Henry Big Boy X - Thoughts?

[Jellybean]

Curious if anyone here has gotten one of these yet.

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/big-boy-x-model/

https://karrisguns.com/68633-large_default/henry-big-boy-x-model-357-38-spl.jpg


Been considering a .357 lever gun for a while, but I am not interested in a basic wood/steel "nostalgia gun", it better be able to mount an optic and light so I can actually get some use out of the thing in a pinch if needed.
Previously Marlin seemed to be the only game in town, but apparently they have amazing QC...:rolleyes:
I hear good things about Henry though. And this thing seems to check a number of boxes reasonably well.

Still think they could have run the barrel to a full 18" and then run the ammo tube out a little more for some extra capacity... Or cut it to 16" if I'm going to suffer with 7 rounds, but... #boomers :rolleyes: :laugh:

Other than that...

Anyone have one of these yet? Hows the QC/reliability/accuracy, etc?

Anyone tried mounting a low-profile receiver-top pic rail on one of these, and which rail did you go with?

[AndyLate]

.357 magnum carbines are great; I have two - 18" Marlin and 16" Rossi 92. My Dad has a Henry 30-30 and my niece a 22 and they are pretty happy with them.

I like lever action rifles, I just don't get the appeal of the "tactical" lever action.

The Henry .357 is pretty heavy (so are their 30-30s) and I agree they could have run the barrel and magazine out far enough for another round.

Andy

[hotrodder636]

I too am interested in any intel/information on these. I have been wanting a lever gun in 357 with a threaded barrel...that leaves this one and the Marlin as far as I know.

[kerplode]

I have a regular Big Boy in 45LC...It had a rough start, but it's ended up being a pretty nice rifle. It's kinda heavy, but it runs well and is pretty accurate.

I'm also in the market for a 357 lever, but I'm still leaning toward the Marlin CSBL. I think the XS lever rail w/ ghost ring sights plus a QD RDS is a superior setup to what you can do with the Henry. As far as I can tell, adding a rail to the Henry receiver blocks the irons. You can put a Skinner peep on the Henry receiver, but those generally require a taller front and don't allow easy RDS mounting.

I like the gate plus tube on the Henry, but I'd rather have the more versatile sighting setup on the Marlin. There is some lingering doubt about Marlin QC, but I've heard things are improved over there. Any my existing Big Boy did need a trip back to NJ for a new barrel for whatever that's worth...

[Jellybean]

I have a regular Big Boy in 45LC...It had a rough start, but it's ended up being a pretty nice rifle. It's kinda heavy, but it runs well and is pretty accurate.

I'm also in the market for a 357 lever, but I'm still leaning toward the Marlin CSBL. I think the XS lever rail w/ ghost ring sights plus a QD RDS is a superior setup to what you can do with the Henry. As far as I can tell, adding a rail to the Henry receiver blocks the irons. You can put a Skinner peep on the Henry receiver, but those generally require a taller front and don't allow easy RDS mounting.

I like the gate plus tube on the Henry, but I'd rather have the more versatile sighting setup on the Marlin. There is some lingering doubt about Marlin QC, but I've heard things are improved over there. Any my existing Big Boy did need a trip back to NJ for a new barrel for whatever that's worth...

Heh... the 1894 CSBL was the exact Marlin model I was looking at originally for the same sighting reasons as you. But I've heard/seen some real horror stories about their QC, and for the price they want, like...no. :laugh: That and I heckin HATE silver/chrome/etc guns. BUT, if their QC was GTG and they put a simple Mlok handguard on it, I would be able to look past it.

What happened with the barrel on your Henry?

[HardToHandle]

Likely I will end up with either a Remlin or a hobby Rossi. The.357 has been calling to me for years, actually since the IMI Timberwolf.

The 18” barrel on the Henry was a disappointment and a puzzle. Comparing Henry’s and Marlins side by side, the Marlin feel/balance wins.

[AndyLate]

I wish we could influence Henry to license the Timberwolf from IMI and build it in the U.S. I think Remington's North Alabama plant will be on the market soon...

Andy

[kerplode]

What happened with the barrel on your Henry?

It had a ring of crazy tool marks near the muzzle. Shot terribly.

I received it as a gift, so I wasn't able to inspect it prior to taking possession.

Henry's customer service was fantastic, though. They took care of it no questions asked and had it back to me pretty quickly. New barrel is perfect and it shoots really nicely now.

But they let it out of the factory like that and I had to screw around with a return and shipping and all that noise...

[Life's a Hillary]

I have absolutely no need for one but man, I want a threaded lever gun so bad. Add a pic rail and a LVPO and that sounds fun as hell.

[Spiff_P239]

While I don’t have a real use case for it, I really want a lever action rifle. At this point, I’m torn between the Big Boy X and the Marlin 1894 CSBL as I really like the more classic look of the latter.

[halfmoonclip]

My deer rifle for many years is an older Marlin '94, whacked to 16" trapper length; it's a .44 mag, and it is a hammer on deer inside 100 yards.
Pistol caliber levers are fun to shoot; mine have been forty-somethings; I've a couple .45 Colt iterations as well, and took a deer with a 16" Winchester AE.
Moon
ETA- I know this thread started with a tacticool lever gun, and my Marlin wears a scope, at least partially to make sure my deer has the requisite number of points.
But what is fun on levers is a tang sight; it gives maximum sight radius, let's old guys shoot irons, and makes hits, within the range of the gun, really easy.
M

[Arik]

While I don’t have a real use case for it, I really want a lever action rifle. At this point, I’m torn between the Big Boy X and the Marlin 1894 CSBL as I really like the more classic look of the latter.Have the 1895 CB. 20in octagon barrel with 9+1 45-70! It's not as heavy as it sounds actually. It's not compact but I love throwing 45-70 around

[halfmoonclip]

Have the 1895 CB. 20in octagon barrel with 9+1 45-70! It's not as heavy as it sounds actually. It's not compact but I love throwing 45-70 around
Yeah, punkin' rollers are fun.
Moon
ETA- Flyweight .45-70s are no damned fun at all. Had a Ruger #3 in that caliber, in the days before Trailboss. Never did find a way to load it down enough to be fun to shoot. It was so neat and handy; really sorry it wasn't in a lighter caliber.
M