New twist on Henry Big Boy .44 mag.?

[35 shooter]

I just noticed the new Henry Big Boys with color case hardening has a 1/16" twist in the 20" version. The 16.5" bll. version still has the 1/38".

The brass and plain steel versions still all list the 1/38".
Seems like Henry is listening to some of the requests they've had for a faster twist in .44

 

[Ian]

Several of us just that I know of have discussed this with Mr. Imperato in the past couple of years and he seemed attentive. You cannot trust what the catalog says for twist, though, there have been several discrepancies.

 

[35 shooter]

I guess a phone call will find out for sure, but i'm hoping it's legit. If so, they've sold at least one for sure....as soon as i rake the extra cash up.
This one is supposed to weigh in at 7 lb.s. in 20"

Checking this out further will give me something to do in the morning while i'm waiting on the rest of this snow to melt!

 

[JonB]

If they are making this fast twist 44, it'd be nice if they gave the rifle special engraving or marking so they'd be easy to spot at Gunshows and such.

 

[James Nicholson]

I was checking on the Single Shot in 44 mag and an email from Henry Tech Services said it had a 1 in 20 twist.

 

[35 shooter]

Just got off the phone with Henry Arms....

The lady said the case hardened versions were brand new. I told her about the different twist on the 20" and she first said they were still 1/38".
I told her what it said on their web page; so she took another look and verified that the 20" case hard frame WAS 1/16 twist.

I asked her to ask someone else there to verify it and was just told that their "media person" was on top of things and felt like it was legit. Also said they should hit the market very soon.

I'm with JonB, if this is true, they should make it a bit different somehow so folks would know the difference.
This doesn't quite "sound"right, but it's what i was told over the phone.

 

[Ian]

Their "media person" smokes a lot of crack.

I emailed Mr. Imperato directly about the .45 Colt/.44 Magnum, trying to build on what others had done and encourage a faster-twist option, he seemed familiar with the request and gave me a second reply the following day in which he explained that the shop had informed him all of the .45s were a 16 ROT. If the owner of the company, who personally fields thousands of emails a day, has to ask his production people what they're making to be sure, I wouldn't expect the print editor to have a clue. The person responsible for all the erroneous 38 twist listings for the .45s in the current catalog needs to be given floor sweeping duty for the next ten years, there's no telling how much business they have cost Henry, especially when major gun writers are copying the errors into their articles without so much as putting a right patch down the bore.

 

[JonB]

Since I recently sent in my Henry rifle for factory service, and have a direct contact at customer service at Henry's Rice Lake. I decided to send an email asking about these new Color Case Hardened Henrys. The short answer is that Ian is correct, "Their "media person" smokes a lot of crack"

Sent:

Thursday, January 18, 2018 6:23 PM
To: Dennette ********* <*****@henryusa.com>
Subject: Re: REPAIR

Dennette,
I got the rifle back, looks good. My first trip to the range was good, but it was cold outside, so I only shot 50 rds or so. The Action is considerably smoother, and I had no FTF/FTE. Thanks for the quick and thorough warranty service.

I have another question for you, if you don't mind.
I see Henry is offering the Big Boy color case hardened in 44 Mag/44 Spl.
The 20" Rifle version says in the specs that the twist is 1:16
Can you verify that?
Also, what is the barrel Groove Diameter?
SAMMI for Rifle is .431
SAMMI for Pistol is .429

I ask about barrel Groove diameter, because...
The SAAMI for twist in Rifle is 1:38
and SAAMI for pistol is around 1:16 to 1:20

So since the 20" Rifle has SAAMI pistol specs for twist, I would assume it has the SAAMI Pistol groove dia of .429

Now, the weird thing on your website, it shows the Big Boy color case hardened in 44 MAG/44 Spl in the 16.5" Carbine version specs say it's 1:38 twist ????

Thanks,
Jon

PS, there is a discussion about this Henry Color Case Hardened 44 Mag offering and the 1:20 twist spec on a couple forums I frequent. Another member called Henry and didn't get a satisfactory answer. Since I had contact with you, I figured I may as well see what you can verify for me, Thanks again.

