Henry Repeating Arms’ H12 Explorer Carbine is a compact .357 Magnum/.38 Special lever gun built around a 16.5-inch threaded barrel, side loading gate and tubular magazine. The Burnt Bronze Cerakote finish, American walnut furniture and short overall length give the H12 a modern hunting-rifle feel while retaining the handling and simplicity that make a .357 lever gun so useful in the woods.
Technically, the H12 is a compact package. Its 16.5-inch threaded barrel keeps overall length to about 34 inches, while a weight of roughly 6.6 pounds gives the rifle enough mass to make the .357 Magnum exceptionally manageable without taking away the quick handling I want from a pistol-caliber carbine. Henry combines its side loading gate with a removable inner magazine tube which is a helluva lot handier than you may realize when you consider I can load it with the suppressor in place. Burnt Bronze Cerakote protects the metal, and checkered American walnut keeps the rifle from losing the traditional look and feel of a lever gun. The carbine-length barrel also lets the .357 Magnum take advantage of considerably more velocity than it typically produces from a revolver.
Why the 357 Magnum?
The Hornady 140 grainers zip out of the Henry at an average of 1871 fps. Not bad.
Well, first and foremost - it's no bride's maid. It's a bad $itch all by itself. The .357 Magnum isn’t underpowered. It’s underestimated, usually by people who’ve never hunted with one.
The .357 Magnum has been around since 1935, developed by Smith & Wesson with considerable input from firearms writer and experimenter Philip B. Sharpe and legendary outdoorsman Elmer Keith. Based on a lengthened .38 Special case and originally introduced in Smith & Wesson’s magnum revolver, it was the hot handgun cartridge of its day and quickly earned a reputation for considerably more power and reach than the service revolver cartridges that came before it.
Nearly a century later, I think we sometimes underestimate the .357 Magnum, especially when we put it in a carbine. Give the cartridge a 16- to 20-inch barrel and it becomes a different animal than the .357 most of us know from a handgun. Loads designed for lever guns can gain substantial velocity, shoot relatively flat across normal woods distances and produce very manageable recoil. With a properly constructed hunting bullet and sensible shot placement, the .357 Magnum has plenty to offer for deer at close to moderate range. It isn’t a .30-06 and shouldn’t be treated like one. Inside roughly 100 yards, though, a .357 carbine combines mild recoil, fast handling and enough performance to make it a very useful, and often underrated, deer rifle.
In fact, if you think the .357 Magnum is too small for deer, the cartridge probably isn’t the weak link in the equation.
I mounted a Burris FastFire E using the Skinner Sights ACRO barrel mount, and the combination worked exceptionally well. The FastFire E is small and light enough that it doesn’t change the character of the Henry. The Skinner mount keeps it low on the barrel, and the rifle still comes up naturally.
The Burris FastFire E is a compact enclosed-emitter red dot built around a crisp 3.5-MOA aiming point. Its sealed design protects the emitter from rain, snow, dirt and debris, while the aspherical lens helps control distortion and provides a clean sight picture. The ACRO-pattern mounting interface, mount by Skinner Sights, also makes it a natural fit for low-profile mounting on a hunting rifle like the Henry H12.
I was probably more impressed with the Burris than I expected to be. The dot was bright and crisp, and the sight proved precise enough that hits on a four-inch steel plate at 100 yards became routine. With a 3.5-MOA dot covering roughly 3.7 inches at 100 yards, that’s pretty darn good performance from a little non-magnified optic.
The FastFire E is an enclosed-emitter sight, which I also think makes sense on a hunting rifle. The enclosed design doesn’t automatically make the sight brighter or clearer than an open reflex sight. What it does is protect the emitter from rain, snow, mud, leaves and whatever else I manage to drag a hunting rifle through. A recent rain-filled squirrel hunt with a reflex-sighted handgun taught me what rain can and will do to an open-style reflex sight, and thats render it useless without repeated wipe downs. The bright, clean sight picture I experienced comes from the quality of the optic. The enclosed housing helps make sure I still have that dot when the weather gets lousy.
I have since learned the FastFire E's limits with timber and shadows at distance its nemesis. So much so, that the Henry may have a magnified optic added to its receiver soon.
For ammunition, I shot 130-grain MonoFlex, 140-grain FTX, 158-grain XTP Hornady loads, and some Herter's 158-grain Target loads too. Based solely on accuracy Hornady’s LEVERevolution .357 Magnum load with the 140-grain FTX bullet is my go-to load.
