Marlin 1894s have all sorts of issues with rifling, bore size, quality, etc... and it seems lots of people (myself included) have had problems getting them to shoot lead reloads accurately. How are Henry Big Boys? I'm thinking of trading my 1894 for a Henry, but I want to make sure I'm actually upgrading.
How are Henry Big Boys with lead reloads?
- Thread starter 0to60
- Start date
- Status
Jlr2267
Member
Marlin bore size on the 1894 will be the same as Henry at nominally 0.431" , and they have the same rifling at 1:38
If your lead reloads don't shoot well in your Marlin, they probably won't do well in a Henry. Reloading for a 44 rifle can be challenging with lead bullets...very frustrating until you find the right combination.
If your lead reloads don't shoot well in your Marlin, they probably won't do well in a Henry. Reloading for a 44 rifle can be challenging with lead bullets...very frustrating until you find the right combination.
Crunchy Frog
Member
Does your Marlin have a Micro Groove barrel? They don't often work well with lead bullets. I think the HBB has standard Ballard type rifling.
I've seen Marlins with the word "microgroove" written on the barrel. Mine does not. Also, I've heard that they recently switched from microgroove to Ballard, and mine is a 2014 model. I believe mine is Ballard, but I'm not sure.
Jlr2267
Member
they switched years ago on the 1894. Yours is ballard unless it was rebarreled at some point...look at the muzzle and you can tell easily which it is.
Dave P
Member
Oto - I wish you would try some good FMJ bullets, before you give up on the Marlin.
Henry, I had one of those recently also. Much more friendly to the handloader. Super sweet trigger and action. Heavy. Just did not like loading from the muzzle end.
Henry, I had one of those recently also. Much more friendly to the handloader. Super sweet trigger and action. Heavy. Just did not like loading from the muzzle end.
Well, I sent the Marlin back to the factory. They indexed the barrel and sent me a test group fired from 50 yards. In the attached photo, I've placed their target on top of my target. I shot mine with factory 240 JHPs from a rest at 35 yards.
I'm not happy with the accuracy, even what remington shot at the factory. 2.5" groups at 50 yards is 5 MOA, by my reckoning. That's unacceptable.
Attachments
billybob44
Contributing Member
2.5" groups at 50 yards is 5 MOA, by my reckoning. That's unacceptable.
Good luck doing much better with most ANY Pistol caliber carbine....Bill.
Good luck doing much better with most ANY Pistol caliber carbine....Bill.
alexander45
Member
Think your expectations could use some slight adjustment it's a .44 not a .308
jim in Anchorage
Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2009
- Messages
- 2,849
I can't imagine owning a gun called the "big boy." Doe's that mean you now wear long pants?
Lafitte
Member
Yep, it is a 44, not a 308 and 35 yards is not 50 yards. Since we really don't know what bullets, powder etc, you are trying to shoot, it is hard to make a suggestion. I have shot a lot of lead through Marlins and know it will work in both Microgroove and Ballard barrels.
Lafitte
Lafitte
Well, you can read all about my experience with the Marlin in my other thread, http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=791501.
So the general consensus here is that pistol caliber'd lever actions are inherently inaccurate? Why would this be?
So the general consensus here is that pistol caliber'd lever actions are inherently inaccurate? Why would this be?
alexander45
Member
Do to its chambering It's a over sized pistol not a rifle if you want tiny groups at long distance get somthing that chucks long thin bullets at high fps if you want big thunking holes in things your range is going to drop significantly now yours is definitely on low end of the accuracy spectrum of these things as I understand most tend to be about 3-4 moa but it's with in range of what's to be expected.
now maybe it's hasn't been feed any thing it likes particularly well and under there is a 2moa gun and you just need to find what it really likes but it still is going to be a 100 yard gun at best as after that the pistol calibers tend to really drop like a rock after that
now maybe it's hasn't been feed any thing it likes particularly well and under there is a 2moa gun and you just need to find what it really likes but it still is going to be a 100 yard gun at best as after that the pistol calibers tend to really drop like a rock after that
J-Bar
Member
I do not own a Henry Big Boy but I see them at cowboy action matches, and all we are allowed to shoot in these competitions are cast lead bullets. So I conclude that the Big Boy must shoot cast lead bullets well, because I don't hear anyone complaining about them. They complaints I hear about the Big Boy are that it does not look quite historically correct enough for those that are concerned about it, and they simply cannot run fast enough to beat a tuned 1873, but they are legal for cowboy action competition.
You might get more responses specifically about the Big Boy and cast lead bullets by posting your question to cowboy action shooters.
http://sassnet.com/forums/index.php?showforum=12
You might get more responses specifically about the Big Boy and cast lead bullets by posting your question to cowboy action shooters.
http://sassnet.com/forums/index.php?showforum=12
- Status
