View Full Version : Henry Repeating Arms .44 Mag Big Boy Carbine
plouffedaddy
10-15-15, 13:06
http://i.imgur.com/63Uzkwkl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4QEPOAcl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pZ2CSLel.jpg
Finished up the review of my Henry 44 Mag Big Boy Carbine (16'' vs standard 20'' barrel). Some of the rifle's features:
-octagonal barrel
-very nice brass receiver/trimmings
-American walnut furniture
-smooth action
-shoots 44 Mag and 44 special (more on this in the video)
-Drilled/tapped for optics
-Around $700 street price +/- $50
-quick sights for close up work
-quick sights are not so good for engaging at distance
-tubular magazine
I do some shooting, go over the features, do a chrono test, and do some accuracy testing with a couple loads in the video below. Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELpNeLOU6Ow
brickboy240
10-15-15, 13:56
As usual...your reviews are helpful and answer the questions I would ask. Thanks for the review.
My dad gave me a Golden Boy in 17HMR for Christmas a few years ago. The thing is very well made and is stupid accurate for a lever gun. I did not think I would like it but it is turning into one of my favorite things to shoot.
A very attractive rifle indeed but the tube loading is a deal-breaker for me.
brickboy240
10-15-15, 15:13
I dunno....ever fooled with some Marlin 1894s that have heavy loading gate springs? They'll almost tear your fingernails off.
My 44 mag Marlin had a loading gate spring that was VERY stiff and hard to deal with.
Straight Shooter
10-15-15, 16:05
I always wondered WHY they don't go to the side loading gate, like on the Winchester. Much better loading design, its the only reason Ive not bought one yet. Anyone know?
plouffedaddy
10-16-15, 08:56
I always wondered WHY they don't go to the side loading gate, like on the Winchester. Much better loading design, its the only reason Ive not bought one yet. Anyone know?
Some people think the mag loading process is safer to unload; at least that's what folks say in my comments section........
brickboy240
10-16-15, 10:54
True.
With a Winchester or Marlin...you have to "lever out" all the live rounds when unloading.
Unless you are very well versed in the lever guns....you stand a chance of an ND in doing this.
I wonder if Henry will be making that carbine in 357? 44 mag and Spl is just too damn expensive to shoot unless you reload for that round.
I dunno....ever fooled with some Marlin 1894s that have heavy loading gate springs? They'll almost tear your fingernails off.
My 44 mag Marlin had a loading gate spring that was VERY stiff and hard to deal with.
I only have a 336 at the moment so no, I've not had the opportunity to run an 1894. But just because Marlins use a stiff spring doesn't mean a whole lot here. I want the side loading because I want to be able to top the gun off from the shoulder. With the tube loading it takes almost as long to load one round as it does to load from empty. And you'd want to make sure the gun was empty before you go fiddling around near the muzzle.
Henry makes a blue steel version of the Big Boy. It weighs 7lbs and has a drilled and tapped receiver which is permitted with a steel as opposed to a brass alloy receiver. I bought one recently on sale at Cabellas for $649 and have zero complaints except for the buckhorn sight from the 19th century. I installed a Skinner Express receiver peep sight and immediately began to hit what I shot at during plinking sessions. The sight cost a tad over $100 shipped and is an adjustable machined device that is functional, visually appealing, and rugged.
The rifle's straight stock has a low drop prohibiting a cheek weld when sighting--even with open sights. After market comb risers are available and would fix this problem, and once resolved, the owner would be able to fire much more accurately whether shooting at beer cans, game, or paper. Of course, the guy who's never heard of a cheek weld can also shoot it accurately and not be irritated by knowledge of minor details. Straight stocks usually(if not always)have low combs--not just the Henry brand.
The mag tube loading method almost kept me from buying a Henry, but after firing it 250 times during I no longer object to the tube method which will not affect tinkerers, hobbyists, plinkers, and hunters. I observed that loading the tube to capacity could be done quickly without the fumbling often encountered when loading Marlins or Winchesters. My guess is that this choice permits lower manufacturing costs.
The Big Boys can be bought in .38/.357, .44 spl/mag, and .45 Colt. In mine, I'll fire cast bullet hand loads from .44 mag brass. Besides plinking, I'll shoot a few feral hogs which have pest status in my area. I recommend the .38/.357 version if hunting is not the main reason for buying one. Remember, though, that the powerful .44 magnum round when fired through a rifle has less power than the frequently criticized .30-.30 Win because it is still a pistol round.
titsonritz
10-16-15, 23:16
I always wondered WHY they don't go to the side loading gate, like on the Winchester. Much better loading design, its the only reason Ive not bought one yet. Anyone know?