I also spent a few minutes on the phone with Hornady's Preston Lentfer, who I got to know on a Smith & Wesson lever-action elk hunt last year. He took his bull elk with a 30-30 Winchester at about 300 yards on that trip, and it reminded me that if bullet placement is king, then bullet design is queen. After an obnoxious amount of questions, the ever-patient giant (Preston is about two Jay Pinsky's tall) helped me better understand the LEVERevolution line of bullets and why they work better and differently than other 357 Magnum choices.
The Henry-Burris combo makes sense if you want a fast, simple, accurate, short-range platform.
I sighted the Henry with the 140-grain FTX and found the combination essentially dead-on out to 100 yards. Technically its .14 of an inch low at 100 based on a dead-on zero at 25 yards. At 125 yards I was seeing about two inches of drop and by 150 it was around five inches. You can certainly shoot a .357 Magnum farther than that, but punching steel and shooting an animal are two different things.
Hornady’s LEVERevolution .357 Magnum load uses a 140-grain FTX bullet with a flexible polymer tip that is safe for tubular magazines while providing a more aerodynamic profile than traditional flat-nose lever-gun bullets. The FTX design helps retain velocity downrange and promotes reliable expansion, making it a particularly good match for getting useful hunting performance from a .357 Magnum carbine.
I’ve never killed anything with a .357 Magnum(yet), so I talked to people in our hunting community who have like Larry Weishuhn, Richard Mann, and Shane Jahn. They were pretty emphatic about considering 100 yards a long shot with the cartridge on deer-sized game. I’m going to listen to people who have actually done it. My limit with the Henry will be 100 yards, and most of the shots I’d expect to take in the Virginia woods will be considerably closer. I should also note that I have yet to get my hands on Federal's HammerDown 357 Magnum loads, which many gun writers swear by. The West Virginia gun writer in that group insists it's the only ammo I should use.
SilencerCo's Hybrid 46M is the most versatile suppressor I own working on everything from 45-70 Govt. to 9.3x62mm Mauser, to this 357 Magnum.
The H12 is also part of a larger look I’m taking at the .357 Magnum. I’ll be spending time with my Smith & Wesson Model 686 with its 8 3/8-inch barrel and a six-inch Chiappa Rhino Hunter. Same cartridge, three very different firearms, and a chance for me to learn what the .357 does well from both rifles and handguns.
A lot of this also goes back to my Handgunning for Squirrels project. I started that series with a Ruger Single-Six .22 Magnum and a pretty simple goal: become a better handgun hunter. I set a ten-yard limit, shot from supported positions and came up with my own standard of MOS — Minute of Squirrel. If I couldn’t consistently make the shot on the range, I had no business trying it on a squirrel.
Here’s a tightened version that keeps your voice and, especially, that line about asking the .357 to be something it isn’t.
That micro-focus on squirrels has made a significant difference in my handgun shooting, and I’m pretty proud of the accuracy gains I’ve seen.
With all due respect to the bushy-tailed critters, Handgunning for Squirrels was never entirely about squirrels. They gave me a very small target and absolutely no reason to get sloppy. The whole point was to make me significantly better as a hunter and shooter.
That’s exactly what is happening.
The patience, trigger control, supported shooting and discipline I’ve been working on with the little Single-Six are carrying over to the centerfire handguns. I’m shooting better than I was when I started this project, but maybe more importantly, I’m much more aware of where my limits are.
The Smith & Wesson Model 686 pairs its full-lug 8 3/8-inch barrel and L-frame .357 Magnum platform with a Vortex Crossfire II 1.5-5x32 Scout scope. The long-eye-relief Vortex provides useful magnification while allowing the revolver to be held naturally at arm’s length, creating a practical hunting setup for taking advantage of the accuracy and velocity available from the long-barreled .357 Magnum.
Those two things go together.
I’ve also become pretty fond of the .357 Magnum in the process. It’s manageable to shoot, hits harder than I think a lot of us give it credit for, and most importantly, I shoot it well.
The fact is, the only way the .357 Magnum isn’t enough is if and when I ask it to be something it isn’t.
Which, come to think of it, may be a life lesson for me. Maybe for you, too.
There’s something to be said for understanding what something does well, respecting what it doesn’t, and then getting as good as you possibly can within those boundaries. That applies to cartridges, handguns, hunting, and probably people.
