Henry Homesteader: PCC Gone Retro

It's SHOT Show time, and that means lots of new firearms introduced into the North American market this month. One of the coolest things we've seen this year is the Henry Homesteader, an all-new PCC with retro looks.

The Homesteader is a simple blowback semi-auto chambered in 9mm Luger. It ships from the factory with a Henry-designed magazine (reportedly available in either 5-round or 10-round configuration), but Henry says it can handle Glock, Smith & Wesson and SIG Sauer magazines with an adaptor, similar to other PCCs on the market.

While not 100 percent ambidextrous (the rifle ejects out the right side of the receiver), the Homesteader comes with a tang safety and an ambi mag release (ahead of the magazine). The bolt release (ahead of the trigger) is also ambidextrous, and the charging handle can be switched to either side of the receiver.

The rifle comes drilled and tapped for scope mounts, but ships with a forward-mounted ghost ring-style sight instead of standard open sights. A two-piece walnut stock is standard.

Unlike the Ruger PC Carbine, which would be the first competing design most people would think of, the Homesteader is not a takedown design. Taking a step back and squinting, it looks a lot less tacticool than the Ruger does, with almost the vibe of the classic Marlin Camp Carbine.

Coming to Canada?

Will we see it here in Canada? It all depends on where the latest amendments to Bill C-21 end up. If all semi-auto firearms with magazines more than 5-round capacity are banned, then the Homesteader is an immediate fail, considering 10-round mags are available.

If C-21 doesn't pass, or is struck down somehow, then ... maybe? The Homesteader comes with a 16-inch barrel, which would make it a restricted-status rifle in Canada, but US gunmakers are usually willing to do a special run of firearms with longer barrels to supply the Canadian market (this is the case with the Ruger PC Carbine as well as the Hi-Point 995 and other semi-auto designs).

But given the mayhem in our market right now, don't expect Henry to jump at this opportunity, especially since they'll very easily sell all they manufacture in their home market. And even if it comes to Canada, it'll be expensive; US MSRP starts at $928, which is probably close to $1200 CAD by the time it gets here.