Henry Big Boy...opinions

[SidecarFlip]

I realize it's not a long range rifle but I'm quite taken back by the asthetics and it chambers a straight wall pistol cartridge in (what I'm looking at) 44 magnum.

The thing I ponder is, being a lever action, does it have the same issues as the late build Marlin's. I see it can be had with a scope mount (though it's a 1") which, for here in Michigan makes it a dandy deer rifle and I have a couple 44 revolvers and a pile of brass.

Not cheap and geared for Cowboy action shooting (whatever that is)....lol

Opinions, pro or con please.

I'll probably get one anyway but I'd like to know what I'm in for beforehand.

I guess if it's a dud, I can hang it above the fireplace.....

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I like the look of the Henry rifles too. Unfortunately the only lever I own is a win. '95 in 405 win so I can't comment on performance for the Henry.
Only remington could screw up Marlin as bad as it has been done. I was looking at getting a couple of levers (a 30-30 and a pistol cal. probably) but I'll wait for something else rather than wade into that. I don't think Henry is having the same issues from the little I hear about them.

 

[MTBULLET]

not the most reliable lever gun. several eject/feed problems.

 

[SidecarFlip]

not the most reliable lever gun. several eject/feed problems.

Could you elaborate please? Reason I'm curious is, I can most likely 'fix' the issue but the rifle's aren't cheap going in. MSRP on a Big Boy in 44 cal is $899.00 bare and they aren't light either at 8.8 pounds not scoped.

Gotta be better (feed and eject wise) that a late model Marlin...I hope.

It's difficult to find observations from owners on the Henry.

In my thinking, it should be an accurate shooter out to 200 with a generic 44 cal pill.

The asthetics of the rifle are a +10.

I see that Henry has moved it's facility from the Bronx to Bayonne, New Jersey (across the Hudson...lol). Not much better but at least not in Bloomberg's watch anymore. Now, it's in Christie's, but thats neither here, nor there.

 

[MTBULLET]

extractor is a "touchy" item, not very reliable, and cart. lifter subject to problems causing failure to feed.

 

[7mmSendaro]

I have one in 45 Colt. Have about 300 rounds through it wiht no issues. I only shoot mine with open sights so I can't speak to longer range accuracy. Out to 100 yards, it shoots as well as I can with the open sights. Fun shooter!

 

[Trickymissfit]

I own mostly Marlins and Winchester lever guns, but have shot more than one Henry. An original 1894 Marlin (built by Marlin) is the place to start. My Winchesters are 45LC and 30-30's, and they're clunky compared to a 336 Marlin action. I don't think Browning ever chambered that round either. The Henry reminds me of the Winchester in the way it feels and works. But once again a distant second place to an original 1894! I'd be looking for a mint Marlin built 1894, and never regret it.
gary

 

[SidecarFlip]

I have one in 45 Colt. Have about 300 rounds through it wiht no issues. I only shoot mine with open sights so I can't speak to longer range accuracy. Out to 100 yards, it shoots as well as I can with the open sights. Fun shooter!

I'm considering one for fall/winter deer season here, well on our property up north where open sights are just fine and considering pistol rounds are easier on the wallet plus I can load our cast lead pills, seems like a nice alternative plus it's a **** good looking rifle.

I own mostly Marlins and Winchester lever guns, but have shot more than one Henry. An original 1894 Marlin (built by Marlin) is the place to start. My Winchesters are 45LC and 30-30's, and they're clunky compared to a 336 Marlin action. I don't think Browning ever chambered that round either. The Henry reminds me of the Winchester in the way it feels and works. But once again a distant second place to an original 1894! I'd be looking for a mint Marlin built 1894, and never regret it.
gary

Thanks for the input Gary. I'm wanting to get something built recently. I have a couple older rifles and pistols now including a German officers Luger. My problem with old iron is I don't want to shoot them.....

It's like my old bikes, I like them (or I wouldn't have them) but I always cringe when I take them out. If something happens, I'm SOL.