In the meantime, I’m having a heck of a time popping 8-inch plates at 100 yards with the little Burris green dot on the Henry.
Turns out chasing squirrels with a handgun taught me a lot more than how to hunt squirrels.
And I’m having a hell of a lot of fun finding out just how much.
Whitetails Unlimited awarded a $20,000 grant to the Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) conference in New Orleans, supporting law enforcement collaboration among 16 southeastern states and anti-poaching efforts.
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. has acquired Savage Arms, Inc., the 132-year-old Massachusetts-based rifle and shotgun manufacturer, from JDH Holdings for $160 million. The acquisition combines two historic American firearms manufacturers, with Savage bringing approximately $160 million in annual net sales and 500 employees to create the largest commercial firearms manufacturer in the United States.
Hunt Monkey is expanding its hunting glove lineup with the Ridge Runner Pro Lightweight Waterproof Glove for Fall/Winter 2026. The three-layer glove features waterproof, breathable construction with a microfleece lining, designed for waterfowl hunting, mild-climate wet hunts, and archery while maintaining dexterity and grip control.
NOMAD Outdoor introduces the Cottonwood VX3, a late-season bowhunting gear system featuring a jacket and pants in Mossy Oak Bottomland pattern. The system combines high pile berber fleece, windproof membrane, and Silver Z Scent Suppression System for warmth, weather protection, and concealment during extended stand hunts.
Vortex is introducing new Fall/Winter 2026 apparel colors across hoodies, T-shirts, and graphic tees inspired by changing landscapes and colder weather, featuring fresh seasonal colors and new camo options.
Guns & Ammo magazine awarded Federal's 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak cartridge as Ammo of the Year for 2026, marking the second consecutive year the publication honored Peak Alloy technology. The high-pressure cartridge delivers velocities up to 300 fps faster than conventional 6.5 Creedmoor while maintaining similar recoil and compatibility with existing rifles.
Dallas Safari Club announced Gray N. Thornton as the 2027 recipient of the Peter H. Capstick Hunting Heritage Award, recognizing his three decades of leadership in wildlife conservation with Safari Club International, Dallas Safari Club, and the Wild Sheep Foundation, where he currently serves as President and CEO.
Hook & Barrel Magazine announces the third annual Top Shelf Awards, a reader-driven event celebrating top outdoor brands, products, and personalities across 23 categories. Voting is open through November 30, with select category winners receiving awards at SHOT Show 2027.
PRADCO Outdoor Brands recognized three outstanding sales representatives for 2026: Chad Bauman as Sales Representative of the Year, Bert Moore as Regional Representative of the Year for the Southeast, and Rocky Stewart as Regional Representative of the Year for the Northeast.
The Pope and Young Club, North America's leading bowhunting conservation organization, announced online registration is now open for their 35th Biennial Convention. The event will be held April 8-10, 2027, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, AR, featuring seminars, vendor displays, auctions, and networking opportunities for bowhunters.
AGM Global Vision announced the appointment of Svetlana Richter as Vice President of International Sales. Richter brings over 20 years of experience in thermal imaging and night vision, most recently serving as Chief Sales Officer at Yukon Advanced Optics Worldwide. She will lead AGM's international expansion and strengthen global distribution partnerships.
The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) contributed an additional $20,000 to NSSF's Protect Liberty PAC, bringing its 2026 commitment to $45,000 and total support since 2024 to $70,000. Lawrence G. Keane, Protect Liberty PAC's Treasurer, praised NASGW's consistent support for the PAC's mission to elect candidates who will protect Second Amendment rights.
Brownells Global Solutions appointed ADN Enterprise as Brownells Europe to manage sales, marketing, and business development across European territories. The partnership leverages ADN's expertise in firearms, hunting, and defense sectors with Brownells' global brand network, providing localized warehouse, technical, and gunsmithing services.
The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation is hiring a Senior Coordinator for the South Central States region covering Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The role supports policy, advocacy, and development efforts while liaising with state legislators, wildlife agencies, and conservation partners. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree and 2-3 years of relevant policy experience.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is hiring Regional Directors for Kentucky, Tennessee, New England, Western Colorado, and Western Montana. Successful candidates will oversee volunteer chapters, lead fundraising events, and manage grant programs in their assigned territories.
Whitetail Institute unveiled its redesigned website featuring streamlined shopping for food plot products, educational resources, and expert advice. The new platform offers customers easier access to seed blends, fertilizers, herbicides, and habitat management solutions, plus a comprehensive blog and direct connection to Whitetail Institute experts.
