|
Centerfire Rifles - Manually Operated Lever action, bolt action or other non gas operated centerfire rifles. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Henry Big Boy Model X - 357 or 44??
Trying to get a few rifles again, and after being super disappointed with the fact that the pistol grip seems to be blocked on AR-15s in CA, I started looking at lever actions. Apples and oranges, but I always wanted a lever action after my brother got a Rossi many moons ago. Would like to get a semi and a lever at some point, but likely will just get the lever in the future.
I saw the Henry Big Boy Model X, and really like the loading gate and that you can mount an optic on it, etc. Seems to look like a very good option for a lever action. The challenge I have is to decide between then 357 or the 44?? Really like the idea of the extra power of the 44 in a rifle, not that I may actually need it. I probably won't run tons of ammo through it, so ammo cost is not overly concerning. Mostly going to use it for plinking and maybe blowing some things up for fun at times, but would like to have a backup for handguns when I comes to SD/HD if there is ever a need. Probably won't use it for hunting or anything beyond 100yds. Any thoughts on the Model X? Also thoughts on 357 vs 44 for a lever action? |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Hmm. If you can get one, excellent. Then, you have to find ammo. Good luck there, unless you handload. .357 will do what you want; it's simply the availability of what you're looking for. Kind of tough out there right now.
Wish you well. |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Yeah I figured this may be a longer term project, but wanted to get thoughts if availability is not a concern. I may get lucky and stumble on a lever action, then know if I want to buy or not. In today’s market you can still get lucky, but need to jump on an opportunity.
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
I really want a big boy X. I had both the brass and steel big boys and love them both. I just want a loading gate and Henry finally came out with one. I might wait until they release it with the 16" barrel carbine with wood stock instead of the X model. For me a 357 was no brainer because I already have a revolver in 357.
|
#5
|
||||
|
||||
For your purposes I don’t think it would matter too much either way. But, do you plan on using the same caliber for a home defense handgun, or even just for plinking? If so, have you thought about what which handgun you would get and if it would be a .357 or a .44?
A lot of folks, myself included, like pairing their wheelguns and their levers. It’s good if they can share the same ammo. I could see a Smith&Wesson Performance Center M&P R8 as a nice match for the X, in which case I would get a .357. You came here thinking about getting one gun but now you need two— this is the way. Last edited by BB1776; 11-08-2020 at 9:10 PM.. |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Both of those chamberings (.357M and .44M) are good ones for a handy, 100-yard lever gun. You really can't go wrong with either one.
Unless you handload, I would recommend the .357M version. I often shoot .38 Spl through our Rossi 357 and it's a cost-effective, low-recoil way to do some good marksmanship practice. The wife definitely likes shooting .38 Spl through ours. Should you need something with more oomph, understand that the .357M gives you close to double the kinetic energy when it hits the target compared to a 4" or 6" handgun. This makes the .357M a pretty good deer or hog round within, say, 100 yards. On the other hand, since ammo cost isn't that much of a factor for you (that's a good situation to be in), I do rather like the extra power of the .44M versions. The kick really isn't terrible. As with the .38/357, the .44M rifle will happily shoot .44 Special rounds all day and not complain. This is lower-recoil marksmanship practice, and the .44 Special is known to be an accurate handgun cartridge. When you want more power...the .44M out of a rifle gives it to you. Like with the .357M, the rifle- or carbine-length barrel gives you about double the power compared to the 4" or 6" handgun. You may find that you want to shoot this thing more than you currently think that you will. That's often the case, because leverguns are fun! So, don't totally discount the ammo cost factor. In either case, reloading is a really good idea. Note that I do handload for both families of cartridges (.38/357 and .44 Spl/Mag), so we always have ammo. Again, either way, you really can't go wrong.
__________________
"San Francisco Liberal With A Gun" F***ing with people's heads, one gun show at a time. Hallelujah! http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com (reloading info w/ videos) http://www.liberalsguncorner.com (podcast) http://www.youtube.com/sfliberal (YouTube channel) ---------------------------------------------------- To be a true Liberal, you must be 100% pro-Second Amendment. Anything less is inconsistent with liberalism. |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Thx guys, was thinking about matching it with a revolver later. That will mostly be for fun as I use a 45 ACP and 9mm Glocks for HD & SD mostly. That may make getting a 357 much more practical as a 44 can be a beast in a handgun (especially with shorter barrels).
