There was a time when besides hunting a lever gun was thought to be front line rifle for combat and as soon as they figured it out the loading gate was standard on centerfire lever guns. The original Henry lacked a loading the during the civil war. But 1866 they figured it out and I think until the modern Henry all major companies put a loading gate on. It better allowed people in combat to remain in cover while reloading their rifles. In non-free states and future to be non-free states people denied ARs and AKs by law may elect to use the lever gun for self defense.I really tried to like Henrys but I just can't warm up to them. They seem to be very popular so they must be good, but to me the black finish looks like spray paint, and I don't care for the way they load. It's JMO, but I'll stay with my 1980s Marlin 1895ss.
Henry seems to make good rifles, but some reason they do not like side loading gates. I wonder why?
I have read there is a way to tune loading gates for ease of loading.From what I have read, By making the gun with the removable tube magazine it is cheaper to manufacture then making one with a loading gate..
And there are some pluses
Easier to remove the unused cartridges from the gun then cycling them through the action
Loading with a tube is easier on the cartridge, sometimes loading gates can pinch a cartridge
That being said, Loading gates are cooler looking..