HngMnHnryDvdsn
Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2020
- Messages
- 31
Hello all,
Long time lurker of the forum, finally registered and wanted to give my opinions and get some advice/thoughts on my rifle.
Got my first "Big Bore" rifle this year. A Henry Big Boy X chambered in .44 magnum/.44 special. ~200 Rounds thru it between 2 range days. So far I mostly love it, comfortable for me to shoot, easy to clean, and I'm a fan of the old school/Modern mix it has going on. Awaiting permit application process to get a side arm to compliment it, and plan on adding a .357 lever action/side arm combo in the hopefully near future. I don't really "long range" hunt or plink, so I really enjoy the handgun calibers.
With this year's ammo craziness I haven't been able to run a large selection of different brands/loads thru it but have gotten my hands on a handful and am saving all my brass with plans to begin handloading in the near future. I'm lucky it seems in the sense this particular rifle enjoys SWC rounds, feeds like butter and shoots fairly accurately.
I have noticed a few ejecting/feeding issues I'd like some advice on. First ejecting issue I ran across was with a box of Winchester 240 grain JSP. Of the 50 rounds 3-4 would hang up and not eject. With a little bit of lever manipulation and the occasional finger in the port the spent casings came right out. I've cleaned the rifle a few times and am positive its not a cleanliness issue. The same day I fired another 50 rounds of Federal 240 grain JHP ammo and had 0 issues. Fed and ejected flawless. Curious to know if operator error or rifles can be that particular?
Biggest issue I've had was today at the range. Fired 25 rounds of Choice ammunition 240 grain SWC and the Henry loved it. Fed smooth and ejected beautifully. However the rifle did not play the nicest with Magtech 240 grain .44 special FMJ. I had similar issues as the Winchester with ejecting however had bigger issues with feeding. Handful of times the lever would cycle but no round would chamber, and it also had a tendency to "jam up" on me. Appeared the round would get caught under the elevator and get the lever stuck in mid stroke. All the issues were resolved at the bench with no tools necessary. A bit of a bummer with the Magtech due to the fact it was a joy to shoot!
I have some more special ammo on the way (Choice 200 grain RNFP) and am going to see how the runs. Curious to know if these things are nature of the lever action beast and I should stick with the ammo that runs best (based on my research, the most likely solution) or if rifle needs a closer look from Henry? I plan on measuring OAL length of my rounds and keeping notes to verify things with numbers this evening.
I've also attached a photo of my bolt face, curious to know if it appears like normal wear? This photo was taken after the first 100 rounds during cleaning. I described it to Henry via phone call and they say its normal for some wear there, no response when I sent photos to there "info" email. Curious to know your opinions as well!
Last little "quirk" I noticed today was after firing a round of magnum, the lever would just barley "unseat" from full closed/locked position. Couldn't tell if it was my hand reacting a slapping it a hair out or of the round created enough blast to push back the bolt. Curious to know if normal of lever actions with big boy rounds. Again first lever action I've ever had and I'm still learning the firearm, its on my list of things to pay more attention too next range day (hopefully next weekend!)
Thank you again all, and I look forward to participating in your forum!
Long time lurker of the forum, finally registered and wanted to give my opinions and get some advice/thoughts on my rifle.
Got my first "Big Bore" rifle this year. A Henry Big Boy X chambered in .44 magnum/.44 special. ~200 Rounds thru it between 2 range days. So far I mostly love it, comfortable for me to shoot, easy to clean, and I'm a fan of the old school/Modern mix it has going on. Awaiting permit application process to get a side arm to compliment it, and plan on adding a .357 lever action/side arm combo in the hopefully near future. I don't really "long range" hunt or plink, so I really enjoy the handgun calibers.
With this year's ammo craziness I haven't been able to run a large selection of different brands/loads thru it but have gotten my hands on a handful and am saving all my brass with plans to begin handloading in the near future. I'm lucky it seems in the sense this particular rifle enjoys SWC rounds, feeds like butter and shoots fairly accurately.
I have noticed a few ejecting/feeding issues I'd like some advice on. First ejecting issue I ran across was with a box of Winchester 240 grain JSP. Of the 50 rounds 3-4 would hang up and not eject. With a little bit of lever manipulation and the occasional finger in the port the spent casings came right out. I've cleaned the rifle a few times and am positive its not a cleanliness issue. The same day I fired another 50 rounds of Federal 240 grain JHP ammo and had 0 issues. Fed and ejected flawless. Curious to know if operator error or rifles can be that particular?
Biggest issue I've had was today at the range. Fired 25 rounds of Choice ammunition 240 grain SWC and the Henry loved it. Fed smooth and ejected beautifully. However the rifle did not play the nicest with Magtech 240 grain .44 special FMJ. I had similar issues as the Winchester with ejecting however had bigger issues with feeding. Handful of times the lever would cycle but no round would chamber, and it also had a tendency to "jam up" on me. Appeared the round would get caught under the elevator and get the lever stuck in mid stroke. All the issues were resolved at the bench with no tools necessary. A bit of a bummer with the Magtech due to the fact it was a joy to shoot!
I have some more special ammo on the way (Choice 200 grain RNFP) and am going to see how the runs. Curious to know if these things are nature of the lever action beast and I should stick with the ammo that runs best (based on my research, the most likely solution) or if rifle needs a closer look from Henry? I plan on measuring OAL length of my rounds and keeping notes to verify things with numbers this evening.
I've also attached a photo of my bolt face, curious to know if it appears like normal wear? This photo was taken after the first 100 rounds during cleaning. I described it to Henry via phone call and they say its normal for some wear there, no response when I sent photos to there "info" email. Curious to know your opinions as well!
Last little "quirk" I noticed today was after firing a round of magnum, the lever would just barley "unseat" from full closed/locked position. Couldn't tell if it was my hand reacting a slapping it a hair out or of the round created enough blast to push back the bolt. Curious to know if normal of lever actions with big boy rounds. Again first lever action I've ever had and I'm still learning the firearm, its on my list of things to pay more attention too next range day (hopefully next weekend!)
Thank you again all, and I look forward to participating in your forum!
Attachments
Last edited: