Henry Big Boy calibers

[azmark]

I just finished reading Paco's article on the .45 Colt in leverguns. I'm comparing the .45 Colt vs. the .357 magnum in the Big Boy. What are advantages of one over the other? I did some quick looking at sites of ammo manufacturers, but their specs are based on these calibers being fired from revolvers, not rifles. Anybody got opinions to share or references I can check.

[Beaker]

I would love to have one in 45 colt to go along with my .22 golden boy and my .30-30. The problem now is 45 colt ammo is hard to find and expensive. The .44 mag Big Boy would be my second choice and likely more practical over the colt .45 with the 357 the third choice.

[azmark]

I like the .45 because I don't have anything in .45 colt. On the other hand, I do have a Ruger GP 100, so I could have "companion guns". I haven't done a whole lot of research to figure out decent sources of non-cowboy loads for the .45.

I get a lot of conflicting opinions about comparison between the two calibers in leverguns.

[darkwater]

If you're looking for ballistics info, you might check this site out: http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/45colt.html

If you're asking about how the Henry functions with one cartridge versus the other, I don't have personal experience with them. When I inquired at my local gun store about them before, the owner said the .44 and .45 caliber rifles work well, but they've sent back more than one Henry in .357 because of feeding issues. Seems .357 has been notorious for feeding issues in other brands as well, though.

[olyinaz]

The Henry is a bit heavy to begin with and .357 exacerbates the issue in my opinion.

Oly

[azmark]

I seem to be hearing that there may be issues with the Big Boys that I haven't heard about. Are they unpopular here at Leverguns? If so, why?

[COSteve]

I seem to be hearing that there may be issues with the Big Boys that I haven't heard about. Are they unpopular here at Leverguns? If so, why?

Two issues turn me away from Henry's Big Boys even though I love my little Henry 22lr. First, they weigh a ton! Compared to other model '92 clones, the Henrys weigh between one and two pounds more! I'd get might tired of lugging one around in the bush. While the weight is a factor, the absolute deal breaker for me is, second, they don't have a receiver loading gate. That means you have to load them like a 22lr. That, I refuse to do.

[J Miller]

I checked out one in .45 Colt a couple years ago and as COSteve said it weighted way too much. It was heavier than the Uberti 1873s with the full octagon barrel and not nearly as well balanced. Inside they are a Marlin copy, but without a loading gate. To me the tube loading would be very inconvenient and so I'd pass.

Marlin, Rossi, Winchester, Uberti, but sorry, no Henry.

JMHO

Joe

[damienph]

A friend of mine has the 357, 44 and 45 (bought one for himself and for his two sons). The only problem that I know he has had is with the 357; flat nose bullets tend to hang up when chambering. I loaded some XTPs for him and they have chambered everytime, so far.

As far as i know, he hasn't had any feeding problems with the other two calibers.

Personally, I wouldn't choose the centerfire Henrys, but he likes them and I don't want to discourage anyone from buying guns, unless I really think that they are junk. The Henrys are definitely not junk, I just prefer my Winchesters and Marlins (and my lone Mossberg 472).

[J Miller]

damienph,

Could I ask you a favor? Next time you get with your friend could you weigh all three of those rifles and report it here? I've been curious about their actual weight since I looked at the one at the gun shop.

Joe

[damienph]

Joe:

I will try to get that this week. We work together, so I see him every day.

--Damien

[darkwater]

Per the website, they should weigh in around 8.68 lbs: http://www.henryrepeating.com/rifle-big-boy.cfm

[damienph]

Joe: We weighed the rifles last night on a Detecto brand rotating dial scale (a food scale, it is only accurate to 1/10#); according to our scale, the 44 and 45 both weighed 8.6 pounds and the 357 was a little heavier at 8.8 pounds.

One thing about the weight, recoil is mild in all three calibers.

[J Miller]

Per the website, they should weigh in around 8.68 lbs: http://www.henryrepeating.com/rifle-big-boy.cfm

Joe: We weighed the rifles last night on a Detecto brand rotating dial scale (a food scale, it is only accurate to 1/10#); according to our scale, the 44 and 45 both weighed 8.6 pounds and the 357 was a little heavier at 8.8 pounds.

One thing about the weight, recoil is mild in all three calibers.

darkwater, damienph,
Thanks. I always wondered what those weighed. They have to be the first rifles I've heard of that actually weight what the factory says they do.

Mild recoil .... I'll bet it feels like a .22.

Joe

[darkwater]

I'm not surprised that the 357 weighed in just a tad more...probably uses the same barrel, but has a smaller bore compared to the 44 and 45, so more steel left in it. However, the 357 would also has a smaller magazine tube, but the net effect should still make for a slightly heavier gun.

[Hobie]

I would not buy a Big Boy. Why? They are ugly, they are heavy, and I don't like how they handle. On top of that they have that gun metal receiver. I am not a fan of this gun.

[damienph]

darkwater: I didn't think to measure the barrels, but they look to be the same outside diameter. I didn't notice that the 357 mag tube was smaller, I'll have to check that next time.

[damienph]

Hobie: I wouldn't buy one either. That friend of mine is not really a gun guy and his wife is definitely not a gun gal, so when he bought his first one, the 357, I thought at least he is buying a rifle.

When I offered to supply enough ammo so that he could try all of Winchesters and Marlins to expose him to what I like, he proudly told me that he had just bought the other two Henrys, so that he would have one for himself and one for each young son... I just kept my mouth shut.

At least he showing some interest in shooting. He has since bought a bull barreled .223 Handi Rifle.

Lately he has been talking about getting a handgun, I am kind of anxious to see what he buys.