 

[cujo7240]

I was looking to get one of the Henry Bigboy rifles as well, but I was not too impressed that it was a tube fed magazine design. I also read that others were having issues with the tube feed tube as well and one particular person said the tube feeder was flimsy and had to have it replaced twice and was still an issue as far as he was concerned. I don't know how reliable this persons opinion is, but I thought I throw it out there. After reading this bad review I gave up on this gun for the time being.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I was looking to get one of the Henry Bigboy rifles as well, but I was not too impressed that it was a tube fed magazine design. I also read that others were having issues with the tube feed tube as well and one particular person said the tube feeder was flimsy and had to have it replaced twice and was still an issue as far as he was concerned. I don't know how reliable this persons opinion is, but I thought I throw it out there. After reading this bad review I gave up on this gun for the time being.

Not having one to critique but mining opinions, I can't say except for this. You are loading pistol rounds, not bottleneck rounds. Most of the pills will be short or shorter and flat nosed to round nose and it only loads 10 (I think) total. I would think that the feed tube is brass tubing and brass on brass should be self lubricating and, if the tube is of too light a gage, I can replace that with a heavier gage if necessary, but again, I'm not sure. Keep in mid that I have machine tools at my disposal all the time in as much as I'm the shop owner.

I did get on their website and I downloaded the owners manual plus the parts breakdown and it looks (from the schematic) to be a simple to work on action. I'd be willing to bet the stock trigger pull is typical of a modern firearm, lots of pre-travel and a Charles Atlas break, so, I'm expecting a clunky trigger, not a clunky feed mechanism.

My gun dealer friend just shot me a price of $769.95 for the standard Big Boy in my choice of calibers btw.

Rifles are getting expensive these days.....

I bought my first pistol back in 1963, a Ruger Single Six, 41 caliber (still have it BTW) and it was a whopping $60 bucks, tax included plus a holster and a couple boxes of .41 Winchester.......

 

[Iclimb]

Don't know if you're set on the Lever action. I ran across a Ruger 77/44, looking around yesterday. I'm not a real ruger fan but for your intent might be something worth looking at. Certainly not as aesthetically pleasing as the Henry. I handled many henry 22's and they are one of the smoothest actions I've seen. Shot on in .17, what a hoot. I'm a fan of Henry though I don't own one.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I have many Rugers but no Henry. Some Rugers shoot well out of the box, some don't. Like my Ruger No.1 in 300 Wby. Took a lot of fiddling to get it to shoot fairly well.

Just wanting a lever rifle for pistol cartridges in as much as I have many, many pistol rounds, loaded and in brass only.

 

[Iclimb]

I have many Rugers but no Henry. Some Rugers shoot well out of the box, some don't. Like my Ruger No.1 in 300 Wby. Took a lot of fiddling to get it to shoot fairly well.

Just wanting a lever rifle for pistol cartridges in as much as I have many, many pistol rounds, loaded and in brass only.

Yeah I understand. I was under the impression that that Ruger would shoot pistol rounds. But not sure.

 

[Trickymissfit]

I'm considering one for fall/winter deer season here, well on our property up north where open sights are just fine and considering pistol rounds are easier on the wallet plus I can load our cast lead pills, seems like a nice alternative plus it's a **** good looking rifle.



Thanks for the input Gary. I'm wanting to get something built recently. I have a couple older rifles and pistols now including a German officers Luger. My problem with old iron is I don't want to shoot them.....

It's like my old bikes, I like them (or I wouldn't have them) but I always cringe when I take them out. If something happens, I'm SOL.

I have a real serious love affair for lever guns and even more for falling blocks. The two best lever guns were from Savage and Sako, but are about as easy to come by as finding your ex friendly. Kinda like to build an 1885 in .444 Marlin someday should I find a nice donor rifle that doesn't require a second mortgage. .445 Supermag would be another nice one in a lever gun, and probably be easy in a 336 action.

One thing to keep in mind when thinking about deer and the .44 mag is the bullet construction verses the velocity you'll usually see out of something like an 18" thru 22" barrel. Those thin jacketed pistol bullets will break up on a regular basis, so you really want something like the Hornaday 265 grain bullet. I shoot the 44 mag thru a T/C with a 12" and another with a 14" barrel. I have no trouble getting 1650fps to 1750fps with a 250 grain bullet, and that's about all the 240 grain HP will stand. 300 grain bullets work a lot better (I like the Speer)
gary