Henry Big Boy Model X - 357 or 44??

[golfish]

I like the way you think.

MLC

Heck ya....the 357 is a must have, the 45lc is great if you reload...

I never considered a 45lc because ammo was so expensive and what was out there was just cowboy action shooting stuff.
These two guys got me into reloading a few years ago and changed things for ever at the fish home. They cost me thousands of dollars in reloading stuff and new guns

[FNGGlock]

Got to love a 357 out of a 16" barrel. IMO, it's the best overall round for a pistol cal lever gun. Please give us a range report

Well took her to the range today. Shot some Norma 158gr, Remington HTP 158gr SJHP and Buffalo bore 180gr XTP - all 357 mag. The Buffalo bore definitely felt like it had a bit more oomph, the other 2 felt very similar, though all of them were very soft shooting out of the Henry.

The action ran smooth and I only had one hang up with the SJHP, otherwise worked fine. I really appreciated the ability to load through the front of the tube, much quicker than the side gate. Though the side gate is easy to add a few rounds, and I was able to get it going easily. You do have to thumb the round in all the way on he side, but no snags.

I noticed my sights were a little off and I kept shooting right by about 1-2" at 25 yards. Then saw the front sight was slightly loose, after tightening it I ended up shooting a bit left by and 1" or so. It also was slightly high. Unfortunately I didn't have a small enough Allen wrench to adjust the sights at the range and figure I will just get used to it. For me the sights are easy to use, but not really good for precision work - though that is not the point. I may need to get more used to them to add accuracy.

Here is my second round at 25 yards - center is Norma FMJ, top left Remington SJHP and tp right the Buffalo Bore 180gr. Didn't seem like the POI changes much between the ammo, which is surprising given the Buffalo Bore has 180gr going at around 1800fps vs the 158gr doing probably around 1700fps.



Then at 50 yds I can clearly see it going high and left a bit. I did need to get my eyes to adjust to the sights a bit for aiming at that distance. This was 10 rounds Norma and 5 rounds Buffalo Bore. Both the 25yds and 50yds was from a rest.



The last round was offhand at 50yds. Did 25 hots total, 20 Norma and 5 Buffalo. Should get a bit tighter as I get more used to the Henry. I figure I would be able to hit 12" targets at 100 yds with the sights, but will have to see.



Anyway, it was a ton of fun shooting the Henry. And seem to use a lot less ammo than a semi.

[allright]

I have a Henry Big Boy, All Weather, in 357. With a 1-8 LPVO it's about a 2" group at 100 yds, if I do my part. It's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot. It seems to like the hotter loads.

[FNGGlock]

I will do much better with an optic, and I figured the rifle itself is more accurate. However my eyesight and the sights is pretty much going to be 12" size target hits at 100yds. The good part is that offhand vs bench doesn't matter much with the sights for me

[pennstater]

FNG, I forget, do you handload? If so, I have a load or two you'll like in that Henry. A lot! Enjoy that rifle; I do mine.

MLC

[FNGGlock]

I have a Henry Big Boy, All Weather, in 357. With a 1-8 LPVO it's about a 2" group at 100 yds, if I do my part. It's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot. It seems to like the hotter loads.

Went out to the range again today with the proper Allen wrench to be able to adjust the sights.

At 25 yds 1" groups were very doable. At 50 yds I could get around 3" groups for about 70-80% of my shots and at least within 6" for all of them. At 100 yds things got a bit rough with 10-12" for most of the shots. Going offhand got me at around 80% in the 10" and some more like 16" groups.

This has more to do with my eyes and the sights vs what the rifle can do. I'm sure with an optic and a bipod the groups can be shrunk significantly, but what is the fun in that with a lever

FNG, I forget, do you handload? If so, I have a load or two you'll like in that Henry. A lot! Enjoy that rifle; I do mine.

MLC

I don't reload, just don't have the space or time at the moment. May look into that at some point in the future.

I do note that the Buffalo bore 180gr XTPs seems to be tighter (especially at 100yds) than the Norma 158gr FMJs. The Buffalo Bore does have a bit of recoil vs the Normas are very little recoil, though both are pretty light with the Henry.

At any rate it is a super fun rifle to shoot. Can't wait to ring some steel with it at some point. Got a sling and will likely be mostly using it offhand, with max of 100 yds and most in the 25 - 50 range. Seems to be the sweet spot for the caliber and sights.

[WWDHD?]

I can't find one of these in .357 anywhere. I've called around local- looked online and nothing. Bass Pro had .44mag for a short time- now has 45.70. Maybe some will come onto the market soon.

[FNGGlock]

See this thread https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1709422

I was lucky to get mine from Kentucky Gun Co and ship to my FFL. But don't see any in stock, may have to hunt for one for a while.

[WWDHD?]

Yeah I've been watching the usual online sellers.
SW had the All Weather recently and was very tempted but I'm going to hold out for the one I really want.

[golfish]

I can't find one of these in .357 anywhere. I've called around local- looked online and nothing. Bass Pro had .44mag for a short time- now has 45.70. Maybe some will come onto the market soon.

GB has 4 of them..

https://www.gunbroker.com/Lever-Action-Rifles/search?Keywords=357%20x%20model&Sort=13&PageSize=24&Ch-manufacturerName=Henry%20Repeating%20Arms

[WWDHD?]

I know about GB but I'm not going to bid on anything like this. Sooner or latter one will hit the usual retail places I shop. This is a want- not a need.