Henry vs Marlin

So far, I have bought three 1894 Marlins, in .357 magnum, .44 magnum, and a Cowboy in .45 Colt.

I never thought that I would ever buy a Marlin again, but after examining a 2019 Cowboy (which was on sale for a really good price) I could find nothing wrong with it, and everything right with it.
Sights on straight and properly installed, all screws undamaged and properly in place, no dings, smooth blued finish, no rough edges, very good wood to metal fit, reasonably smooth action, and decent walnut (if rather plain). Overall I was very impressed, so I bought it.
It functioned well with live and empty rounds (with the safety on) so I was happy.
At the range, 225 grain JSP American Eagle rounds groups around 2 1/2" at 50 yards with the factory irons and the eyes of a man in his mid 60s. Groove diameter is .452" which is great.
My only complaint was that the trigger pull was around 6 3/4 pounds, which isn't helpful.

The .44 Magnum rifle is equally as good, although I am not happy with the accuracy, largely because the groove diameter measures .432" and Hornaday 240 grain XTP bullets are .430".
Accuracy with Blue Dot and 2400 was not great, but it's possible that faster burning powders like Unique or Herco would bump up these bullets a bit and yield better results. If not, then Titegroup, which is even faster.
Speer Gold Dot bullets reputedly have thinner jackets which might help.
Also, I haven't try factory ammo in this rifle, so who knows? The .432" groove diameter is within spec, due to concerns by manufacturers that have existed for a number of years, who want to reduce chamber pressures.
The trigger is also heavy in this rifle.

The .357 Rifle is also equally as good, although the checkering is not as well-defined. It functions fine, although I did need to remove the extractor and file a contact point on it to move it inward a bit for more aggressive extraction. Loading cartridges with blunt nosed JSP bullets through the loading gate is a bit annoying because they catch on the port through the receiver into the magazine tube. For these that port should be bevelled.
Lee hard cast SWC bullets feed into the tube easily, and chamber easily.
The groove diameter is .357" as it should be.
The trigger pull is around 4 1/2 pounds.

Old Stumpy said:

I have heard of this before, but from the picture those screws appear to have received a LOT of torque, which would destroy the threads. From experience, I know that it is critical to ensure that the screws and fore end cap line up with the fore end hanger precisely, such that they will screw in with only finger tip pressure.
Often the factory has installed a slightly over-length fore end in place and then somehow gotten the screws in place. They want the fore end not to be loose obviously.
Perhaps the wood has swollen afterward in a high humidity location which causes those screws to be very difficult to remove. The solution is to carefully rasp, file, and sand the end of the fore end in a cut and try process such that the screws will enter easily and yet the fore end is not loose.

I removed the fore end on a .44 Magnum 1894 made in 2019 to inspect the end for roughness recently. Fortunately my location is pretty dry. After some cosmetic sanding, it was good to go.
While the screws were easy enough to remove, the fore end cap could not be reinstalled without trying to force the alignment of the cap by using the screws to pull it into alignment.
I knew that this would have damaged them, so I carefully filed and sanded the fore end in a cut and try process until everything lined up, and then applied some boiled linseed oil, and reassembled it.

Also, the fit of the fore end into the receiver is often snug, but a very nice fit.
Before reinstalling the fore end cap it helps to give the fore end a couple of careful raps with a rubber-tipped hammer, with it in position, in order to seat it in the receiver.

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Same situation with my new 1894. Those screws didn't want to align again after I pulled and reinstalled the fore end. I had to finagle it, but got it together without sanding the wood.

Mr. Mosin said:

@all, Marlin brags in their description of their guns being solid steel. I know (and don't care) about the Golden Boy's being some alloy. Is the Big Boy Steel actually steel, or is it some wierd alloy ? I know the Stainless All Weather won't magnetize (well, it shouldn't if it's actual stainless), but will the blued Big Boy/Big Boy X hold a magnet ? Also, for those w/ experience w/ Henry's loading gate... how well was the design executed ? Did it need work to actually function properly, or did cartridges load properly and relatively easy out of box ? I know both Marlin and Winchester have had issues with that in the past.

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It might be too early to tell, but if Henry's side gate .357 comes from the factory with smooth loading through that side gate . . . well, Henry has another leg up on the old timers like Marlin.

I've got an '80s vintage JM stamped 336 that I really like. Obviously 30-30 vs 357, but it's a nice shooter and I don't put enough rounds through it to matter from an ammo cost standpoint. I think 30-30 is the better all around caliber especially for hunting but for home defense and plinking a 357/38 would be superior. I've never owned a Henry. I wouldn't get any lever gun without a loading gate, though.

