Henry lever-action Steel Series 44 Magnum (new hog gun)

[Torian]

I was recently reminded of how much I prefer Henry lever-action rifles to Winchester and Marlin these days. The trigger pull is superb, the action incredibly smooth, and it is a tack-driver within 100 yards. Maybe my experience with these brands was just poor, but Henry seems to deliver for me every time. If you can get over the tube loading (I bet I can load 6 rounds quicker than you can in your Marlin/Winchester), it's a great option for a pistol-caliber lever-action rifle, which in my case is being use for hog.

I owned a brass receiver Henry 44 magnum, and the optics mounting setup was too cumbersome, so I traded it in. Looks like they've fixed it with the steel series.

The site on top is a Burris Fastfire 3. This is my first experience using a mini red dot on a rifle, and it works interestingly enough. Total package cost here for everything you see was a little over 1000.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Nice piece. I want one in 45 Long colt 16 inch barrel large loop. Best of luck with it great looking gun.

 

[chicharrones]

Congrats! I want one of those in .357 Mag.

 

[BigBore44]

Great guns. Not a fan of the tube loading. But that's just me. Can't/won't deny their quality. And yours looks very nice. What's your planned load for the hogs?

 

[Kingcreek]

Nice. Who makes your leather cuff/shell holder?

 

[bannockburn]

Torian

Nice looking set-up on that Henry. I like the addition of the Burris Fastfire 3 and the leather cartridge holder.

 

[Cannibul]

The Henry .44 Mag rifles still have that terrible 1:38 twist rate from the 44-40. The first company that makes a lever action .44 Mag with a 1:20 or 1:18 twist barrel will have my business.

 

[Jason_W]

In a hunting rifle, the tube mag loading is an advantage. Unloading after a day of not seeing any game would be way faster and easier.

 

[Torian]

Thanks for the replies everyone. To answer a few question:

1. My preferred load is from underwood. 245 grain FMJ pushing about 1600 FPS out of this 16 in barrel. As an astute observer already pointed out, the twist rate on these barrels means I probably won't go heavier than 270. I have not experimented with 300 grain loadings yet.

https://underwoodammo.com/shop/44-remington-magnum-245-grain-full-metal-jacket/
https://underwoodammo.com/shop/44-remington-magnum-245-grain-full-metal-jacket/
2. The cartridge holder is made by Diamond D, purchased off of Amazon for 95.00

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JL3VF1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[BigBore44]

Thanks for the replies everyone. To answer a few question:

1. My preferred load is from underwood. 245 grain FMJ pushing about 1600 FPS out of this 16 in barrel. As an astute observer already pointed out, the twist rate on these barrels means I probably won't go heavier than 270. I have not experimented with 300 grain loadings yet.

Those should do the trick just fine. Happy hunting! Nice rifle. Need a range report.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Try Prvi 300 grain JSP's. Big thump, standard pressure.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/7...-300-grain-semi-jacketed-soft-point-box-of-50

 

[HoosierQ]

How much does it weigh?

 

[Llama Bob]

The Henry .44 Mag rifles still have that terrible 1:38 twist rate from the 44-40. The first company that makes a lever action .44 Mag with a 1:20 or 1:18 twist barrel will have my business.

The Navy Arms/Winchester .44 mags have a 1:16 twist (vs. 1:26 on the "normal" Winchesters). I've called ahead to let them know to expect your business

 

[Slamfire]

The Navy Arms/Winchester .44 mags have a 1:16 twist (vs. 1:26 on the "normal" Winchesters). I've called ahead to let them know to expect your business

I looked up the prices on those Navy Arms lever actions, and I ask this question: Why can't I buy a 44 Magnum lever with a 1:16 twist barrel for less than $2200?

 

[BigBore44]

^^^^I wonder the same thing.

 

[Llama Bob]

I looked up the prices on those Navy Arms lever actions, and I ask this question: Why can't I buy a 44 Magnum lever with a 1:16 twist barrel for less than $2200?

^^^^I wonder the same thing.

It's the octagonal barrel, color case hardening on the receiver, butt plate and lever, plus the fancy stock. I've got one in .45 colt, but the receiver is blued and it was maybe $1500 or something like that. Still expensive, but it's slick as snot and the octagonal barrel is dead sexy.

 

[Torian]

How much does it weigh?

A little under 7 pounds I'd say. Pretty lightweight...certainly lighter than my original brass receiver octagon barrel Henry.

 

[Torian]

The Henry .44 Mag rifles still have that terrible 1:38 twist rate from the 44-40. The first company that makes a lever action .44 Mag with a 1:20 or 1:18 twist barrel will have my business.

The crazier thing is that they make the 45 Colt version of this rifle with a 1/16 twist. Seriously makes you wonder what they were thinking on the 1/38.

 

[Cannibul]

The Navy Arms/Winchester .44 mags have a 1:16 twist (vs. 1:26 on the "normal" Winchesters). I've called ahead to let them know to expect your business

Looks like I need to sell about three tons of lead.

 

[BigBore44]

Looks like I need to sell about three tons of lead.

I'm in the market for some.... Need to pour about 75lbs of sinkers for snagging season.

 

[Bull Nutria]

it looks like your cartridges are upside down in your leather holder on your stock? I would be afraid they would drop out. I like the handiness of on the stock shell holders, I use the black stretchy kind on my single shot rifles and some of my shotguns. That is a very nice looking rig you have in the photo!!

Bull

 

[Torian]

it looks like your cartridges are upside down in your leather holder on your stock? I would be afraid they would drop out. I like the handiness of on the stock shell holders, I use the black stretchy kind on my single shot rifles and some of my shotguns. That is a very nice looking rig you have in the photo!!

Bull

The shot shell holster is extremely tight, so they aren't going anywhere. For me, when holding the weapon, it is more natural to draw the cartridges from below. That strategy only works when the cartridges are seated tightly tho.