Hard to compare ammo prices these days, as everything is crazy at the moment. Got a little 22 takedown for a fun plinker, which will help keep costs down. Thanks Cowboy, the 38spl is a nice option if my wife wants to shoot it, I saw a few videos where they use the model X with a suppressor and lower power 38 spl loads where it hardly seems to make any noise. May have to start with a 357 and see if there is a need for the 44, a 158gr soft point 357 should pack a pretty good punch in a long gun. Lots of decisions, but maybe the good thing is that I can save a lot of money in the mean time as nothing is available, especially at a reasonable price. |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
I have a Marlin 1894c, .357 mag. I really like this little rifle. It will of course shoot both .38 and .357 magnum. .38 has very mild report and hardly noticeable recoil. The down side is that, at least with my rifle, at 25 yards the .38s hit about 4" higher than .357 mag. To me that limits the interchangeability.
|
#10
|
||||
|
||||
OP, for your needs .357 will be a lot more fun then .44, as a range toy. And in reality, .357 will accomplish the same thing as .44 within 100 yards.
|
#11
|
||||
|
||||
Ya mon, you want to stay with a .357. The 44 will always cost a lot more until you start to reload.
__________________
It takes a lot of balls to play golf the way I do. Happiness is a warm gun. MLC, First 3 |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Awwwww snap!! Which model, Tom?
__________________
It takes a lot of balls to play golf the way I do. Happiness is a warm gun. MLC, First 3 |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
The one that matches your previously owned handgun caliber?
.357 Magnum coming out of the longer rifle barrel is no slouch. I would go .357 Magnum because in a pinch or a low budget you can shoot 38 specials, which are going to be the cheapest compared to the other choices like 44 special, 44 magnum and 357 Magnum. Not to mention teaching young or any novice shooters how a lever action works would be softer on recoil and noise with the 38 Specials. My answer might change if you lived in bear country and that was the rifle you plan to use for self-defense against them. Just my two cents. |
#18
|
||||
|
||||
I just DROS'd an X-Lever in 45-70.
I already have a 38/357 in a Big Boy Case Hardened, 20" version.
__________________
Visit- www.barrelcool.com The Original Chamber Flag and Barrel Cooler in 1 Instagram: barrelcool_ |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Good point. If you have a revolver in one of those calibers there is a benefit in staying with the same round. |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#21
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Please share some pics and range report.
__________________
It takes a lot of balls to play golf the way I do. Happiness is a warm gun. MLC, First 3 |
#23
|
||||
|
||||
.357 is more fun in a lever carbine, and the right loads (bullet design and construction + warmer velocities) will take deer-sized game through 75 yards.
.44 will be more powerful (when using Magnum loads) and will have more perceived recoil. And, commercial loads cost more than the same in .357 If you already handload, you're g2g, especially if you have all the fundamental components. Getting dies should not be a problem right now even though components are scarce.
__________________
. "Get a proper holster, and go hot. The End." - SplitHoof NRA Lifetime | Avatar courtesy Elon Musk's Twitter User SomthingWicked |
#24
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
*ignores Tom* Mark, I went and bought another Mojave desert tool. A trailer. It's tiny and will require much work and will be converting it from cargo trailer stay-tus. Gonna be a lil', tiny camper! yay. /threadjack
__________________
. "Get a proper holster, and go hot. The End." - SplitHoof NRA Lifetime | Avatar courtesy Elon Musk's Twitter User SomthingWicked |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
The Henry X is a light rifle. 44 is going to have a lot of recoil.
With the .357, you can shoot both .38 and .357. Much cheaper and .38 is way more fun to shoot. I would go .357 all day. |
#26
|
||||
|
||||
Now all we need is a quad to run out and setup the steel targets...hint hint
__________________
It takes a lot of balls to play golf the way I do. Happiness is a warm gun. MLC, First 3 |
#27
|
||||
|
||||
Wish I could afford one. And even then I'd need a bigger trailer all of a sudden.
