Any shoot a Henry Original in 45 Colt?

Spade5 · Nov 25, 2019

I have been considering a lever rifle in a pistol caliber and keep coming back to the Henry Original. Like a moth to the flame.

My purpose besides just holding and looking at it would be fun target shooting at 100 yards or less. I don't expect anything close to a tack driver especially with me doing the shooting.

My question is, is there any particular ammunition it likes? I keep thinking about that long barrel for a cartridge that for normal loads, just doesn't have a lot of velocity.

So, would you stick with cowboy loads and a lead bullet or regular jacketed bullets with most likely a little more velocity? I mainly want to make sure it exits the barrel so no light loads.

BSA1 · Nov 25, 2019

The Henry is a brass alloy receiver and uses a toggle link action so standard velocity ammunition is the wise stuff to use.

Arkansas Paul · Nov 25, 2019

Spade5 said:
So, would you stick with cowboy loads and a lead bullet or regular jacketed bullets with most likely a little more velocity?

Standard pressure ammunition is fine, you don't have to stick with "cowboy" loads.
Just don't go hot rodding it. Don't shoot heavy handloads or Buffalo Bore ammo or anything like that.
I believe the SAMMI specs for .45 Colt call for 14,000 psi and they keep it that low for a reason. Most factory ammo will be that or lower, unless it states otherwise.

CraigC · Nov 26, 2019

Personally, I wouldn't spend the money on the Henry. Uberti makes a fine rifle at half the price.

At standard pressures, you're probably better off sticking to cast bullets.

sharps59 · Nov 26, 2019

My Henry 1860 is a tack driver in 44-40 at 100yrds (black powder loads pure lead.) the 44-40 I believe is closer to the original cal. i have read that the bottle neck case preform better than straight wall cases.
there is a lot on the 1860 Henry on the N-SSA board.

Coyote3855 · Nov 26, 2019

Saw a guy blow up a Uberti Henry in .45 Colt at a Cowboy Action Match. Although he claimed he didn't drop the follower on 10 rounds in the magazine, two cartridges went off bulging the magazine and blowing brass shrapnel out the opening. He was very lucky, a few minor cuts. I don't know if he was able to get the rifle repaired. So much caution advised even when using flat nosed bullets. Be sure primers are well seated if reloading and let that follower down gently.

sharps59 · Nov 26, 2019

Coyote3855 said:
Saw a guy blow up a Uberti Henry in .45 Colt at a Cowboy Action Match. Although he claimed he didn't drop the follower on 10 rounds in the magazine, two cartridges went off bulging the magazine and blowing brass shrapnel out the opening. He was very lucky, a few minor cuts. I don't know if he was able to get the rifle repaired. So much caution advised even when using flat nosed bullets. Be sure primers are well seated if reloading and let that follower down gently.

1)use large pistol primers so the seat below the case 2) if you are going to load the tube load it all the way so the follower cant slam. 3) a noise that is wider than the primer my 2 cents

BSA1 · Nov 26, 2019

The 1866 Model with the King’s Patent Loading Gate was called The Improved Henry for a good reason.

Tommygunn · Nov 26, 2019

Coyote3855 said:
Saw a guy blow up a Uberti Henry in .45 Colt at a Cowboy Action Match. Although he claimed he didn't drop the follower on 10 rounds in the magazine, two cartridges went off bulging the magazine and blowing brass shrapnel out the opening. He was very lucky, a few minor cuts. I don't know if he was able to get the rifle repaired. So much caution advised even when using flat nosed bullets. Be sure primers are well seated if reloading and let that follower down gently.

There are two ways to do a KABOOM with a Henry. One is dropping the follower as you mentioned, the second is to drop the rounds into the magazine.

The rifle ought to be held at an angle so the rounds slide down fairly slowly, minimizing the impact.

The chances of rounds going off isn't great .... but your experience shows is DOES happen.

CraigC · Nov 27, 2019

The original chambering was a .44 rimfire, which utilized a true .44 caliber bullet. I don't like .45 leverguns because the chambers are often sloppy and at low pressure, there isn't enough to seal the chamber upon firing. Which is why the 1866 below is a .44Spl, mostly used with .44Colt, which is as close as I can get. The WCF's don't have that problem due to their thin necks.

BSA1 said:
The 1866 Model with the King’s Patent Loading Gate was called The Improved Henry for a good reason.

IMHO, it is a definite improvement.

StrawHat · Nov 27, 2019

I would like to hit the lottery so I could take one (Henry or 1866) in 45 long Colt and have it set back for the 45 Cowboy Special cartridge. It would approximate the ballistics and magazine capacity of the original.

Of course I would also like an 1892 in 45 ACP.

Kevin

DocRock · Nov 27, 2019

Cool rifles.

I have two lever guns in 45LC (Rossi ‘92 and Marlin 94) to match a number of revolvers thus chambered. If I were doing it all over again, I think I’d do everything in 44-40 for the tighter chambers and thinner brass leading to less blow-by. But I shoot a lot of black powder. If you are going to stick to smokeless, there’s much less reason to go 44-40 over 45LC IMO.

Any shoot a Henry Original in 45 Colt?

Spade5

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BSA1

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Arkansas Paul

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CraigC

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sharps59

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Coyote3855

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Tommygunn

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