Sightmark announced the Latitude XD LRF 10x42 Binoculars, featuring integrated laser rangefinding up to 3,280 yards, premium ED glass, and OLED display. CEO James Sellers highlighted the product's advanced technology and rugged design for long-range shooters and hunters, with availability beginning November 2025.
ZeroTech Optics USA introduces the Thrive X 3-9x40 hunting riflescope with four reticle options: Zeroplex, G4, PHR 3, and PHR 4. The scope features a 40mm objective, 30mm aluminum tube, weights starting at 18.4 ounces, and an Adjustable BDC Turret included with select models.
MidwayUSA Foundation's Hometown Challenge raised $1,002,911.19 for youth shooting sports, with $993,777.66 supporting team endowments matched dollar-for-dollar by Larry and Brenda Potterfield. Hudson Farm Foundation won first place with $199,800 in donations, while industry sponsors including SK Guns, UMAREX, and Savage Arms contributed prizes.
ZeroTech Optics USA and Infinite Outdoors announced a strategic partnership offering ZeroTech customers a 30-day free Infinite Outdoors membership trial and providing Infinite Outdoors members with an exclusive 25% discount on ZeroTech optics products.
Host Michael Waddell interviews 84-year-old Edwin Argroves, a legendary trapper and wildlife expert from Georgia, discussing his decades of experience in trapping, animal behavior, and old-time country wisdom. Argroves shares stories about his journey from childhood trapping to becoming a master of animal control, offering insights on nature and life lessons learned through years of outdoor observation.
Sightmark has launched the Wraith 2 LRF series, featuring two thermal riflescope models with integrated laser rangefinders: the Wraith 2 384 LRF and Wraith 2 640 LRF. Both models pair Vanadium Oxide thermal sensors with Class 1 laser rangefinders, eliminating the need for separate rangefinding devices in the field.
Radians Heated Apparel extends outdoor adventures with rechargeable heated jackets, hoodies, and vests featuring three heating zones and up to 10 hours of warmth. The collection includes a heated puffer vest, Mossy Oak Bottomland Camo hoodie, and softshell jacket, all designed for fall and winter camping enthusiasts.
Tink's #69 Doe-In-Rut, America's #1 buck lure for over 50 years, offers hunters multiple application formats including liquid, mist, patented Gel Stream, fogger, and scent stick to adapt to different rut stages and hunting conditions.
Warne introduces its Universal Receiver Red Dot Mount, a low-profile mounting solution for reflex-style red dot optics compatible with drilled-and-tapped shotguns, rimfire rifles including Ruger 10/22, and select rifle models. The mount features broad optic compatibility and flexible mounting options.
BLACKHAWK introduces the Mini EDC Pocket Multi-Tool, a lightweight everyday carry option featuring eight essential tools including pliers, tanto-style knife, and screwdrivers in a compact 3.15-inch closed length. The tool retails for $64.99 and is available through Bear & Son Cutlery.
WE Knife Co. unveiled the WE Suisei (Model WE25086), a flagship folder designed in collaboration with Japanese custom knifemaker Dew Hara. Featuring Böhler M390 steel, titanium construction, and celestial-inspired inlays, the knife launches globally on October 29, 2026.
Millennium Treestands introduces the DeadLock Carbon Shooting Stick Tripod, a lightweight carbon fiber rest designed for gun deer hunters. The tripod features a multi-platform Vise Head with 3-axis leveling, rapid one-knob leg adjustment, and interchangeable mounting plates for various rifle setups.
Ol' Man Outdoors introduced two new 2026 two-person ladder stands: the Marksman and Skyscraper models. Both feature 18-foot shooting heights, 500 lb. weight capacity, patented Clamp Down Jaw and Truss systems, and include two full-body harnesses for safe tandem hunting experiences.
TriStar Arms announces the Viper G3, the next generation of its popular Viper semi-automatic shotgun series. The new flagship features a robust internal system, oversized controls, and accommodates a wider range of ammunition in 12, 20, and 28 gauge, plus .410 bore, with suggested retail pricing from $739 to $1,129.
Derya Arms announced the TM22 Timekeeper, a semi-automatic .22 LR rifle featuring an adjustable stock, 18-inch threaded barrel, and upgraded sight package. The lightweight rifle ships with two 10-round magazines and is available in multiple colors with an MSRP of $249.
