Big Horn Armory Model 89 500 S&W Magnum

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 10:56 pm

Very interesting levergun. Here's the link to the review:
http://www.gunblast.com/Bighorn89.htm

Rimfire McNutjob · Post by **Rimfire McNutjob** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 11:36 pm

Nice article. I like the look of the stainless with the walnut and the black recoil pad. I like the line of the straight comb and the shotgun butt as well. I also think the 18" carbine is ideal if perhaps a tad heavy for a "carbine". A lot of people are unsure of the pistol grip though and would have liked to have seen a straight grip. In a lot of the pictures of the gun, the grip curve looks a bit tight but it may just be the scale of things. If the lever opening is large enough, I imagine it would be fine. Your review seems to indicate as much.

The economy / outlook at this point in time really keeps me from dropping $2k on a new rifle ... wife, kids, mortgage, etcetera you now. I hope they are successful but it just seems like a tough time to be offering a new gun at that price point. Some will just have to have one though and hopefully that will keep them in operation until things turn around.

shawn_c992001 · Post by **shawn_c992001** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 1:41 am

That's a cannon!

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 2:32 am

It's not for me but I appreciate that they've done it and I wish them the best.

Thanks for the writeup.

Oly

piller · Post by **piller** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 7:54 am

It has a few modern features, but it still looks better than an M16. The accuracy sounds good, and the bullet would sure leave a big hole in anything. I am still interested in getting one. I don't need it, but need stopped being the reason quite a few rifles ago.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:06 am

Wishing them all the best.

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:14 am

If I could only stop being distracted, I'd have the readies for that right now...

DESPITE the pistol grip it is BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:18 am

Nice write-up, Jeff - Thanks !

It's the first time I've had a somewhat detailed look at one, having only the first ad pic to go by - and it looks pretty good !

That forend cap/swivel stud treatment is IMHO GREAT ! - I'd like to have seen a Super Grade type rear swivel inletted into the buttstock to match it though, ILO the somewhat standard QD stud.

I also like the adaptation of what looks like a 70's-era Remington rear barrel sight ramp into a receiver peep sight - innovative !

I hope their production goes smoothly.

.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:48 am

There's just something about the shape of the pistol grip and lever that really turns me off.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:13 am

Ted - From Classic Stockmaking 101, maybe it's the way that the stock looks like it's cut a little too deeply/high into the rear area of the curve of the pistol, grip that makes it look a bit out-of-sync, and minimal/no fluting on the comb nose doesn't help to draw the eye from the lower area.

.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:29 am

I like it. Except for the pistol grip. It is a good looking gun and it is great to see a new rifle introduced to the market. I hope they have a long and prosperous run.
Other than magazine capacity is there any practical benefit over, say, a guide gun in 45/70? It doesn't appear to have any ballistic benefits as far as throw-weight goes, and it has a worse ballistic coefficient for a given bullet weight.

Curious,

Grizz

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:02 am

Grizz wrote:I like it. Except for the pistol grip. It is a good looking gun and it is great to see a new rifle introduced to the market. I hope they have a long and prosperous run.
Other than magazine capacity is there any practical benefit over, say, a guide gun in 45/70? It doesn't appear to have any ballistic benefits as far as throw-weight goes, and it has a worse ballistic coefficient for a given bullet weight.

Curious,

Grizz

It makes a bigger hole. Fifty is bigger than 45. However, as far as practicality, the 30-06 is probably more than most of us need.

Jeff

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:17 am

Pete44ru wrote:Ted - From Classic Stockmaking 101, maybe it's the way that the stock looks like it's cut a little too deeply/high into the rear area of the curve of the pistol, grip that makes it look a bit out-of-sync, and minimal/no fluting on the comb nose doesn't help to draw the eye from the lower area.

.

You HAD to point that out, didn't you?

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:22 am

If I had the $$$$.¢¢ I'd buy one. That thing is a brute. It looks like the pit bull of lever guns.

Sure would get every bodies attention in the hunting camps.

Hey Joe, whatcha huntin? Oh, nothing much, just a T-REX.

Joe

O.S.O.K. · Post by **O.S.O.K.** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:31 am

Jeff, love your reviews! Straight to the point and no BS.

I'd love to get one of these - might have to gather up a few victims from my current collection and sell them and get one of these... since I'm completely out of room in the gun cabinets, this is probably a good idea.

I have an NEF in this caliber sitting on my bench right now. I've got some Lee 440 grain gc boolits loaded up to around 1800 fps waiting for me to test. My first go-round with Berry's plated 350 grain bullets was a bust - when I seated and crimped the bullets, they sized down and ended up barrely touching the rifling on the way out! Recoil was minimal compared to what I expected and I even had one H110 load fail to burn (yes, using LR primers too).

Rimfire McNutjob · Post by **Rimfire McNutjob** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 11:39 am

" but the Big Horn lever gun caused no harm to my delicate body.", well ... perhaps waxing a little whimsically at that point.

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 1:05 pm

Well I will say this, the grip is no doubt designed for practicality and I'll bet that it feels just great. And I feel that the less-than-svelt cut of the wood around the grip and above goes perfectly with the beefy barrel and the workaday intent of the gun. This gun looks like SERIOUS business and the grip fits when you view it from that perspective.

Frankly, I dislike the fat wood on modern Marlins even more than anything that initially grates on this gun and I've decided that this is a gun that grows on you the more you look at it.