Because that's how they have been doing for 155 years, so tradition I guess. But yeah I'd rather have the 1866 "Yellow Boy" which utilized Nelson King's patented loading gate design to improve upon the Henry design.
That makes twice this rifle came up in the last month. (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?173925-What-rifle-is-Trump-holding)
brickboy240
10-19-15, 12:08
Yeah but the Italian copies of the 1866 Winchester are of iffy quality and run twice the cost of the Henry. They also do not come with Henry's lifetime warranty or are chambered in 44 magnum.
These were really not designed to be "tactical" rifles but I would think that 7-8 rounds of 44mag ought to take care of 99.99% of situations you might run in to.
My 20 inch barrel Henry .44 holds 10 rds of .44 mag ammo in the tube plus 1 in the chamber for 11 rds. I agree that the Henry would handle all of my self defense requirements, which are few. But, I put my Colt AR first, then my Mossberg 590 A1 next, and the Henry last. This personal ranking does not reflect poorly on the Henry, which at this time is considered a range toy. Trigger time with several 100 more rounds through it may give me more confidence.
I should point out that I have owned, shot, and tinkered with other lever action rifles made by Winchester, Marlin, and Browning. My experience has taught me that the rifles chambered for pistol cartridges(short and stubby)are a tad finicky and do not operate as smoothly as those chambered for bottle neck rifle calibers. One reason is that they are modified after the fact to operate with pistol rounds. The Rossi lever gun is based on the Win 92 action and is an exception. Taurus now owns Rossi, and I avoid their products, even though the Rossi 92 works well. Anyway, if I had to depend on the lever rifle for self defense, I would choose an older Marlin in 30-30 Win so I could be armed with a real rifle that was not a finicky feeder.
So why did I blow $709 on the Henry? Because I wanted one. It's a fine rifle, and I will develop a real dandy cast bullet load that groups at least 3 inches at 100 yards and feeds most reliably. And then I'll trade it to Eurodriver, who at this time doesn'y know that he needs one.
Some people think the mag loading process is safer to unload; at least that's what folks say in my comments section........
This may come across as uninformed, or maybe I just don't get something, or maybe I missed the memo, or am just sleep deprived at the momet, but what the hell. Why not a rifle set up with a side loading gate AND the ability to open the rifle from the muzzle end to unload? No idea, why it wouldn't be feasible, other than now adding even more complexity. But, it could be a thought.
titsonritz
10-19-15, 21:51
Yeah but the Italian copies of the 1866 Winchester are of iffy quality and run twice the cost of the Henry. They also do not come with Henry's lifetime warranty or are chambered in 44 magnum.
These were really not designed to be "tactical" rifles but I would think that 7-8 rounds of 44mag ought to take care of 99.99% of situations you might run in to.
Who said anything about an Italian copy? ;) Actually I was more referring to the time period choices. Lever guns are popular for defensive use in states where "tactical" rifles are frowned upon. Personally I'd take a Marlin over either.
I know I shouldn't ever need to reload the gun in an emergency, .44 mag ought to a pretty good job on anything I need it too. But it's still a feature I desire. I would use the rifle for defense out in the woods camping or what have you and in that role I would like to be able to top it off while keeping it at the ready. The Rossi guns can be had around $500 and are supposed to be good and I think XS makes peep sights for them so I might have to save my pennies for one of those.
The Henry is a very good looking rifle and for hunting or pest control or just for fun I have no doubts it would serve one quite well for a long time. Hell, just hang the thing on the wall in a shadow box and make googly eyes at it all day. But it's not for me. Well maybe if I was richer I would get one just for the heck of it.
On sale and after tax, my Henry cost $709. Buying a Rossi lever and then paying a specialist to bring it up to speed will exceed the $709. Mine is the blue steel version which weighs 7 lbs; the heavier brass alloy receiver model weighs 8 lbs . Otherwise it's nearly the same rifle, though it's not offered in carbine version. My Henry is as smooth inside as it is externally. As others have stated, their customer service is outstanding. Can you imagine sending a Rossi 92 back to Taurus for warranty work?
If the Henry lever rifles have any performance issues, I have not read about or experienced them. One more thing. Many know that when shooting a pump shotgun, slow and hesitant slide operations invite stoppages. When shooting the lever rifle, you must operate the lever rapidly and with a certain degree of force. Otherwise, smooth and trouble free feeding may not occur. This fact especially applies to those chambered for short and stubby handgun rounds.
brickboy240
10-20-15, 13:36
The Marlin 1894 was originally designed to chamber pistol caliber rounds...not rifle rounds.
