Henry Big Boy X Model - High Grin Factor!

[Pat Riot]

I developed some loads for testing my new Henry using 255 and 205 grain Bear Creek Supply moly coated bullets and HP-38 powder.
I went to my range yesterday and placed a 5 bullseye target at 50 yards and commenced testing. I found out 2 things real quick.
1. My new glasses just plain suck for iron sight rifle shooting. That’s remedied easy enough. I will use my old glasses that I actually like better anyway.
2. More importantly my gun hits high at 50 yards. 4” high on the minimum loads and 7” high on the more powerful loads.
Some of this may be due to my glasses, but I sent Henry an email asking them what distance they designed their sights for. I got a response this morning.

Here is what the email said:
Thank you for owning a Henry, Tom.

With standard pressure (+P may impact higher owing to its increased velocity) factory loaded .45 Colt, your elevation should be zero at 25yds, assuming no adjustment and a six o'clock hold.

I have Michelle copied to send you the front sight used on our model H009X-360BH which is a bit taller to help lower elevation.

WOW!!! They’re sending me a new front sight to try.
I did not expect this at all. I was expecting a response telling what load they use and what distance they design their sights for, but this is quite something. I am just blown away by their customer service.

Awe Darn! I guess I have to start over with my testing once I get the new sight. I guess I will have to shoot it some more.

 

[Rob96]

I have the X in 45 Colt as well. Great little carbine. I do have a Sig Romeo 5 red dot on mine. This will be my heavy cover whitetail rifle.

 

[Pat Riot]

I have the X in 45 Colt as well. Great little carbine. I do have an Sig Romeo 5 red dot on mine. This will be my heavy cover whitetail rifle.

Thanks Rob96. I was debating on whether or not I wanted to put a red dot or a scope on mine. Did you set yours up so you can easily remove the red dot and still use the sights?

If I find the right load and I am confident enough in hitting where I am aiming out to 100 yards I may leave it as is.

Do you have a photo of your set up?

 

[CraigC]

Maybe I'm weird but I really like having iron sights and an optic. A red dot coupled with a receiver sight would be real nice on a general purpose woods rifle.

 

[Show Me]

Lol... my problem is ... more of a "where the heck did I put those." ( I really need to label the plastic bags. )

For the OP, enjoy that Lever Gun. There is something satisfying about thwaping steel with a heavy lead bullet.

I have a 44Mag Winc. Carbine and a 45/70 Browning Carbine. Both produce happiness when firing.

I started putting a note in the zip locks. Memory helps none and you end up with nothing but bagged screws in a tackle box

 

[DMW1116]

No centerfire Henry rifles but they have been very good about addressing questions or issues on my H001.

 

[Pat Riot]

Maybe I'm weird but I really like having iron sights and an optic. A red dot coupled with a receiver sight would be real nice on a general purpose woods rifle.

View attachment 1203009

That’s a nice rig.
What model Leupold is that?

 

[adcoch1]

Maybe I'm weird but I really like having iron sights and an optic. A red dot coupled with a receiver sight would be real nice on a general purpose woods rifle.

View attachment 1203009

That just looks right to me. And I'm normally a no scopes on leverguns guy... nice rifle craigc!

 

[CraigC]

That’s a nice rig.
What model Leupold is that?

The 1.5-4x Scout.

That just looks right to me. And I'm normally a no scopes on leverguns guy... nice rifle craigc!

Thanks!

 

[Rob96]

Thanks Rob96. I was debating on whether or not I wanted to put a red dot or a scope on mine. Did you set yours up so you can easily remove the red dot and still use the sights?

If I find the right load and I am confident enough in hitting where I am aiming out to 100 yards I may leave it as is.

Do you have a photo of your set up?

I do not have a quick disconnect mount right now but want to get one. I sighted the rifle in at 100yds on a day that was pretty foggy. Let me see if i have a pic on my phone, if not I will take one.

 

[Pat Riot]

Just an update.

On Saturday, yesterday the new front sight arrived. I was very excited this morning to get the new sight installed and give my Henry a really good clean and lube.
The problem is Henry didn’t send the front sight for a .360 Buckhammer as discussed in emails. I was sent the same slight that is on the gun.
I sent them another email offering to send the sight back to them and paying them for the shipping of that sight. They sent me a brand new front sight and paid $8.50 to ship it.
In the email I stated that I didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but I received the wrong sight.
Maybe they’ll respond tomorrow.
I feel guilty for sending them an email telling me they sent the wrong part when that part is a freebie to me.

