Henry rifle in .38/.357 need review - The Firearms Forum

johnnybocce · 06-07-2010, 11:56 AM

Can anyone supply me with information on the Henry rifle chambered in .38/.357? I would like to know how the rifle cycles both calibers. How is its accuracy? What are the best loads to use? I own a Marlin in .44 cal. The rifle shoots and cycles the .44 mag with flawless performance and exceptional accuracy. I have yet to fire the .44 special which I hear sometimes does not cycle as well. Thanks. JohnnyBocce

old semperfi · 06-07-2010, 09:41 PM

in checking their web sight,i can only find one that shoots 357 mag.nothing is mentioned about 38.i do however own three henrys at this time and they are fantastic. i have had rifles that shoot both calibers and i find that it is one or the other that really works right. old semperfi

carver · 06-08-2010, 03:48 AM

Lever guns chambered in 357 will chamber the .38, and shoot it. It is safe to do so. There are some that report ejection problems, but I would give it a try. I have revolvers in both calibers, and I too want a lever gun chambered for these bullets.

LDBennett · 06-08-2010, 07:18 AM

Sometimes the system in a lever gun that feeds ammo is length of cartridge dependent. The difference between 38SPL and 357MAG is significant and unless someone has actually tried it in the gun of interest all bets are off.

The carrier (the device that lifts the cartridge from the cartridge feed tube level up to where the bolt can push the cartridge into the barrel) is so designed that the length of the cartridge positions the next round. If too short it allows the cartridge to move too rearward, blocking the path of the carrier. Some designs accommodate that but the classic original Winchester Model 1892's don't, I believe. Many of the 357 levers today are clones of that John Browning/Winchester design.

Having said all that the Henry web page indicates it will handle both 357MAG and 38SPL:

http://www.henryrepeating.com/h006_bigboy.cfm

LDBennett

Old John · 06-08-2010, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carver

Lever guns chambered in 357 will chamber the .38, and shoot it. It is safe to do so. There are some that report ejection problems, but I would give it a try. I have revolvers in both calibers, and I too want a lever gun chambered for these bullets.

Well, I don't have a Henry in .357. But, I have a Winchester '94 Trapper in .357. It works just as well with .38's as .357's.
.38. specials and .357's are great for raccons possums and such around the farm.

The Count · 06-08-2010, 01:57 PM

if you are really in the market for such a lever action rifle i can only give you the advice to BUY IT NOW! i was looking for a Marlin 1894 (any version) and they are impossible to get. Seems like only some Henry's are to be had at the moment.

johnnybocce · 06-08-2010, 02:47 PM

Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to my question. I did read that many of the rifles such as the .44mag/.44sp. and the .357/.38 do sometimes have difficulty chambering the small cartridge. I don't know what make I will purchase yet. I already have the Marlin in .44 mag. Johnnybocce

The Count · 06-12-2010, 08:35 PM

I actually wound up buying the Henry Big Boy in 357! Was more than I had planned to spend but my gun shop (a large, well connected one) said there were NO Marlin 1894's in stock at ANY wholesaler.

The Henry is a good looking gun. Very slick action. A bit on the heavy side but it reminds you it is not a toy :-) Surprisingly light recoil. Tubular magazine needs some getting used to.

All in all, a fun gun to shoot.

06-07-2010, 11:56 AM	#1
johnnybocce Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 32	Henry rifle in .38/.357 need review Can anyone supply me with information on the Henry rifle chambered in .38/.357? I would like to know how the rifle cycles both calibers. How is its accuracy? What are the best loads to use? I own a Marlin in .44 cal. The rifle shoots and cycles the .44 mag with flawless performance and exceptional accuracy. I have yet to fire the .44 special which I hear sometimes does not cycle as well. Thanks. JohnnyBocce -->

06-07-2010, 09:41 PM	#2
old semperfi Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: i live in southern indiana,old country boy at heart Posts: 1,506	Re: Henry rifle in .38/.357 need review in checking their web sight,i can only find one that shoots 357 mag.nothing is mentioned about 38.i do however own three henrys at this time and they are fantastic. i have had rifles that shoot both calibers and i find that it is one or the other that really works right. old semperfi

06-08-2010, 03:48 AM	#3
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,245	Re: Henry rifle in .38/.357 need review Lever guns chambered in 357 will chamber the .38, and shoot it. It is safe to do so. There are some that report ejection problems, but I would give it a try. I have revolvers in both calibers, and I too want a lever gun chambered for these bullets. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

06-08-2010, 07:18 AM	#4
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,711	Re: Henry rifle in .38/.357 need review Sometimes the system in a lever gun that feeds ammo is length of cartridge dependent. The difference between 38SPL and 357MAG is significant and unless someone has actually tried it in the gun of interest all bets are off. The carrier (the device that lifts the cartridge from the cartridge feed tube level up to where the bolt can push the cartridge into the barrel) is so designed that the length of the cartridge positions the next round. If too short it allows the cartridge to move too rearward, blocking the path of the carrier. Some designs accommodate that but the classic original Winchester Model 1892's don't, I believe. Many of the 357 levers today are clones of that John Browning/Winchester design. Having said all that the Henry web page indicates it will handle both 357MAG and 38SPL: http://www.henryrepeating.com/h006_bigboy.cfm LDBennett

06-08-2010, 01:57 PM	#6
The Count V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 264	Re: Henry rifle in .38/.357 need review if you are really in the market for such a lever action rifle i can only give you the advice to BUY IT NOW! i was looking for a Marlin 1894 (any version) and they are impossible to get. Seems like only some Henry's are to be had at the moment.

06-08-2010, 02:47 PM	#7
johnnybocce Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 32	Re: Henry rifle in .38/.357 need review Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to my question. I did read that many of the rifles such as the .44mag/.44sp. and the .357/.38 do sometimes have difficulty chambering the small cartridge. I don't know what make I will purchase yet. I already have the Marlin in .44 mag. Johnnybocce

06-12-2010, 08:35 PM	#8
The Count V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 264	Re: Henry rifle in .38/.357 need review I actually wound up buying the Henry Big Boy in 357! Was more than I had planned to spend but my gun shop (a large, well connected one) said there were NO Marlin 1894's in stock at ANY wholesaler. The Henry is a good looking gun. Very slick action. A bit on the heavy side but it reminds you it is not a toy :-) Surprisingly light recoil. Tubular magazine needs some getting used to. All in all, a fun gun to shoot.