In my experiences with a 44 and 357 Marlin 1894s, they are not nearly as finicky feeding as the Winchester 94s in similar calibers.
On sale and after tax, my Henry cost $709. Buying a Rossi lever and then paying a specialist to bring it up to speed will exceed the $709. Mine is the blue steel version which weighs 7 lbs; the heavier brass alloy receiver model weighs 8 lbs . Otherwise it's nearly the same rifle, though it's not offered in carbine version. My Henry is as smooth inside as it is externally. As others have stated, their customer service is outstanding. Can you imagine sending a Rossi 92 back to Taurus for warranty work?
Rossi is owned my Taurus but my understanding is that the Rossi Rifles actually work and are not bad guns. And I could probably do a decent job smoothing out the action myself if all we're talking about is polishing parts and maybe changing springs.
Actually, I'd rather spend the money on a pre-remlin Marlin '94 and have it shortened. I found a used Marlin '94 in .44 mag that had been professionally cut down for a good price about a year ago but it had been ported and that killed it for me.
Brick, you are absolutely correct about the marlin 1894.
This may come across as uninformed, or maybe I just don't get something, or maybe I missed the memo, or am just sleep deprived at the momet, but what the hell. Why not a rifle set up with a side loading gate AND the ability to open the rifle from the muzzle end to unload? No idea, why it wouldn't be feasible, other than now adding even more complexity. But, it could be a thought.
Great idea, I would prefer a locking system like the Browning BLR 22 has. Just drop it down and it locks in place.
And does anyone make a tube magazine loader like the one I use with my BLR22? Would hold 7 rds of 44 mag
brickboy240
10-21-15, 11:50
If you want to go more "tactical" with a lever action, I think the Marlin 1894 has the most going for it. The older ones are very well made and really don't have tons of feeding problems. You can easily "top them off" from the receiver and there are tons of aftermarket goodies to slick up the action, improve the sights and make it cycle faster and easier.
Several gunsmiths offer a "short stroke kit" in which they not only slick up the internals to make it lever smoother, but shorten the lever stroke by about an inch or so.
The cowboy action shooters all have "short stroke kits" put into their competition lever guns - some of them shoot these rifles so fast, they sound like semi-autos!
There is also a gunsmith near me, called Ranger Point Precision, that converts Marlin lever guns to other calibers, along with doing action jobs, short stroke kits and other mods to Marlin lever guns. I got to dry cycle one of his 357 1894 Marlins with the action job and kit and wow...was it slick! A very short and smooth stroke to work the action - very different from my stock Marlins. In fact...my 357 is going back to him for the action job and short stoke kit in a week or so.
The caliber conversions Ranger Point does are also interesting. He showed me a 44 mag Marlin 1894, that he converted to 45ACP. Yeah..45ACP! They replaced the barrel with a 16" barrel and shortened the mag tube and re-worked the internals to feed the 45ACP round. The new rifle was a 16" carbine that held 12 rounds of 45ACP! How cool is that?
I would think that a 16" Marlin lever gun with a slick and short action, that held 12 rounds of 45ACP and could be topped off from the receiver would be a dandy home defense gun. Light, fast and handy and in a caliber that means business.
They also make a rail section that mounts on top of the receiver and the 45ACP Marlin with a red dot like the Aimpoint Micro....oh my!
I agree. Had not Remington contaminated Marlin, we would not be hearing so much about Big Boy Henry's, which I like but lack the necessary experience with to say much objectively.
brickboy240
10-23-15, 10:23
It is a tragedy that Remington took what was a very hearty and reliable rifle in the 1894 Marlin and destroyed it.
I wonder if Henry will be making that carbine in 357? 44 mag and Spl is just too damn expensive to shoot unless you reload for that round.[/QUOTE]
They do have the carbine 16"...in .357/38sp. Picked mine up last week
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg544/sr16ve2/image_zpsxupbhytr.jpeg
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg544/sr16ve2/image_zps9tydqtac.jpeg
Henry also makes the blue steel receiver version in .357. This version weighs less than the better looking brass version, and it's less expensive. Cabellas has them--sometimes on sale.
brickboy240
10-26-15, 10:10
The blued version in 357 is more appealing as it is less expensive than the brass version and 357/38s are also easier to find and less expensive.
Rounds like 44mag/Spl and 45 Colt only make sense in those lever guns if you reload or have Trump' bank account.
I purchased a 45LC Marlin Cowboy 1894 and a 1895 in 45/70 guide gun in 1999, both great guns.
I guess you could use the guide gun as a home defense rifle with its short barrel but a 405 grain hard cast bullet would be a bit much unless a buffalo was to break in.
Yes I reload and both shoot hard cast lead just fine.
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