I cleaned up my gun and I have test ammo standing by with 255 & 205 grain bullets over HP-38 and Accurate 5744 powders.
I may just take the gun to the range and shoot it with the sights it has. I will just aim aim 6” low at 50 yards.

I also have been going back and forth with Hornady over hand loading their .45 Colt 225 gr FTX bullets. I think I have everything I need to trim cases to 2.150” and I have found some recipes that should work.

So looking forward to hitting the range tomorrow or Tuesday. It’s going to rain all week. I am going anyway.

 

[ThomasT]

I only have one Henry rifle, a 22 mag and love it. I have never touched the sights. It was Johnny On The Spot right out of the box. I really like lever actions and would like to have something new. And you can bet it will be a Henry. I just can't decide what I want. The 360 Buckhammer was a top choice for a while. Now I am thinking 44 mag or 45/70. I really don't need the power of the 45/70 and I already have Marlins in 44 mag and 357 mag. I even considered a 327 Federal if I could find one.

I sold a couple of guns just to help finance my new buy. Even a 38-55 was kicked around for a while and if it could be had in a steel frame instead of brass it would be a done deal. There is no hurry. I have plenty of guns. Heck I may just cave and get a 30-30. Its one of my favorite rounds anyway and lately I have been casting and loading lead bullet loads. Plus I have oodles of brass and around 1200 component bullets on hand. Its a round I can keep running for a long time.

I would like to have a 44 mag with a 1/20 twist. So maybe... See what a problem I have? Dang it!

 

[mesaman]

Congratulations on your new rig!!!

I am very happy with the Henry's I have and their Customer Service.

I wanted to buy a taller front sight to get up over the 'Can I wanted to run.

They just sent me one.

I developed some loads for testing my new Henry using 255 and 205 grain Bear Creek Supply moly coated bullets and HP-38 powder.
I went to my range yesterday and placed a 5 bullseye target at 50 yards and commenced testing. I found out 2 things real quick.
1. My new glasses just plain suck for iron sight rifle shooting. That’s remedied easy enough. I will use my old glasses that I actually like better anyway.
2. More importantly my gun hits high at 50 yards. 4” high on the minimum loads and 7” high on the more powerful loads.
Some of this may be due to my glasses, but I sent Henry an email asking them what distance they designed their sights for. I got a response this morning.

Here is what the email said:
Thank you for owning a Henry, Tom.

With standard pressure (+P may impact higher owing to its increased velocity) factory loaded .45 Colt, your elevation should be zero at 25yds, assuming no adjustment and a six o'clock hold.

I have Michelle copied to send you the front sight used on our model H009X-360BH which is a bit taller to help lower elevation.

WOW!!! They’re sending me a new front sight to try.
I did not expect this at all. I was expecting a response telling what load they use and what distance they design their sights for, but this is quite something. I am just blown away by their customer service.

Awe Darn! I guess I have to start over with my testing once I get the new sight. I guess I will have to shoot it some more.

 

[mesaman]

I have wanted a Henry Big Boy X model since I first read about them. I wanted one in .45 Colt.

My LGS had a brand new one for a while. They were asking $989.00 for it. When I decided to get it, it was gone. Probably a good thing. My bike needed tires and maintenance.
Anyway, a used X model showed up in the display case of my LGS Saturday. They wanted $750 for it. I bought it Monday. I did a little horse trading. I got rid of guns I didn’t want any longer to get a gun I wanted. It turns out I got the better end of the deal.

The gun came as is. No box, manual, accessories, nothing. Also, the blanking screws for the scope mount holes are missing. I am baffled by people that buy a new gun and just throw away the box and everything in it. Anyway, the gun had no real indication of use except the bore was dirty, missing blanking screws and some brass transfer on the loading gate.
Here’s the really cool part:
I sent Henry an email Monday evening requesting info on how to get a set of blanking screws, a manual and any accessories that came with an X model when new.
Tuesday morning I had a response. They are sending me the blanking screws, a manual and a new serialized box under warranty! That is really cool. Apparently they warranty their guns regardless of one buying it new or used. I didn’t know that. I like it!

