But for a specific niche—quiet, close-range pest control and small game procurement—it has few equals. In a kit where stealth is a primary concern, it’s a worthy, lightweight addition.

Henry Big Boy Carbine .357 for Paired-Firearm Kits

When your needs graduate from small game to something more substantial, a pistol-caliber carbine is a brilliant compromise. The Henry Big Boy in .357 Magnum offers a significant step up in power while maintaining a classic, reliable lever-action platform. Its greatest strength lies in logistics, especially if you pair it with a revolver in the same caliber.

The ability to feed both a rifle and a handgun from the same box of ammunition is a massive advantage. You can carry light-recoiling .38 Special rounds for practice or small game and potent .357 Magnum loads for medium-sized game like deer or for defensive use. A carbine barrel dramatically increases the velocity and effective range of these pistol cartridges.

The cost is weight and bulk. A Big Boy is heavier than its .22 caliber cousins, and the ammunition is significantly larger and heavier as well. This isn’t an ultralight choice. It’s a deliberate decision for someone who wants one versatile caliber to handle a wide range of tasks, from the field to personal protection, simplifying their entire kit.

Henry Mare’s Leg .44 Mag: A Compact Powerhouse

For the absolute most power in the most compact lever-action package, the Mare’s Leg is a unique beast. Legally classified as a pistol, this cut-down firearm lacks a full stock, making it small enough to fit inside a pack or be stored in a vehicle’s cab. Chambered in potent calibers like .44 Magnum, it delivers serious energy on target.

This is not a beginner’s firearm. The lack of a shoulder stock makes it notoriously difficult to shoot accurately, requiring significant practice to master. The recoil from a full-power .44 Magnum load can be substantial. Its ideal role is as a powerful, close-quarters tool for defense against large predators or for use in confined spaces where a full-length rifle would be too clumsy.

The tradeoff is clear: you sacrifice ease of use and long-range accuracy for extreme portability and power. Consider the Mare’s Leg an expert’s tool. For the right individual who is willing to put in the practice, it can fill a very specific niche in a compact bug out or truck gun kit.

Henry Single Shot .223 for Rugged, Simple Reliability

In a hard-use scenario, complexity is the enemy. The Henry Single Shot rifle is the epitome of simplicity. With no magazine, no complex feeding mechanism, and very few moving parts, it is incredibly durable and reliable. If you need a rifle that will work no matter how much mud, dust, or rain it’s exposed to, this is a top contender.

Chambered in .223 Remington, it uses a common, effective, and relatively lightweight rifle cartridge. This caliber is suitable for everything from varmints to deer-sized game with proper shot placement and bullet selection. The break-action design is also inherently safe, as it’s immediately obvious to anyone whether the firearm is loaded or not.

The limitation is its single-shot capacity. You get one chance to make an accurate shot before you have to manually reload. This forces a slow, deliberate, and disciplined approach to shooting, which can be a benefit for a hunter but a clear disadvantage in a defensive situation. It’s a tool for the self-reliant individual who values unbreakable simplicity over speed.

Henry Long Ranger .308 for Serious Long-Range Needs

When your environment is wide-open country and the potential game is large, you need power and reach. The Henry Long Ranger, chambered in cartridges like .308 Winchester, provides the performance of a modern bolt-action rifle in a lever-action package. This is the tool for mountain hunting or situations where engaging targets at several hundred yards is a real possibility.

The .308 Winchester is a proven, powerful, and widely available cartridge capable of ethically taking any large game in North America. The Long Ranger’s box magazine allows for the use of modern, aerodynamically efficient pointed bullets, further enhancing its long-range capabilities compared to traditional tube-fed lever guns.

This capability comes at a significant cost in weight and bulk. The rifle itself is heavier, and .308 ammunition is large and heavy, meaning you can’t carry as many rounds for the same weight penalty. This is a specialized, high-performance option for a bug out bag built around a specific strategy for open terrain and large game, not a general-purpose choice for dense woods.

Key Inspection Points for a Used Henry Survival Rifle

Buying a used rifle is a great way to save money, but it requires a careful eye. Henry rifles are well-made, but hard use can take its toll on any firearm. Before you buy, give the rifle a thorough inspection to ensure you’re getting a reliable tool, not someone else’s problem.

A good inspection goes beyond just looking for cosmetic scratches. You want to check the mechanical soundness of the rifle. For any used Henry, pay close attention to the following points:

• Bore Condition: Bring a small bore light and check down the barrel from the chamber end if possible. Look for a shiny bore with sharp rifling. Avoid barrels with dark rings, bulges, or significant rust and pitting.
• Action Smoothness: Cycle the action several times. A lever-action should be smooth without binding or grittiness. A single-shot should open and close cleanly. For the AR-7, ensure the bolt moves freely.
• Crown: The muzzle (or crown) is critical for accuracy. Look for any dings, dents, or excessive wear right at the end of the barrel where the bullet exits.
• Wood Furniture: Check the stock and forend for cracks, especially where the wood meets the metal receiver. Small dings are fine, but deep cracks can compromise the rifle’s integrity.
• Sights: Ensure the front and rear sights are intact, not bent, and are adjustable.
• Model-Specifics: For an AR-7, carefully check the threads where the barrel screws onto the receiver and the integrity of the plastic stock. For lever guns, check the loading gate for proper tension and the extractor claw for any chips or damage.

Ultimately, the best Henry rifle for your kit is the one that matches your environment, your most likely needs, and your skill level. The lightest, most powerful, or most feature-rich option isn’t always the right one. Choose the tool that fits your plan, practice with it until its operation is second nature, and then focus on the skills that matter more than any piece of gear. A reliable tool is great, but a prepared mind is better.