5 X 10 is an old-school truck sleeper on an axle. Not much more room than that.
__________________
. "Get a proper holster, and go hot. The End." - SplitHoof NRA Lifetime | Avatar courtesy Elon Musk's Twitter User SomthingWicked |
#28
|
||||
|
||||
For self-defense, which is one of the OP's criteria, .357M is not only going to be a good deer/hog round out of the rifle, but those same characteristics will make it a very fine self-defense round as well. Imagine a 158gr .357M slug travelling in excess of 1,700 ft/sec. That's going to hit an assailant very hard, almost nipping at the heels of lower-end .30-30 loads. A .44M will hit even harder, of course, about like a full-house .30-30 load within anything resembling self-defense ranges.
Either one is exceedingly likely get assailant(s) to change their mind and leave you in peace, which is exactly what we want.
__________________
"San Francisco Liberal With A Gun" F***ing with people's heads, one gun show at a time. Hallelujah! http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com (reloading info w/ videos) http://www.liberalsguncorner.com (podcast) http://www.youtube.com/sfliberal (YouTube channel) ---------------------------------------------------- To be a true Liberal, you must be 100% pro-Second Amendment. Anything less is inconsistent with liberalism. |
#29
|
||||
|
||||
If you're going to be shooting a lot, 357.
The 44 mag can be a bit punishing in a revolver. Since that is what you intend to do, have a rifle and revolver in the same chambering, I recommend 357. Especially if you're going to take friends/family to the range and they don't have a lot of experience with the 44 magnum. If you're not going to shoot a ton, and want the extra power, then 44.
__________________
Quote:
Last edited by Army GI; 11-14-2020 at 11:34 AM.. |
#30
|
||||
|
||||
I personally went with a .357 for my pistol caliber lever gun as I already had a 686+. Of course now I also have a model 29, so there might be a .44 in my future at some point, fulfilling the ever present “both” recommendations.
In any event, a fairly recent video that might be worth watching: |
#31
|
||||
|
||||
That's a pretty good video.
No surprise on the 125 grain JSP Remington green and white box. That stuff always ran great out of my .357 lever guns and it's a pretty stout load. I'd sure like the recipe for it.
__________________
It takes a lot of balls to play golf the way I do. Happiness is a warm gun. MLC, First 3 |
#32
|
||||
|
||||
Rossi .357 wheel gun and Rossi 92. 357 lever
Ruger Blackhawk .41 and Henry .41 for me. PAX
__________________
You need a crew "A free people should be armed and disciplined" (George Washington), Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.~John Adams 1798
|
#33
|
|||
|
|||
I have a big boy 357 with the big loop. It’s a carbine and I want to add a 1x6 optic to it. I also am looking to add on the my model 94 30-30. The Henry is super accurate @ 100 yards but I can’t see for **** anymore beyond that with the iron buckhorns.
Any suggestions??? It’s a super fun rifle to shoot. I’m not sold on the side loader. They are a little awkward to use and the scratch up. The tube loser is fine. It’s really simple unless you have gloves on. |
#36
|
||||
|
||||
__________________
It takes a lot of balls to play golf the way I do. Happiness is a warm gun. MLC, First 3 |
#37
|
||||
|
||||
Depends on what you want to do with it. .357 will take care of you fine for target shooting, self defense and some hunting, and lower ammo cost (when the prices do come down).
.44 is gonna be a lot more expensive, I would not do .44 right now unless you are planning on hunting with it. On both of them, get the big loop lever, you will be glad you did. Lever actions without big loops will punish your hands after a while. Shot my friends 30-30 a lot so have first hand experience with this |
#38
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
.44 mag in in a lever gun, again, not a lot of recoil. A bit more than a .357, granted, but, not harsh. MLC |
#39
|
|||
|
|||
Do you own a 357 or 44? Get one in the same caliber. While I have both calibers I want a Big Boy Carbine in 44Mag to better match the look of my Ruger Super Blackhawk.
PS - scopes on lever actions look lame. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|