Opinion on Henry rifles

Ian

Notorious member
Very nice! Your first impression on how she shoots?

It shoots like a laser. The rear sight is not much to my liking, but it works. The front bead covers about 3.5" at 50 yards and that was as far as I shot it so far, but even looking right into the sun at a shaded target I managed to put ten into 3" with 8 being into two. I really wish my range was facing north instead of south and uphill, but that's what I have for now. At 25 it stacked five in the same hole, but the light was a LOT better.

Apparently I'm going to have to cast some more bullets. It's been a while since I did any serious .45 Colt loading and the only bullets I had lubed and ready were 50 from a test batch of lube that didn't work out so well in other calibers, so today was the day. The lube was Longhorn lube, a mix of beeswax, Maxima K2 ester oil, Vaseline, and lots of Ivory soap. 7.3 grains of Universal and an Accurate 250-ish grain bullet did the trick. I emptied some odds and ends of various boxes of test ammo so I could clean the brass, overall this rifle ate everything I had loaded except the Lee 305 WFN crimped in the lower crimp groove (it would chamber no problem but wouldn't clear the end of the magazine tube and thus hung up the lifter).

John, just for you I loaded a dummy round with the 45-270-SAA Keith MP bullet and it cycles fine crimped in the groove, sized .4525" and seated to 1.585" overall length.
 

Chris

Well-Known Member
Should be a lot of fun! Beautiful thing, like jewel. I would hate to carry it in the woods, it would look like my brass belt buckle in a hurry. Really purty as it is.

Say, is it by any chance tapped for Williams receiver sight?
 

Ian

Notorious member
This one is a first-gen, so no extra holes anywhere on the receiver. Supposedly there are scope base holes tapped under the rear sight, but I didn't pry it up enough to verify. The newer ones are supposed to have weaver base screw holes in the top of the receiver but this one doesn't. This may sound odd, but I'd like it to have a ghost ring-sized aperture on the very front of the receiver due to floaters and 41-year old eyes.

Here's what I think it's going to get for sights, or at least the rear one.
Imgp0983.jpg



(Image borrowed from this article page): http://www.majorpandemic.com/2011/12/skinner-peep-sight-review-henry-big-boy.html

I like the factory front bead even if it is a bit large. The blade under the bead is very thoughtfully serrated and matted blued and "floats" the bead nicely off of the barrel. The solid brass Skinner dovetail sight is what I might get so I can preserve the factory front blade. The other Skinner sight that screws to the barrel scope base mounts looks nice and I like how it fits a couple inches closer to the receiver, but I don't like the look much and just hate having to use dovetail blanks.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Just go buy one. Trust me. Oh, don't buy the .44 Magnum version yet though they still have a 1:38 twist, I checked one at the store and it didn't look like it even had any rifling.
 

gman

Well-Known Member
So they changed the twist on the 45? Last I checked I thought it was the same 1-38 as the 44 magnum.
 

35 shooter

Well-Known Member
I will be sticking with the 1/16 twist and my decision of 357 or 45 colt will most likely hinge on your range reports. Especially anything to do with the heavier 45 cal. bullet weights and speeds and stability attained.

Any interest i would have in the 357 mag, version would simply be as a dual small game and deer rifle with appropriate loads for each.
Head shots on small game with the 45 would serve the same purpose though.
 
F

freebullet

Guest
That is stunning!

Is that 16"bbl?

It so purty, I'd definitely have some "patina" on that quick like, if I wanted it or not.:oops:

Ain't seen a group, already jealous, dam enablers I tell ya......wait......this is Will's should I buy a henry thread. Mmm... Will, if Ian's wife gets your # you might be in for an earful.:)
 

Ian

Notorious member
So they changed the twist on the 45? Last I checked I thought it was the same 1-38 as the 44 magnum.

Henry's website isn't and never has been clear on this. 1:38 is listed in the Big Boy general specifications but the breakdown for each caliber doesn't list twist. Places like Cabela's make this even worse because they DO break down the twist by caliber and list them all at 1:38, which is probably the same assumption most people make looking at the Henry site. I'm no expert on these things but the .45 Colt I bought is a first generation, probably made before 2010, and it definitely has a 1:16 twist (checked it when cleaning prior to shooting). Mr. Imperato indicated that same thing in an email, but his first response was he would check into it, so he didn't know immediately (or whoever answered the email didn't and I can only assume it was really him as it was written in the same style he speaks). That tells me they've been 1:16 for a long time, maybe always.

Oh, and by the way, the loading system is outstanding. No fussing with a loading gate, easy to unload, no scraped brass, nice and secure, no issues for me anyway. It does hold an honest 10+1 if the cartridges are made to SAAMI max length or less, which is the longest it will elevate anyway. I wouldn't want to have to reload it while galloping on a horse, but that's what the AR-15 is for.
 
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Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
With all that brass bling it will look great next to your Pearl handled pistol
 

Tony

Active Member
So, the AR-15 is a cavalry rifle. Who knew?

What was it that George S. Patton said about New Orleans pimps and pearl handled pistols?
 

Ian

Notorious member
Well, 280 galloping horses, with a bowtie on the front and BFG mud terrains for shoes. Did I mention I'm from the Redneck part of Texas?

Will, I'll see if I have any 305s left and find out. My mould is a 2C that I plain-based one cavity years ago for making Thumper loads for the Vaquero, not sure if I want to try PB or break down and buy some .45 gas checks.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Well come on over, I hope you aren't allergic to mountain juniper or oak pollen, though!
 

Tony

Active Member
Ian,

I'm very close to buying some property near Garwood, TX in Colorado county. I will manage the property for wildlife: ducks, dove, quail and deer. I will also live there. Perhaps you can join me next season for south zone dove opener.