From:

Dennette ******* <*****@henryusa.com>
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2018 11:43 AM
To: 'JON'
Subject: RE: REPAIR

Hi Jon,
Great! We are pleased to hear you are happy with your Henry!

Also, thank you for your inquiry! The Big Boy color case hardened in 44 Mag/44 Spl. does have a 1:38 twist rate. What you spotted on the web is incorrect and if it is not updated already, it will be very soon. The carbine is also a 1:38 twist.
Have a great day!
Kind regards,
Dennette ********, Customer Service
Henry Repeating Arms, Co.
107 West Coleman St. Rice Lake, WI 54868

 

[35 shooter]

Sorry to hear the "media person" needs re-hab. Sorry for the confusion too, but i was just taking their ad as right.
Oh well the .45 cal. was really my first choice anyway.

Unfortunately that will be the last time i believe a Henry ad untill i see some actual reviews on the product.........that's just sad really.

 

[JonB]

I am waking up this old thread. Someone on the other forum posted something very interesting today. I can only assume it is true ...keyword: assume

I noticed all the 44 mag henry rifles are now listed as having a 1:20 twist rate so I emailed them to verify this is their response;
========================
Thank you for your interest in Henry rifles.

Henry Big Boys chambered for .44 Magnum can use any reputable, good-quality brands of factory standard or +P loads of .44 Magnum or .44 Special which have standard profile bullets (lead or semi-jacketed round-nose, semi-jacketed or jacketed flat-nose and hollow-point) up to a maximum projectile weight of 260-grains.

The .44 Magnum Big Boy series rifle barrels have recently undergone a change from the old twist rate of 1:38” to a new twist rate of 1:20”. This was to simplify production of .44 Magnum barrels using the same twist rates for both the Big Boy series and the Single Shot series; however, there is no functional difference in the use or operation of our .44 Mag Big Boy lever-action rifles, or the loads they can use, no matter which twist rate the gun has. .44 Magnum rounds with larger bullets than 260-grains do not cycle reliably through the Big Boy action, regardless of the twist rate, so for the lever-action BB rifles, we are staying with the above load recommendations.

The changeover in the .44 Magnum rifles' twist rates was a running production change for which we have no specific date or serial # reference. It was done gradually as barrel stockpiles were used up. Unfortunately, there is no way to identify which guns have which twist rate without measuring the individual barrel, using the simple procedure outlined in the following YouTube video from MidwayUSA.

 

[Ian]

Good. So take a cleaning rod, jag, patches, and Sharpie to the store with you. Or just look down the bore with the action open and make sure the spirally things make one full revolution end to end on the 20".

"No functionall difference in use or operation" LOL!! Obviously not at 15 yard SASS competitions. They didn't pay attention to the running changes in the .45 Colt, either, including when they started drilling and tapping the brass receivers for scopes.

 

[JonB]

I will be looking for one of these 1:20 Henry BB...maybe in Brass, since I don't have a brass Henry yet, I all but gave up on the 44 in anything. While I got rid of a lot of the 44 reloading stuff, I did save a couple of my favorite molds and dies, and a couple bags of Brass...just in case, But I always figured it'd be a nice S&W mod 29 that'd lure me back to that caliber.
I'll have to talk with my friendly LGS, to see if they are willing order one, on the condition that if it comes in with a 1:38, that I won't be committed to buy it.

 

[CZ93X62]

I do not understand the persistence and dominance of the 1:38" twist in 44 caliber rifles. It is great for 200-217 grain 44/40 bullets. THAT is its genesis, after all. But time and ballistics have moved on, 1875 was a while back--not quite a century and a half. C'MON, MANG. We aren't shooting roundballs.

 

[Missionary]

But some of us are shooting a stubby 200 grainer with a case full of 3F GOEX. That 1-38 twist is accurate and does not clog up with fouling like a fast twist will after 20 rounds.