Blocker Outdoors introduces the Scent Shield X-Factor lineup, a complete scent-control system built on technology from the original 1985 Scent Shield formula. The system includes laundry detergent, body soap, shampoo, and fall blend sprays, each designed to eliminate odors through multiple mechanisms for hunters pursuing whitetail, elk, and mule deer.
Remington Gun Care introduced the Rechargeable Mini-Dehumidifier to protect firearms from moisture in gun safes and storage areas. The device features water crystal technology, a motion-activated light, wireless hygrometer and thermometer, and operates up to 60 days before recharging.
Tactacam has integrated its DEFEND 360 Cellular Camera with the REVEAL Mobile Application, allowing hunters to manage both camera types in one platform. The integration includes new features like Live View recording, 2-Way Audio, and AI Object Tracking, alongside REVEAL's Hunt Radar and mapping tools.
CIVIVI unveiled the Ryson-E folding knife, designed in collaboration with custom designer Sam Tran. The EDC folder features a 3.32" harpoon blade, ceramic bearing deployment, and Swedish 14C28N or Damascus steel options, available worldwide starting October 29, 2026.
Remington Gun Care is expanding its product lineup with new Aluminum Rod Universal Cleaning Kits designed for rifle, shotgun, and handgun owners. The lightweight kits feature durable Mil-Spec 8-32 threads and include brass brushes, cotton mops, nylon jags, and patches, priced at $24.99 each.
SENCUT has launched the SENCUT Clout (Model S26031), a compact EDC knife featuring a 2.99" D2 tool steel reverse tanto blade designed for outdoor cooking and daily tasks. The knife combines cleaver-inspired geometry with lightweight ergonomics, one-handed deployment, and ambidextrous pocket carry.
CIVIVI has launched the Lil Yonder (Model C25025B), a compact everyday carry knife designed by Zac Whitmore as a scaled-down successor to the award-winning full-sized Yonder. The lightweight folder features a 2.44" 14C28N stainless steel Spey Point blade, ambidextrous Crossbar Lock, and weighs just 2.06 oz, available October 29, 2026.
Spartan Precision Equipment announces the Pent System Kit, a modular upgrade that converts Spartan Quad Sticks into a five-legged shooting platform. The carbon fiber fifth leg enhances stability, supports rifle weight, and reduces shooter fatigue, with a suggested retail price of $150.00.
Hook & Barrel Magazine features Fox News personality Will Cain on its November/December 2026 cover, alongside mountain man Laramy "Sasquatch" Miller and chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois. The issue includes content from chef Stacy Lyn Harris and musical act Fox N' Vead.
Over 300 archery and bowhunting brands, including Easton Archery, Bear Archery, TenPoint Crossbows, Bowtech, Elite Archery, and PSE Archery, will exhibit at ATA Show Week January 7-10, 2027, in Indianapolis. The event features a trade show for retailers and manufacturers, plus a public Archery & Bowhunting Supershow with major competitions throughout the week.
Wild Wildebeest Lodge has renewed its sponsorship with Whitetails Unlimited, announced by WTU President Jeff Schinkten. Located in South Africa's Limpopo Province, the lodge offers hunting and non-hunting African adventures while supporting WTU's conservation mission.
WoodHaven Custom Calls, founded by Mike Pentecost in Heflin, Alabama, has joined Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor. The company manufactures hand-built, hand-tuned turkey and deer calls made in the USA, earning the trust of hunters nationwide.
Hook & Barrel Magazine founders Natalie and John J. Radzwilla appeared on Fox News's 'The Will Cain Show' on October 20, 2026, discussing how they built their outdoor lifestyle brand and their vision for supporting the outdoor industry's growth.
Ralph, Vicki, RJ, and Aubrey Cianciarulo invite viewers to their 26th season of The Choice on Pursuit Channel, beginning October 18th at 11:30PM EST. The family returns to their Illinois hunting grounds to meet with friend Dean for an episode of their long-running outdoor series.
Pursuit Channel is proud to highlight its dual Sunday night programming lineups, giving outdoor enthusiasts two distinct ways to spend their evening with premium hunting and outdoor content beginning at 8:00 PM ET.
Ralph, Vicki, RJ, and Aubrey Cianciarulo invite viewers to tune into season 26 of The Choice on Pursuit Channel, airing Monday September 21st at 11:30PM EST. The crew continues chasing Illinois whitetails with hopes of filling more tags as bucks remain active.
