Henry 44 damaging brass, need advice

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Typetwelve

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I recently bought a Henry Big Boy carbine in 44 mag, I'm also a reloader. Going through used brass, I noted there were odd crease-like "stretch marks" running horizontally across the brass after being shot form the rifle. They're really pronounced and don't come our after resizing. I'm sure it won't take long before it ruins the brass from stressing it like that.

Cleaning the rifle today, I decided to have a look at the chamber and saw this:

Rc7DFjQ.jpg

The chamber is really poorly machined and you can clearly see where it is not smooth. The brass is expanding to fill those deep grooves you can see.

Being my first Henry, and my first lever action, I don't know if this is normal. Can any of you Henry owners have a look at your chamber and tell me if they're all machined this way, or if I need to reach out to Henry to see if I can get this fixed?
 
I do not have a Henry but the chamber of my Marlins (REP or JM) is much, much smoother than that. I would say you need to engage with Henry as that IMO is not acceptable quality for a supposedly quality rifle.
 
I had some issue with the chamber on Henry in .45-70. They finally sent a new one. You need to complain a lot to get them to make things right.

Basically, that chamber you have is junk. I don't know if they have barrels made by a third party or not, but guns shouldn't be going out like that.
 
Yuck!!! Send it back to Henry and they'll make it right. Probably a new barrel, since you can't put metal back where you've reamed it out.

I've heard they are good on solving these sorts of problems. However I have no personal experience.
 
I have 3 Henrys and they all function great. And I reload also. So far no problems with the brass. But keep us informed. I don't know if I have read any actual posts that describe other folks experiences with Henry CS.
 
I've sent them an email to get the ball rolling.

The rifle shoots fine enough, but jacking up perfectly good re loadable brass is a no-go in my book...and 44 magnum brass isn't super cheap.
 
Cant the roughness be reduced?
You want some grip in there, not mirror polished.

Fwiw most folks dont reload so its be a non issue for many.

To maintain warranty, Henry proly not allow any polish on your end. Worth a call.
Might have authorized repair nearby?

Id call em before doing anything. Since bought new

Had a 700 like new burr in chamber. That why it like new LOL. 300 winmag 1974.
Tiger striped walnut. Striking.

Fixed that myself.
 
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Hookeye said:
Cant the roughness be reduced.
You want some grip in there, not mirror polished.

Fwiw most folks dont reload so its be a non issue
Click to expand...

Probably no, "smoothing" would mean taking more material from the chamber and that would cause the brass to swell even more.

Not to be rude, but I don't agree with the "grip" part either, the bore of my Super Redhawk is smooth as a baby's butt. No grip needed as the cart sits back again something.
 
A ring that is positive ( ridge ) could be polished away.

Negative ( groove ) not.

Dunno what problems come up from bad reamer or skipped process
 
Brass is to be temporarily gripped by chamber to take some stress off of the bolt
Ill try to find the video.
 
Maybe one can run a polished chamber on a lower pressure PCR.....but not on a HP rifle.

Rifle maker chambering video a guy explains what degree of chamber polishing he does.

Rifle case extraction proly a little more robust in system vs revolver ;)
 
That chamber was not left rough to grip the cartridge, it was left rough as the result of pXXX poor workmanship and quality.
 
I understand that. Am wondering how it is dimension wise and if the ridges or grooves can be removed (to what degree needed) and stay within tolerance.
 
I would say that a dull tool (or improperly operated) chattered in the cut and that the chamber is probably oversized or perhaps not even round. It is not right and not right means the rifle needs to be replaced. We pay all this money for things and Henry likes to position themselves as the quality alternative to (REP) Marlin and that chamber is a joke. Henry needs to make that right and you should not be stuck with it.

Tool marks are not unusual and are in fact normal but they should not be such that the brass is imprinted or ruined if indeed as you say the cases are. If the brass is okay after firing and the cases size properly afterwards, then it is okay. You say they do not, so it is not.

Alternative, take it to an experienced smith and get a professional opinion.
 
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I can't imagine that were that barrel inspected (there are no 100% inspections anymore, that's manufacturing today) it would have passed. It was definitely test fired, but test firing is done to ensure function, not markings being left on brass because gun manufacturers all void warranties if reloaded ammo is used, however that's not an excuse because you can use your brass to shoot in other guns not made by Henry.

You've already contacted them, now wait for a response.
 
i have seen several henry rifles that were not up to snuff out of the box, two center fire and one .22. i am not a big henry fan.
 
Just looked at mine in .44 and she looks fine. As mentioned in todays manufacturing world world not every piece is inspected.
 
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