I took my new Henry to the gun club range yesterday to shoot it. I took some hand loads and a box of Black Hill 250 grain .45 Colt. It was windy and part of the rifle range was in use so instead of setting up paper targets I shot steel targets. The range has a variety of steel targets set up from 15 yards to 100 yards.
With the Black Hills Ammo I was hitting 4” steel plates out to 75 yards. I had some 205 grain bullets over 5.9 grains of Trail Boss. It was like eating white cake after having chocolate ice cream with chocolate covered almonds and caramel. Blech… I really hate the smell of Trail Boss too.
Anyway, I then switched to my “Taffin Load” 255 grain RNFP Bear Creek Supply bullets over 8 grains of Unique. Man, what fun! I hit nearly everything I aimed at out to 100 yards. I just had to do a little reckoning at 100.
I really dig the fiber optic sights. They really stand out well in the sun and the shade.
I could kick myself for not getting an X-model sooner.
I am very impressed with this gun. I like the balance, the way it handles and I like the tube loading feature. It also has side loading.
Next range trip will be to see what it really likes. I want to develop a special load just for this gun using 255 grain BCS RNFP bullets.

This carbine has a high grin factor.

View attachment 1201912

 

[Pat Riot]

See what a problem I have? Dang it!

Yes, it’s such a shame…

I was considering buying another Ruger 10/22.
After my interactions with Henry this past couple of weeks my next .22 will be a Henry.
I am also interested in the .360 Buckhammer. Not for any particular reason, I just like the round.

I really like the look of these Frontier Model 22s

Frontier Model Threaded Barrel 24″ | Henry Repeating Arms

As you can see from our wide selection of lever actions, we’re big on both tradition in style, and quality in function. We merge both in the Frontier Models, and this suppressor-ready model is no exception. Before this model's introduction using a suppressor on a Henry rifle meant visits to a...

www.henryusa.com

 

[mesaman]

I also have wanted one for some time, since I already have 2 357 revolvers and big boy carbine in 357 I want one in that cal. To be a tact gun laser scope and weapon light and you all are right about henry treating you right

 

[ThomasT]

I also have wanted one for some time, since I already have 2 357 revolvers and big boy carbine in 357 I want one in that cal. To be a tact gun laser scope and weapon light and you all are right about henry treating you right

If you get a chance to shoot a 357 lever action you WILL have to have one. Mine is my favorite firearm of all I own. I love shooting that gun. I like the light pop gun loads all the way up to full power loads. Just a really handy gun to have.

 

[Pat Riot]

@mesaman

I also have wanted one for some time, since I already have 2 357 revolvers and big boy carbine in 357 I want one in that cal. To be a tact gun laser scope and weapon light and you all are right about henry treating you right

If you get a chance to shoot a 357 lever action you WILL have to have one. Mine is my favorite firearm of all I own. I love shooting that gun. I like the light pop gun loads all the way up to full power loads. Just a really handy gun to have.

I have a Winchester 94 Trails End .357 that I love. I bought it in ‘97 to use for Cowboy Action Shooting. I have probably 15,000 rounds through it, maybe more. I replaced the Link, Carrier and Mainspring several times.
The main issue with this gun and all .357 Magnum Winchesters is they do not reliably load and chamber .38 Special when operating the lever quickly. This is not a bad thing, just something to be aware of.
After shooting my Henry X model I am considering a Henry .357 / .38. I am told they feed and operate with .38 Special and .357 Magnum just fine.
Parts are really hard to find for my Winchester now. I won’t use it as a knock around gun. A Henry .357 would be a fun gun to have.

 

[.45Coltguy]

@mesaman



I have a Winchester 94 Trails End .357 that I love. I bought it in ‘97 to use for Cowboy Action Shooting. I have probably 15,000 rounds through it, maybe more. I replaced the Link, Carrier and Mainspring several times.
The main issue with this gun and all .357 Magnum Winchesters is they do not reliably load and chamber .38 Special when operating the lever quickly. This is not a bad thing, just something to be aware of.
After shooting my Henry X model I am considering a Henry .357 / .38. I am told they feed and operate with .38 Special and .357 Magnum just fine.
Parts are really hard to find for my Winchester now. I won’t use it as a knock around gun. A Henry .357 would be a fun gun to have.
View attachment 1203960

Damn fine looking Winchester. If you get the Henry, you're gonna really like it. Sure like mine. It's the one on the left.

