44mag for Henry

[BigBronco]

So. I am not a newbie to loading 44. Been loading 22 to 24 grains of 240p under a 24pg Keith Ford over 30 years.

So what load does your Henry Big Boy like?

[Ki6vsm]

Have you slugged your barrel? Just curious what the actual size is.

[Ki6vsm]

I should add, I don't own a Henry. I have a 20 year old Marlin in 44 mag.

[BigBronco]

Have not slugged it. Pretty much still new in the box.

[Divernhunter]

I loaded 240gr JSP with H-110 and a mag primer. It shot well. That was in a new Henry rifle. I have been loading a long time but do not know what "240P and 24pg Keith Ford" are???

[BigBronco]

I loaded 240gr JSP with H-110 and a mag primer. It shot well. That was in a new Henry rifle. I have been loading a long time but do not know what "240P and 24pg Keith Ford" are???

Sorry for the Typo

22 to 24 grains of 2400 under a 240g Keith

[Ki6vsm]

Another question. Is this your first .44 rifle? I have read that it can be tricky getting some SWC (like Keith?) to cycle in a levergun. Have you tried yours yet? Again, Marlin owner, not Henry owner. I have not experimented with SWCs myself.

Otherwise, there are plenty of RNFP 240g bullets available. and 200s as well. Either that or run jacketed FPs for a little more money?

[BigBronco]

I have had a Marling 1894 in 357 for years never a problem with 158g semi-wad cutters. once a friend did however I think he side loaded it.
I have not yet shot the Henry. So yes it would be my first 44mag rifle.

Being a tube fed I would be hesitant to try a round nose.

[Ki6vsm]

I have had a Marling 1894 in 357 for years never a problem with 158g semi-wad cutters. once a friend did however I think he side loaded it.
I have not yet shot the Henry. So yes it would be my first 44mag rifle.

Being a tube fed I would be hesitant to try a round nose.

Not round nose. Round Nose Flat Point. RNFP. Very common. Perfect for leverguns. Rounded profile leaves no edges to catch on anything as the bullet works its way up from from the tube to the chamber. I confess I have not shot hard-cast lead bullets through my Marlin, but I have shot a lot of plated RNFP bullets. Fed with no problems at all.

The admittedly gigantic pic below is a 240gr laser-cast bullet from one of the dozens of companies around the country making hard-cast bullets. But you can try your Keith bullets if you have a bunch loaded up, before spending money on something new. You might get lucky.

[Ki6vsm]

FWIW, guys in here are indicating mixed results with Keith style bullets. But some have had success in certain calibers. Seating dept can be critical. And a few say the key is to bevel or round the edge of the chamber mouth, like you might with a semi-auto pistol to make it run well with SWCs:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?172628-Keith-bullets

It's also mainly about how they cycle in a Marlin. Maybe Henry chambers are a little different? Better hopefully.