Cheers,
Oly

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 1:28 pm

Rimfire McNutjob wrote: The economy / outlook at this point in time really keeps me from dropping $2k on a new rifle ... I hope they are successful but it just seems like a tough time to be offering a new gun at that price point. Some will just have to have one though and hopefully that will keep them in operation until things turn around.

Yep, Nice gun!
But but my trusted deerslayer or my Browning BPS(24" Hastings full rifled barrel) and it shooting the .50 cal 385gr Partition Golds @ 2000fps says----------Just use me

It is nice though!

Good report Jeff

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 2:07 pm

Thank you Jeff. I am not a pistol grip guy per say, but that whole gun just works for me.

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:04 pm

C. Cash wrote:Thank you Jeff. I am not a pistol grip guy per say, but that whole gun just works for me.

Me too. Also, that grip is very comfortable when shooting. The curved pistol grip really helps to pull the rifle into the shoulder.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:36 pm

Jeff,

Was I seeing right, the rear sight looks a lot like Marbles Universal sight. I didn't see a quick release elevation knob but other than that it's almost a dead ringer for it.

Joe

Al · Post by Al » Sun Dec 26, 2010 11:17 am

any idea if these are avaiable yet?

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 11:43 am

Go to their website or call them. danny
http://www.bighornarmory.com/

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 11:50 am

Thank you Jeff! Love the look of that little carbine and will enjoy digging into that article/videos.

tman · Post by **tman** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 1:00 pm

Another straight grip guy. Nice review, thanks.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 1:54 pm

Has Buck Elliot got anything to do with this outfit???

Nath.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 10:48 pm

Nath wrote:Has Buck Elliot got anything to do with this outfit???

Nath.

Nath, from what I remember, he seemed as suprised as everyone else to see this Big Horn Lever. He called these guys to make sure they had not copied his version of the 86/92, and he seemed satisfied they had not. I believe he said he did know one of the guys who was making the rifle, maybe from his days at Freedom Arms?.

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 10:55 pm

I can assure everyone after talking to Buck personally and also to the owner of Big Horn Armory that Buck's initial prototype had NOTHING to do with the B.H. rifle. They arrived at a similar conclusion from independant research. That being said I actually shot Frank's new Big Horn rifle at the "bannana rock" at Whittington Center in New Mexico last summer, and its a real dandy, easy to shoot and worth every penny! -Tutt

Birdman · Post by **Birdman** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:39 pm

That thing is a beast. If you're looking for cool points show up with that and you win hands down. I can't afford it and dang sure don't need it, but ya never know what might show up some day.

AkRay · Post by **AkRay** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:54 pm

The grip and lever remind me of the Winchester Model 71.

Post by **Hobie** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:55 pm

I am saving my money for one.

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:56 pm

Its not a beast anymore than any 45-70 is. Load it as you will. I do still sort of wish he made one in 460 S&W.
-Tutt

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:47 am

I have to admit they're growing on me. I'd have to load it to something way down more to my liking but it sure is a nice looking piece. I also agree that they should offer them in .460.

Cheers,
Oly

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 12:14 pm

Here's Frank Ehrenford (doubt I spelled that correctly) of Big Horn Armory and Mt. Baldy Bullet fame on the right with his new rifle. On the left is Kelye Schlep of Belt Mountain (of base-pin and Punch Bullet fame).

-Tutt

Base Pin Maker · Post by **Base Pin Maker** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:10 pm

Great Picture! Thanks, Kelye @ Belt Mtn

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:54 pm

CowboyTutt wrote:Its not a beast anymore than any 45-70 is. Load it as you will. I do still sort of wish he made one in 460 S&W.

I agree, but isn't the .460 S&W quite a bit longer than the .500 S&W...?

Chas. · Post by **Chas.** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 9:26 pm

AJMD429 wrote:
CowboyTutt wrote:Its not a beast anymore than any 45-70 is. Load it as you will. I do still sort of wish he made one in 460 S&W.
I agree, but isn't the .460 S&W quite a bit longer than the .500 S&W...?

If I'm looking at the right cartridges in Wiki, the 500 OAL is 2.250 and the 460 is 2.290.

earlmck · Post by **earlmck** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 11:08 pm

Yep, 460 S&W and maybe a price closer to $1000 than $2000 and they've got me for sure. And the pistol grip suits me fine.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 1:38 am

Chas. wrote:
AJMD429 wrote:
CowboyTutt wrote:Its not a beast anymore than any 45-70 is. Load it as you will. I do still sort of wish he made one in 460 S&W.
I agree, but isn't the .460 S&W quite a bit longer than the .500 S&W...?
If I'm looking at the right cartridges in Wiki, the 500 OAL is 2.250 and the 460 is 2.290.

Yep. I guess it just looks longer since it is skinnier.

I've always thought that a .460 S&W lever-rifle, .454 Casull lever-carbine and SA 'field' revolver, and .45 Colt DA 'CCW' revolver, would be a covers-all-needs, one-caliber set of guns to reckon with...

Add a similar 'set' of .22 LR firearms, a scatter-gun, and maybe a pointy-bullet shooter in .338, and you've got it ALL covered!

Well, maybe a Garand, and of course a .45 ACP, and . . .

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 3:36 am

I guess while we're at it a .475 Linebaugh/.480 Ruger version that would give those revolver guys a rifle to go with their side arms would be a nice addition as well. Even if it were something that they only offered from a custom shop it would be nice to have the option.

Best,
Oly

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 11:46 am

Hi Kelye, nice to see you here! Thanks for all you have done for me in the past. Your customer service was always over the top. Jim Williamson says "Hello!". -Tutt