Talk me out of a Henry Big Boy Rifle

[Dr T]

Taking the OP at his word:

1. They are way too heavy.
2. They look nice but are not really authentic.
3. The manufacturer actually puts an enamel, rather than blue, on some of the other guns it produces. Does that make you think twice about the potential for shortcuts?
4. They feel really muzzle heavy to me. I just don't think that they are anywhere near as well balanced as a Marlin 1894.
5. It doesn't fit me well.

When I make a decision to add a gun to my collection, it has to speak to me in some way. It has to appeal to eye, the hand, and have craftsmanship I can appreciate. The Henry Big Boy does not pass all three tests for me.

Before I get flamed, please note that OP was asking for a reason to not spend the money.

 

[Varminterror]

1. I don't own any lever action rifles.
2. I already reload for .357 Magnum for my S&W revolver.
3. When/if semi-autos get banned, this will be the fastest shooting rifle around.
4. They look and feel like the old west.
5. They are made in my home state (not sure why he stays here! or me!).
6. Coolness.
7. They look like fun to shoot.

1. Do you actually NEED a leveraction if you own other rifles?
2. Would you buy a Ruger M77/357 or Desert Eagle 357mag or Coonan just for this reason too?
3. Seems like more reason to go buy semiautos before they get banned, not leverguns.
4. The Henry doesn't look/feel old west, it looks like a botched version of something trying to look old west.
5. Probably means the price is artificially inflated since Henry has to deal with greater regulation and less tax incentives.
6. Leverguns are cool. The Henry version less so than others.
7. Leverguns ARE fun to shoot. The Henry version with the botched loading system less so than others.

Save up, poke around, buy a Marlin 1894. Second choice would be a Rossi. I have an accumulation of leverguns many folks might mistakenly call a "collection," of which the Big Boy abomination doesn't find itself a part.

 

[HighExpert]

I like the looks of the Henry and the action is smoother than my Marlins 1894s. I like both my .357 and my .44mag in the Marlin. They are both very light recoil and easy to shoot. Most of the time when I go to range with them, people line up to try them. Never had an unhappy customer....and NO they are not for sale. I usually shoot 125gr jacketed hollow points in the .357 and have accuracy in the neighborhood of 3" at 75 yds. They will take down a whitetail with authority. Full penetration. Lots of fun.

 

[devils4ever]

See. Now, I really opened up a can of worms. I'm confused even more now than before. I see posts here about the great quality of a Henry and the poor quality of a Henry. Same for how smooth the action is.

I guess it's the same with other products. Some love them and some hate them.

 

[DPris]

I think what you're referring to as the "poor quality" of the Henrys is largely individual preferences being expressed against the mag loading.
That is not a quality issue, it's totally a matter of preference.

I've worked with several Henrys over the past 15 years & have not found quality to be poor.

If you don't like the configurations & weight, that's not a matter of "quality", just a matter of "different".

If you can't tolerate "different", then look elsewhere.
They do typically shoot well, but some people just don't like the way they go about it.
Denis

 

[Varminterror]

Henry quality is fine, maybe even on the north side of average.

The aesthetics and loading design are poor.

 

[Panzerschwein]

How are the current Rossis?

Junk as always?

 

[Tommygunn]

How are the current Rossis?

Junk as always?

IMHO they are better than the ones of 10, 20, 20+ years ago, but still not perfect. Uberti, Miroku, both have better quality.

 

[Steve51]

Sorry, can't talk you out of buying a Henry.
Just recently purchased my sixth Henry rifle. A Big Boy steel .357 (20" barrel).

I had a Rossi (Braztech) R92 .357 and had to do a lot of work on it to make it smooth. It still would not feed any ammo over 1.54" OAL.

The Henry rifles with the octagon barrels are heavier but they are good shooters. The Henry rifles with round barrels are lighter and are also good shooters.

Personally, I prefer the loading tube over the loading gate. Henry's are American made and their customer service ranks very high in comparison to all firearm companies.