Mr. Mosin said:

@all, Marlin brags in their description of their guns being solid steel. I know (and don't care) about the Golden Boy's being some alloy. Is the Big Boy Steel actually steel, or is it some wierd alloy ? I know the Stainless All Weather won't magnetize (well, it shouldn't if it's actual stainless), but will the blued Big Boy/Big Boy X hold a magnet ? Also, for those w/ experience w/ Henry's loading gate... how well was the design executed ? Did it need work to actually function properly, or did cartridges load properly and relatively easy out of box ? I know both Marlin and Winchester have had issues with that in the past.

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Only the rimfires have a ZAMAK inner receiver with an aluminum cover that may be finished with a sprayed on black finish, brushed nickel or their brass plating. The rest are obvious.

Big Boy Steel is steel.

Big Boy is brass/bronze. The Big Boy Silver is what they call a "solid aluminum-bronze alloy" and not plated.

The all weather model is hard chrome plated steel. Which is actually better than stainless.

Whether or not a magnet is attracted to stainless steel depends on what type of stainless it is.

Henry seems to be playing games with their new loading gate.
You can get the fancy engraved stock version in Bronze, and the X models, as well as a shotgun version and a shotgun mares' leg.
But none of the standard .30-30 or Big Boy models have them yet.

Obviously a plain version of both blued and bronze rifles in rifle calibers should be available now. And, the Big Boy Steel as well, since the X models are built on the same receiver.

The .45-70 model with a loading gate?
It may not be possible due to receiver strength with a large ejection port and a loading gate which must be very close to it.

My guess is that Henry wants to sell off all or most of the old stock rifles without loading gates that they have in stock, as well as all that the dealers have in stock.
After all, who will buy the old model after the new model is available, unless they drastically discount them?
I won't.
I will just wait them out.

I like the idea of having a choice when it comes to deciding between a rifle having a loading gate and one that loads from a tube magazine. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

I like JM Marlins , I own five JM 336’s in 30-30

... NO Remington period for me...

Henry makes a great product !!!!

I would not hesitate a second on a Henry purchase.
Absolutely beautiful Black Walnut stocks .. smooth actions ..and a true American company that puts quality first .. and customer service that will back it up....

Id really would like to have a steel Henry 45/70 with a 18.5 inch barrel , With Out a loading gate ...I like the tube feed

I looked at some henrys when I got the itch for a lever action bigger than the Puma 92 I've had for a while. I liked the idea of the stacked magazine for the larger calibers, but they and the tube loaders felt like 2x4s in my hands. Personal preference, but I chose the 336 in 35 rem. I have to live with the barrel canted right just slightly (sent it back to them and it got a little better...), but I looked at a pre-Remlin in 35 Remington at Cabella's and it was the same way. They probably install the sight notches prior to head spacing, and expect most users to use a scope. It shoots straight to several hundred yards, so I'm good with it. Not as svelte as a Winchester or clone I've grown used to, but not the 2x4 feel I get from the Henrys. Mechanically I've heard nothing wrong except the lack of a loading gate on the first generation.

By now the entry level Marlin 30.30 at Bass Pro/Cabelas is 440.00 bucks or so, when
Henry is over that price range.
I am toying the idea just because the price point, even when I don't want to add another caliber to my reloading stand.

re: Henry tube loading vs receiver loading gate ... a personal epiphany.

I have two 1983 .44mag/spl Marlin 1894S lever carbines (MFD a few weeks apart & purchased 30+ years apart ). The Marlin that I have been shooting since the '80s is a wonderful little rifle. When my eyes were younger, with the Williams 5D rear aperture sight installed, I could repeatedly strike a 2" blaze orange spot (from a leaning-against-something position) from 100m.

I felt strongly that I would not even con-sider buying centerfire lever-action carbine that sported no loading gate. I think that, with me, most of that is a residual of all of the cowboy TV shows & movies that I watched in the '50s, '60s and '70s.

A few years ago, during my .32-20 Frenzy, I acquired a vintage 1922 Marlin 27S pump-action rifle. It is a tube loader. I bought it in spite of that "tragic shortcoming".

Before long, shooting out back at my range or walking over to & around the farm with that accurate, handy little pump-rifle I came to the realization that the lack of a loading gate did not matter to me. <chuckle> That actually stunned me a bit, but ...

I suppose that if at any moment I might have to help defend the wagon train from a murderous horde of thoroughly annoyed Indians, I would insist upon a quick-reload/top-up option ... but ... after all these years hunting & shooting in these woods I have yet to have experienced even one "critter wave" attack by the deer, woodchucks, squirrels, 'possums, etc. where I needed to reload that quickly.

