my next up comming purchase

[Kevin Stenberg]

My local SGS has me on the short list for his shipment of Henry SS rifles. I have to decide between a 45/70 or the 44 mag. I don't load for the 45/70 but I do for the 44. I know that the 44 has a twist rate made more for the midrange weight bullets.
If I got the 44 and had it bored out to the 445 SM would I still be limited to midrange weight bullets?
I did go to Starline to see about brass for the SM. IIIIIIIIIII chewawwa 250 cases for 125$. I might just have to not ream the chamber at that price.
Decisions decisions Kevin

 

[fiver]

the 445 in no way is comparable to the 44.
it's just on another planet.
it's like comparing the 45 colt to the 454.
it's greatness lies in it's ability to fling heavier bullets at 44 mag speeds.
my ported Dan Wesson actually gets easier to shoot as the weight and load density goes up.
once I hit like 35grs of 1680 under a 300-315gr bullet the pistol settles down.
I have flung a few 350gr home made bullets through it but I don't got a lot of load data to fall back on and the 445 isn't something to be messing about with lightly.

you'd also have to modify how you load the 22 tube.

 

[Rick]

Fiver is right, the entire purpose behind the entire Super Mag series is heavy for caliber bullets at higher than normal velocities. Created for the handgun silhouette game specifically to take down bullet proof 200 meter rams with a 10 inch revolver the 445 was and is quite effective.

Being meant for heavy for caliber bullets before altering a firearm make sure the twist rate will handle the heavy (longer) bullets and still give acceptable accuracy. If not it would be quite the shame to go through all that and end up with 44 magnum ballistics because your going to shoot the lighter 44m bullets.
.

 

[Minute Of Berm]

Just a guess, but your concern is most likely moot do to feeding issues with the longer OAL of the 445, I would guess they will not feed through a 44mag length setup.

 

[Ian]

The SS is a break-action, so COAL is moot. The ROT for the SS .44 Magnum is 1-in-20", which should support 300 grain WFNs and even heavier RFN designs.

I'd just buy the .45/70 and a set of dies if the .44 Magnum wasn't enough power for me, unless I already had a Supermag revolver and just had to have companion rifle. Hold on to your shorts when you look at .45/70 brass prices, though.

 

[Minute Of Berm]

My mistake, in my mind SS='d stainless steel. Single shot never crossed my mind, I sometimes forget people here are educated, much unlike some of the other forums.

 

[Winelover]

The SS through me for a loop.....until I realized that Henry doesn't offer stainless steel levers.