Please share your thoughts on the Henry Big boy 44 Magnum.

[Zaydok Allen]

Greetings all,

So for the last two or three years my dad, who is not a gun nut, has been talking about Henry lever action rifles. Just recently after he brought it up again I asked him if he was thinking about buying one. He informed me he wasn't, but he was thinking about getting me one!

I was a little taken aback, as that wasn't the response I expected. He is getting older, and he wants to buy me something nice I can hold onto as an heirloom to remember him by.

So after he asked me a few different questions, he thought it might make sense for me to order it myself (we don't live in the same state), and he would reimburse me. I'm pretty sure he can hand me a rifle in person though and I can take it home. Anyway, I asked him if he were buying it, what style would he buy. He told me the brass receiver style, and I'm content with that as I think they are an interesting style gun.

He also asked me what cartridge I'd like and I of course thought about intended use. I don't hunt now, but I'm really considering it in the future. We have prolific numbers of deer and elk where I live, so as I think about this, I see no reason not to go for the 44 magnum rifle. I also have started reloading, so suddenly I find myself thinking about making all my own ammo, which means 44 magnum/44 Special is now an affordable cartridge to shoot. Hell, I find I'm really enjoying reloading and look forward to developing loads for all my guns.

In any case, I am leaning towards the 20" barrel version, rather than the carbine, and adding a large lever loop, cuz I like em. It makes more sense if I want to pop a deer to have a longer barrel and a loop I can fit a gloved hand in. However, if I want to kill an elk at some point, I am interested in loading or buying some heavy and hot loads.

So I'm just looking for general input.

Can the Henry 44's handle heavy and hot loads without a problem?

All the reviews I read about Henry guns are generally positive, but besides the weight, are there any known problems or limitations?

I know some folks don't like the tubular magazine, but it doesn't bother me. Do the magazine tubes and springs hold up pretty well?

Given that I don't hunt right now, am I a fool to get the 44 and should just go for a 357 or 327 for fun shooting and cheaper components?

Honestly I prefer the design and look of an 1873, but since this is a gift my dad wants to give me, and he intended to get a brass Henry, then I want to be respectful of that and accept the gift as was intended, not try to finagle a different gun out of the situation. So please refrain from suggesting a different gun or asking why I'd want a Henry when I could get a this or that.

I honestly don't know if I'll ever take up hunting. My career is very time consuming and has me working weird hours at times. Hunting may honestly never happen, but since I don't own any 44 magnums yet, it seems like a good cartridge whole filler. It would undoubtedly lead to a SA 44 mag revolver at some point also.

Share your thoughts please.

 

[BigBore44]

They’re fine guns. You will have a lifetime of enjoyment out of it. Not really any shortcomings to speak of other than what you mentioned. May eventually want to upgrade the sights. Maybe not.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Too heavy.

 

[Steve S.]

I have never liked the design nor looks of any Henry product; to much “bling” for me; however, I cannot speak favorably enough about the owner (Anthony Imperato) - a sincerely nice man.

 

[DPris]

I worked with one when the .44 Mag version came out.
Reliable & accurate.
They ARE heavy, as noted above.

The "brass" receiver is a more sophisticated alloy than just straight brass, and very strong.
Easily contains the pressures.

If you have doubts about the mag spring, buy a couple spares.
I doubt the one that comes on the gun will wear out during your lifetime, but that way you'd be sure to keep the gun running indefinitely.
Denis

 

[sabbfan]

I absolutely love mine in 357, it’s very accurate and just plain fun. I carry it all day during deer season, with a sling or in the hand it wasn’t an issue hauling it around although it is on the heavy side. I’d like to add the 44 mag some day. Check out skinner sights for peep sights, I plan on getting one before next deer season. The factory sights work but I think the peep will be better, buddy has one on his Marlin and I really liked it. The large loop lever is only $50 on Henry’s website, another thing on my wish list.

 

[mcb]

No side gate loading, never really considered one for that reason.

 

[jmr40]

It is almost 9 lbs with no side loading gate and a MSRP of almost $1000. Not interested.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I appreciate the feedback from folks who have experience with Henrys.

Regarding the comments about style and weight, I get it. As I said, it's not necessarily the gun I would choose as my first lever action, but it's the gun my dad intended to give me, so I'm going to respect that, and I do find the styling interesting.

Regarding the weight, I doubt it'll be an issue. I'm pretty stout and if I'm going to go for a 44 mag, a little extra weight will be ok.

 

[PapaG]

We've sold a number of them in the store where I work and have had no complaints. The buyers, for the most part, are accumulators and not heavy shooters. Comparing them to my two 44 mag rifles I doubt that I would buy one as my 94s, one a Winchester from the sixties, and my Marlin from the late seventies are both lighter and fit me better. I also prefer the side gate loading. All that said, try to find a non Remlin Marlin or a decent Winnie in 44 for a comparable price.

 

[GBExpat]

Please share your thoughts on the Henry Big boy 44 Magnum.

All other considerations aside, I just do not care for the look of them.

I have two of the .44cal 1983-mfr Marlin 1894s rifles ... and I would love to stumble across one of the Rossi .44s for a reasonable price.

Not a Henry Fan. Not a TC Fan.

 

[bassjam]

I wanted a lever action purely for hunting and thought the Henry's were too heavy and pretty (and pricey) for that, but I do like them. I even prefer the way they load over a side loading gate, after having owned both types. I'd normally recommend .357 for just plinking around, but if you're getting into reloading the cost of .44 mag won't hurt you quite as much.

