The Henry Side Gate .45-70 Government is a lever-action rifle with an 18.43" barrel, blued steel finish, and American walnut stock. The .45-70 caliber has substantial energy for large game inside 100 yards - adequate for deer, elk, moose, and bear. At 7.08 lbs. and 37.5" overall it's a manageable carry weight for a rifle with this much downrange capability. 
 

Key Specifications 

• Model: Side Gate 
• Caliber: .45-70 Government 
• Action Type: Lever Action 
• Capacity: 4 Rounds 
• Barrel Length: 18.43 inches 
• Overall Length: 37.5 inches 
• Weight: 7.08 lbs. 
• Finish: Blued Steel with American Walnut Stock 
• Rear Sight: Fully Adjustable Semi-Buckhorn 
• Front Sight: Brass Bead 
• Barrel Twist: 1:20 
   
  The side gate allows loading individual rounds into the tube magazine without removing the magazine assembly - useful for topping off during a hunt. The 1:20" twist is standard for .45-70 bullet weights. Fully adjustable semi-buckhorn rear and brass bead front are the iron sight setup. Transfer bar safety prevents the hammer from striking the firing pin unless the trigger is fully pressed.

The Henry Side Gate .45-70 gets strong praise on build quality and craftsmanship. The walnut and blued steel are consistently described as well-fitted and attractive. The lever action is smooth, which matters when working the action under hunting pressure.

The .45-70 caliber performance is a major discussion point. Owners hunting large game report it works well within reasonable woods-hunting distances. Recoil management comes up often - the cartridge is punchy at full power, and some shooters share strategies around load selection for more comfortable practice. Standard-pressure .45-70 loads are much milder than modern high-pressure loads in this rifle.

The side gate loading draws favorable comparisons to traditional Henry designs that required full tube removal. Weight at 7.08 lbs. is occasionally mentioned as notable for a 4-round rifle, though the caliber demands a substantial platform. Overall sentiment is positive with the rifle considered good value for the craftsmanship and caliber.