Henry Model X 357 feeding problems

[rhodesengr]

Got to try my brand new, Henry Model X 357 for the first time today. It seems to have feeding issues. I had three different type of ammo to try.
1. Hand loaded 125gr Hornady XTP
2. Hand loaded 158gr SWC
3. Commercial 38spl, FMJ flat point, not sure of the weight.

The 125gr XTP was only only one that seemed to cycle easily.
The 158gr SWC didn't work at all. Those would get stuck after coming out of the mag tube.
The Commercial 38spl was the first type I tried. I figured try factory ammo first. First attempt, the wouldn't feed at all. After shooting some of the other stuff, they sort of worked but not super smoothly.

I did do some searching and read it might be a break-in issue but also saw some people sent theirs back for re-working and then they worked much better.

So what's the deal? Do I need to send my brand new, rifle back? Or, are there just some bullet types it doesn't like? I could stick with using only XTP bullets but I had the impression, this was a high-end rifle and it's disappointing if it is this ammo sensitive.

[FNGGlock]

Not sure if SWC ammo is a good choice for a lever action.

My Henry X didn’t seem to like SJSP or SJHP 158gr 357. Rest of the ammo seemed to feed just fine. I send it back and they polished the feedramp and swapped the lever. It has been running fine since.

Henry CS is excellent, I would give them a call and see what is up. Henry’s don’t have a break in as the action should be smooth from the factory.

Did you clean and lube it before taking it to the range the first time?

[rhodesengr]

Not sure if SWC ammo is a good choice for a lever action.

Did you clean and lube it before taking it to the range the first time?

Well, that's what I'm asking, if bullet type is known to make a difference.

I didn't tear it apart or anything but I did what the manual said and cleaned the bore.

I do plan to call Henry on Monday.

[plumbum]

The SWC profile is hard to get to feed well from almost any lever gun. The shorter the .38 special load the more likely it will feed poorly. I had a Rossi that didn’t choke on anything that I had found, but I think generally people use 158 gr loads in .38 brass for best cycling.

[Imageview]

For 38 special all my marlin 38/357s have fed 158gr round nosed perfectly. I?ve never tried it in my 1892, which is specifically 357 only but I would expect it would be fine there too. Xtps have been reliable, although you have to watch overall length on 180s.

[Jimi Jah]

My Henry steel Big Boy shoots any 38 special or 357 mag. Never had a issue with any ammo.

Call Henry, that's not right.

[rhodesengr]

Well I think I found the problem with my SWC's anyway. They are too long. Seems like I built them to 1.630 which worked fine in my 686 revolver but that is well over the SAAMI limit of 1.590 for 357. I never make up COL numbers but can't find or remember where I got that length spec.

I may try SWC again and the correct length.

[jwb28]

what 158gr swc are you using. The Keith 173gr loads long but 1.630 seems really long for a 158gr crimped in the crimp grove. Just curious.
I'll bet you are right though. Everything I've read says Henry's are fine up to 1.60. 1.630 is pushing it.
FWIW I have the same gun and mine has been fine, but I load 1.590 or less.
Hope that was it. I like mine

[dfletcher]

FWIW, I use Bear Creek 158 grain RNFP. Hard cast and coated, so long as OAL is withing manufacturer specifications they feed fine.

I haven't tried them in 38 Special cases, but they are sufficiently long that you can seat them out and make the right OAL.

https://www.bearcreeksupplybullets.com/38rnfp158

[rhodesengr]

what 158gr swc are you using.

RimRock. Here is a photo of how it would line up at 1.590


Looks like the case mouth is a bit above the crimp groove. I probably ended up at 1.630 by just eyeballing where the mouth was near the top edge of the groove. I guess if I want to use them in the Henry, I just have to set for 1.590 and see how it crimps.

[jwb28]

RimRock. Here is a photo of how it would line up at 1.590


Looks like the case mouth is a bit above the crimp groove. I probably ended up at 1.630 by just eyeballing where the mouth was near the top edge of the groove. I guess if I want to use them in the Henry, I just have to set for 1.590 and see how it crimps.

That's how I've always crimped my loads. The rim of the case right at the top of the crimp grove on the traditional lead swc. I've used a lot of Rim Rocks bullets and never had problems with them.
Since I've gotten a lever action in .357 I've been using the MP bullet molds the 340-.360 style, but I hear the .359 hammer is a great bullet in levers. They are a round nose flat point style bullet, but a bit different than the cowboy style bullet you see loaded.
SWC work, but the little ledge above the front driving band kinda catches on the chamber rim when its loaded in some levers I've shot. Nothing major just a hitch. The MP style dosen't have a ledge and feeds smooth. XTP's feed great to, but they cost a lot just to plink with.
Levers are really fun guns, I like mine.
If your Henry still won't work call them. Their costumer service has a great rep.

[rhodesengr]

That's how I've always crimped my loads. The rim of the case right at the top of the crimp grove on the traditional lead swc. I've used a lot of Rim Rocks bullets and never had problems with them.
Since I've gotten a lever action in .357 I've been using the MP bullet molds the 340-.360 style, but I hear the .359 hammer is a great bullet in levers. They are a round nose flat point style bullet, but a bit different than the cowboy style bullet you see loaded.
SWC work, but the little ledge above the front driving band kinda catches on the chamber rim when its loaded in some levers I've shot. Nothing major lust a hitch. The MP style dose'nt have a ledge and feeds smooth. XTP's feed great to, but they cost a lot just to plink with.
Levers are really fun guns, I like mine.
If your Henry still won't work call them. Their costumer service has a great rep.

Thank these ideas. If the SWC's, pressed to the correct length, still catch while loading, I'll just get some other shape without the ledge. I also have a big box of an XTP clone made by Zero. They are less expensive than the XTP but more than a cast lead bullet. In the past, I have just used them with XTP data. They are a JHP.

[golfish]

Try some 158 grain RNFP Hi-Tec coated bullets....they work pretty good in my lever guns.

Except for one of my Rossi's...nothing works in that POS.

[rhodesengr]

I made up a batch using this bullet

https://www.powdervalley.com/product/zero-357-38-special-125-gr-jhp/

They work out to 11.52 cents each. That is about half the cost of an actual XTP. It is still a bit more than that Bear Creek groove-less RNFP which are currently 7.9 cents each.

I made a dummy and it cycled fine. The listed load has a COL of 1.575, so well under the max for 357mag. I hope to try them at the range this weekend.

[jwb28]

The XTP's are under max COL by a fair amount also. No matter where in the crimp band the case lip falls. Though I haven't ever loaded the 180gr version.
The MP mold I have, you have to be right at the top of the crimp groove and they are still a couple thousandths over, but work. I like the bullet and they seem to shoot/group fine. I think I'd buy the hammer version if I had a chance to do it over though.
I think mine cast and lubed come out around 176gr, but it's been a while since I weighed one. I like the heavy weight and load them right around 1050fps in a revolver, so 1350 ish in the henry I would guess. Not hot at all, but still a little thump to them