Henry Lever Action in 357/38

[Jimineer]

[edit] Sorry, title should be 357/38.

I have been wanting a lever gun for a while. Not sure why because I have no need for one. But as a kid I remember shooting my friends 44 magnum on a deer hunt, and my uncle had a .22 lever gun that I always enjoyed.

Anyway, I noticed that Henry has one in 357 mag / 38 spl. So this got me thinking. If one had a J-Frame 38/357 then a lever gun in the same caliber would make sense perhaps in that you have the same calibers.

From a home defense perspective I could see myself with a lever gun scooting through the house or perimeter of the house. To me they are so easy to maneuver with. While probably not ever thought of as a home defense gun nowadays, any thoughts from the group on that? 10 round capacity is pretty nice to me.

How reliable would a 357 be in a lever gun? I never knew you could get one in this caliber. I've only really known of the 44 mag and 30-30.

What ya'll think? By the way, I never got a deer with the 44 mag, but a rabbit took one at about 15 yards on the last day. Not much left of the rabbit afterwards

 

[MrDig]

I have a Marlin 1894C, the 357/38, I can't tell you much about the Henry but I can tell you a lever gun in this caliber is a joy to shoot.
I have a Ruger GP 100 6in Bbl and they pair well. So well I'm going to get a another with a 4in Bbl.
If you get one you will most likely enjoy it and be happy. I know I like my Marlin. I would recommend an 1894C over the Henrys or the Winchesters but that is because I'm a Marlin guy not because they are better or worse.

 

[hso]

First thing, no one who's done any force on force training considers "scooting through the house" a good idea. Clearing your home by yourself amounts to suicide. The best thing to do is fort up and call for the cavalry.

You should drop over to the Box O Truth website and take a look at what the various calibers do to interior building structures. The pistol rounds penetrate several room structures compared to a modern AR shooting 5.56.

It may seem cool, but the modern lightweight 5.56 is actually safer to use inside than the pistol caliber handguns and carbines if you're concerned about shooting through interior walls.

The modern lightweight 5.56 is also able to deliver more energy on target.

I have a Rosi .38/.357 carbine and a .357 Dan Wesson. They'r great fun. Love'm, but I'd rather grab the AR if my bacon depended upon it.

Stick with the pistol/carbine combo for fun.

 

[RPRNY]

.357 lever guns are great. Henry is a great company and innovative. Make their rifles in the US, which is a bonus. Heavier than other options, but that's likely only an issue for a saddle gun (for which 357 wouldn't be my first choice) or carrying over distance - which may not be an issue when "scooting".

I do not want to argue with the above poster, but I respectfully submit that I do not believe that .38 pistol rounds, even in a 20" barrel, would out-penetrate .223 / 5.56 from any mainstream rifle.

 

[jmr40]

38's and 357's from handguns overpenetrate much worse than 223 softpoints from a rifle. They are the best choice for indoor work where you are concened about a bullet overpenetrating building material.

I agree a 357 rifle is a fun toy, not a serious SD rifle. There are much better options that don't really cost any more today.

But there is nothing wrong with having a fun rifle to play with. I have a Marlin 44 mag that serves about the same purpose. If I wanted a centerfire lever it would not be the Henry. Too fat, heavy and the exact opposite of what a light, trim handy lever gun should be. The Henry 22's are OK, but my 300 mag is consideranly lighter than a Henry centerfire lever in 357. I'd have to pass and look for a Marlin.

 

[TonyAngel]

I have a Rossi carbine in .357. My experience has been that it's finicky when it comes to cycling .38s, depending on shape of the bullet and the OAL of the rounds. Since I load my own, I just stick to .357s.

I find it a real pleasure to carry about in the woods and often take it, instead of my AR, just because it's so easy to carry. It also makes a nice companion to a .357 revolver.

 

[mavracer]

It may seem cool, but the modern lightweight 5.56 is actually safer to use inside than the pistol caliber handguns and carbines if you're concerned about shooting through interior walls.

If there's something behind your target that you don't want to hit you don't shoot.
As to the OP the Henry 357 is a tank of a gun, it's very heavy, I'd look at a Marlin preferably an older one.

 

[DPris]

Re penetration, years ago I tested two 16-inch ARs through 1-inch pine squares.
Ball ammunition (typically the best penetrators) in both the .223 & the 9mm.
The 9mm penetrated further.

Anyway, I've worked with the Henry .357 & while it's reliable, it's also heavy & would be awkward to maneuver around inside a house.
Poor choice for such purposes. And that's not even addressing the issue of clearing your own home.
Denis