Also, I found unloading after wandering back to the house was easier & safer, too.

I grew up with tube magazine .22's so it's no big deal to me whatsoever. For me, the only downside, if there is one, is that you can't top off the magazine quite so easily. In general, I like the tube loading of the Henry.

CraigC said:

For me, the only downside, if there is one, is that you can't top off the magazine quite so easily.

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And, like GBExpat opined, topping off the magazine of a lever-action rifle while keeping it ready to fire in an instant is mostly an advantage only in a self-defense (two-legged or four-legged threat) situation. Something to consider, though, if such a scenario is likely or even anticipated.

I have several JM marked Marlins including a 357 with Ballard rifling made around 2002 IIRC. I also had a Marlin CB in 32 mag that used the tube loading instead of a side gate. It made absolutely no difference to me. I never missed the side gate. I have never owned a Henry before. I have only picked up a couple to look at them and thought they were very nice guns.

If you can find some of the Henry post from Dennis Prisby (Dpris) on here he talks about how accurate his Henry 357 was. He also stated he shot over 20,000 rounds through one of the 22 levers with the Zemak frame and had one part failure that was a simple fix.

If I were looking for a second 357 the Henry would get a hard look. I really want one of the Henry single shot 357 rifles but thats for another post.

czhen said:

By now the entry level Marlin 30.30 at Bass Pro/Cabelas is 440.00 bucks or so, when
Henry is over that price range.
I am toying the idea just because the price point, even when I don't want to add another caliber to my reloading stand.

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If you have an Academy Sports and Outdoors near you, perhaps the pricing would match my area's pricing. These are the 3 least expensive centerfire levers, all in .30-30. The next level is a pair of another Marlins for an additional $200.00 each, both in .45-70.

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If that Mossberg had a better trigger, I would own one. Great design IMO

I have often wondered why Marlin went back to tube loading when they made the 94 CB in 32 H&R magnum. Marlin clearly knew how to make side gate loader model 94s. Why did Marlin go back to tube loading for the 32 H&R?

Was it a matter of the head size of the 32 H&R being too small for practical side gate loading? If that's the case it will be interesting to see if Henry ever makes a side gate loading 327 Federal Magnum rifle. Note the head size of the 327 Federal Magnum is the same size as the 32 H&R Magnum.

I looked at a late model 336 this afternoon. I forget which letter designation but it's the cheap one with the birch stock. I reckon they are also now matte blued. I was very impressed and almost brought it home but remembered that I already have four .30-30 levers.

Got to say, you don't have any bad choices here. I own a JM Marlin 1894C in .357 (2006 vintage if I recall) and it's an absolute hoot to shoot. I also have a recently produced Marlin 1895 and have no quality issues with it, and have 300-400 rounds of 45-70 through it. It's screwed together as good as my pre-Remington 1894C. In the last year or two I also purchased a Henry H009 30-30 with the color case hardened receiver and also couldn't be happier. I don't feel there's a bad one in the bunch. Let us know what you decide!

CraigC said:

I grew up with tube magazine .22's so it's no big deal to me whatsoever. For me, the only downside, if there is one, is that you can't top off the magazine quite so easily. In general, I like the tube loading of the Henry.

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I grew up with those .22 rifles also. It would be difficult to side load 22 LR without damaging the rounds. I still prefer a side gate loading option for a centerfire levergun. I can't imagine needing it, but I like having it. The Henry's with a side loading gate also still have the tube load option. From what I can see, the rated capacity of the magazine is at least one round less than the Marlin. Not sure if that is because of the tube loading.

I know someone with a Henry 357 rifle with the octagon barrel. That sucker is very heavy. Of course, the Rossi rifles with the octagon barrel are pretty heavy also. I need to find a Henry Big Boy steel to compare.

Henry's octagons are overweight, way overweight. They use too heavy a profile. The Marlins are svelte by comparison because they use a narrower profile.

I'd love to figure out how to put an aftermarket tube loader on my Win 94 because I hate having to unload that thing after every hunt.

One thing I do like about the Henry designs is the tube loader. I loaded .22 semi-auto rifles that I used for hunting rabbits, squirrels and prairie dogs for years as a kid. Long before I ever used a side-loading gate on my Win 94. So I have no issues with that tube loader at all.

CraigC said:

Henry's octagons are overweight, way overweight. They use too heavy a profile. The Marlins are svelte by comparison because they use a narrower profile.

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I absolutely love the weight of my octagon 357 Big Boy. So steady in my hands. Not to mention it feels like shooting a 22.