And I know it's a different gun but I will add this. A buddy of mine had a Henry Golden Boy in .22lr that gave him fits. The best he could get was 3-4" groups at 50 yards and he badmouthed the gun quite a bit. But after almost a year he finally gave Henry a call, they had him send the gun back, found out there was something wrong with the barrel and put a new on one for him. Now my buddy is completely happy with the gun. So from what I know, their customer service is top notch.

 

[SamT1]

IMO the only negative is they look so nice a lot of people don’t want to shoot them.

I like the tube with no load gate, they hold plenty of 44’s that reloading quick is not an issue.

I’d get a 16” if it was me, but that’s a personal preference.

May as well be a 44 or 45 colt if your getting a big boy.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Having second thoughts on cartridge. I was looking at the cost of ammo and components. I honestly don't know if I'll ever take up hunting or not so I wonder if I should just go with a 357, shoot the crap out of it, and since I have three 357 revolvers, just reload for all of them like crazy.

I'm wondering if the 16" barrel might be better too. It seems pretty maneuverable to me.

I just looked at a 357 Silverboy and a 44 mag Carbine. Liked em both, but I think I'd shoot the 357 more.

 

[sabbfan]

38 specials are like shooting a 22 with mine, no recoil at all. Shoots them just as accurate as the 357’s too.

 

[SamT1]

Having second thoughts on cartridge. I was looking at the cost of ammo and components. I honestly don't know if I'll ever take up hunting or not so I wonder if I should just go with a 357, shoot the crap out of it, and since I have three 357 revolvers, just reload for all of them like crazy.

I'm wondering if the 16" barrel might be better too. It seems pretty maneuverable to me.

I just looked at a 357 Silverboy and a 44 mag Carbine. Liked em both, but I think I'd shoot the 357 more.

Already owning weapons in a caliber makes the purchase of another gun in that caliber a lot more tempting for me.
You can easily kill a deer with a 357 out to 100 yards.
The velocity gains for any pistol caliber diminish with barrel lengths over 10 for the most part. By 16” you’ve got almost all the good out of them. But I’d still bet money a 20” puts out a higher velocity with powder like H110. It’s the nature of the beast.

 

[blahpony]

I have the .357 octagonal carbine. It's heavy but it absorbs recoil. I shoot both .357 and 38spl through it.

I only had two very minor issues with it when I first bought it.

1) It would sometimes get finicky about feeding 38spl. I removed the mag spring and sent a rag with CLP down the magazine. A Yugo AK47 cleaning rod is just about the perfect length to use. This made the 38spl feed much better. IIRC this issue was stated in the manual so it's a known issue.

2) The magazine spring can be tricky to get notched back in at first. I just sat around watching TV and put the spring in and out until the nubbin holder worked itself in. It's easier to work the nubbin when the barrel is cold.

Other than those two issues, the gun has been a blast to shoot.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Thought it over and ventured to the gun shop again.

I found a 20" octagonal barreled 357 version. Brought it home. I wanted the barrel length and capacity. I'm happy with the choice. I suspect it's going to be a real peach to shoot. The more I thought about the 44, the less sense it made to me for my purposes.

Thanks all for the input!

 

[SamT1]

Once you addicted to th lever guns you can go get a couple Rossi ones in various other calibers.

 

[Tommygunn]

We've sold a number of them in the store where I work and have had no complaints. The buyers, for the most part, are accumulators and not heavy shooters. Comparing them to my two 44 mag rifles I doubt that I would buy one as my 94s, one a Winchester from the sixties, and my Marlin from the late seventies are both lighter and fit me better. I also prefer the side gate loading. All that said, try to find a non Remlin Marlin or a decent Winnie in 44 for a comparable price.

Don't worry so much about the weight; I have a Browning 1892 in .44 mag and it KICKS harder than one might think....a bit extra weight will absorb the kick better!

 

[blahpony]

Have fun.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Don't worry so much about the weight; I have a Browning 1892 in .44 mag and it KICKS harder than one might think....a bit extra weight will absorb the kick better!

That's the truth. I have a Ruger No 1 chambered in S&W 460 magnum. It's not a real pleasant shooter.

 

[Mr. Hill]

Congrats, that’s a cool rifle in a cool caliber.

 

[PapaG]

Tommy, I don't worry about weight unless I'm carrying it for hours. Heck, I've got enough of my own. My Win 94 44 only weighed something less than six pounds to begin with and with the steel buttplate did stomp you.
Fit and feel is my main thing. For long sessions shooting, I'll take the 92 Win rifle my brother and I built up in 357.
As I said, I just prefer blue steel, walnut, and the side gate loading. Nothing against Henry, just not my thing. I'll never try to discourage someone from buying one (buy American).

 

[Tommygunn]

Tommy, I don't worry about weight unless I'm carrying it for hours. Heck, I've got enough of my own. My Win 94 44 only weighed something less than six pounds to begin with and with the steel buttplate did stomp you.
Fit and feel is my main thing. For long sessions shooting, I'll take the 92 Win rifle my brother and I built up in 357.
As I said, I just prefer blue steel, walnut, and the side gate loading. Nothing against Henry, just not my thing. I'll never try to discourage someone from buying one (buy American).

Okay! Looking back I'm not sure my post should have been directed at you.... it is true heavy rifles absorb like recoil better, but I too like the 92 design and my Browning 92 is one if my most accurate and loved longarms!