Hunting And Outdoor Sports
Henry Repeating Arms Shakes Up Varmint Hunting with SPD PREDATOR Lever-Action
Sub-MOA Guarantee and Carbon Fiber Barrel Redefine the Modern Lever Rifle
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Henry Repeating Arms is challenging the status quo of the hunting world with the release of its new SPD (Special Products Division) PREDATOR. In a market dominated by bolt-action rifles for precision work, the PREDATOR is making waves as the only lever-action centerfire on the market backed by a factory sub-MOA accuracy guarantee. Chambered in .223 Rem/5.56 NATO, this rifle is specifically engineered for hunters targeting agile varmints and predators at distance.
The rifle marks a radical departure from traditional Henry aesthetics. It features a threaded carbon fiber barrel for maximum weight savings and heat dissipation, a sleek grey laminate stock with an adjustable comb, and a box-fed magazine. Most notably, the PREDATOR lacks an exposed hammer, utilizing a internal striker-fired system and a tang-mounted safety that feels more like a high-end bolt gun than a cowboy-era repeater. The inclusion of a full-length Picatinny top rail acknowledges that modern predator hunters rely heavily on large-objective glass and thermal optics.
Early field reports from the 2026 spring coyote season suggest the PREDATOR’s action is remarkably smooth, allowing for rapid follow-up shots on multiple targets—a common scenario in predator hunting. By blending the rapid-cycle time of a lever-action with the precision components of a match-grade rifle, Henry has created a niche 'scout' platform that bridges the gap between traditional woods-craft and modern ballistic science.
Henry is playing 4D chess here. They’ve realized that a generation of hunters raised on AR-15s wants the 'cool factor' of a lever gun without sacrificing the accuracy of a bolt gun. The SPD PREDATOR is the tactical-lever crossover we didn't know we needed. For the rancher or the weekend coyote caller, this is a sub-6-pound laser beam that fits perfectly in a truck rack or a rucksack.