 

[mesaman]

357 big boy 16" barrel and I love it absolute blast to shoot

 

[Pat Riot]

Another Update:
I received another email from Henry today. They are sending the taller sight and a return post paid envelope so I can send the other new sight back.

They really are something. I am pretty sure they have the best customer service I have ever seen in regard to firearms.

 

[SimonRL]

I recently bought a Big Boy X in .357 to go with my Big Boy brass recover .357. I immediately got to work turning it into a zombie killer. Not everyone’s cup of tea I know, but it is a fantastic gun.

 

[Pat Riot]

@SimonRL I think your “Zombie Killer” is pretty freakin’ cool.
Of course you might want to put a little sticker on it that says:

 

[Pat Riot]

I received the new sight this past Saturday. It’s the sight Henry puts on their 360 Buckhammer. I installed it and hit the range on Monday. With the new sight my bullets were hitting too low. I made some adjustments to the rear sight to bring it in elevation but I didn’t bring enough ammo for what I wanted to accomplish and I didn’t want to use the test loads I developed to get the sights corrected.
Another thing I noticed was the gun was shooting a bit to the left, but from past experience I knew not to adjust the windage wearing the wrong eyeglasses.
I had 3 things go wrong - all my doing, not the gun’s.
1. My new glasses are awful for iron sights and I forgot my other pair.
2. I left the ammo I was going to use to do a rough adjustment on the sights at home.
3. I didn’t have tools to adjust the windage.
So, I went home.

Today I hit the range with everything I needed this time and had a great time shooting.
This gun likes 255 grain bullets over 6.1 grains of HP-38. I got the best group with that load.

5 rounds at 50 yards. The gun still shoots left, but I decided not to try adjusting the sight at the bench.


Not a bad group for me with iron sights.

I had a lot of fun testing new loads but the real fun came when I started shooting steel targets with one of my favorite revolver loads — 255 grain RNFP over 8 grains of Unique. Smacking steel with that load is loads of fun.
Lots of targets to choose from. They are set at 15 yards all the way out to 75 yards. The dueling posts were the most fun. 50 rounds disappeared too quickly.


I have some other test loads to try out, but I decided to save them for another day.

I really like this lever gun.

 

[bangswitch]

I've thought about getting some kind of .357 carbine for years. I handled a Ruger 77/357 some time ago, recently the Rossi, Henrys, and Marlins. They're all nice, but I ended up with the case colored Henry with octagonal barrel. Soon afterward, a Henry X model, both in .357. Gotta quit going in that LGS. The Henry case colored model is good looking, but I'm liking some of the X model features better.

I have Winchester and Marlin lever guns but I'm new to Henrys. Hope they turn out to be good guns, but fingers crossed, time will tell..
View attachment 1202340

I really like the look of the case color receiver, I wanted the Big Boy rifle with one, but they were usually back-ordered and local sales didn't have one. I finally got the brass receiver and like it almost as well. I'm thinking of getting the larger loop lever for it now.

Thanks Rob96. I was debating on whether or not I wanted to put a red dot or a scope on mine. Did you set yours up so you can easily remove the red dot and still use the sights?

If I find the right load and I am confident enough in hitting where I am aiming out to 100 yards I may leave it as is.

Do you have a photo of your set up?

Another Update:
I received another email from Henry today. They are sending the taller sight and a return post paid envelope so I can send the other new sight back.

They really are something. I am pretty sure they have the best customer service I have ever seen in regard to firearms.

Have you looked at the Skinner rear peep sight? I took the buckhorn off my Big Boy and installed the Skinner (and I notice Simon RL has one on his rifle in post #47). It mounts on top of the receiver in holes already there, you can get a dovetail blank to fill where the buckhorn was. The peep gives a longer sight radius and has a replaceable aperture, and you can get different diameter aperture inserts or just remove the aperture and use it as a ghost ring. Sight is adjustable for windage and elevation. You can order them from the Henry website.


As for loads good to 100 yards, I made up some with 20 grains Accurate #9 behind a 250 grain RNFP plated bullet, mine chrono'd at just over 1300 fps. I was hitting an 8" paper plate at 100 yards in the center by aiming at the top of the plate. Mild recoil, and you can go a bit hotter if you like. I was using the load data in the Hornady manual for Ruger/Thompson handguns. Even milder loads at 950-1000 fps work at 100 yards, just add a little more hold over. You can actually see the bullet going downhill to the target when the light is just right.