Henry hoo6, .357/.38 spl.

[lightload]

At a local gun shop I spotted a used Big Boy with brass frame in .357/.38, which was definitely out of place in a shop specializing in assault rifles and related products. The owner had had the rifle for six weeks with no bites and sold it to me for $550 out the door. This Henry is 99.9% unblemished and may be unfired. It did come with the factory scope mount base. I may use a scope while developing loads but will quickly remove it afterwards. Anybody got a cast boolit favorite load for this rifle?

[kungfustyle]

Go buy it if you have the cash. Henry's are good stuff and that is a good price. Buds has them new for $650, add the transfer fee and you are up at almost $700. You will at least be able to get your money back.

[GhostHawk]

I use the Lee .358 158 grain tumble lube round nose over 4.6 grains of Red Dot. Or a little less in .38 special.

I have to admit a brass framed Henry in .357 would be a lot of fun.

[lightload]

Thanks. I'll try this load and have plenty of red dot.

[slickracer]

I have a few favorite loads for mine; 1) 158 LSWC with 6.1 Unique or 2) 180 Dardas flat point with 12.5 grains of 2400.

Both will shoot a big hole at 25 yards with open sights.

[DerekP Houston]

Lswc here, RCBS version if it matters.

38 special loads
3.5 gr titegroup
.30-.32 auto disk


5.0 gr unique - 158gr lswc
lee autodisk .57 = 4.6 gr unique

these both work great out of a rossi lever

[bedbugbilly]

Sounds like you got a nice rifle!

I have a rather ignorant question to ask about the 38/357 Henry if I may. I have a Henry 22 lever action which of course will eat anything from a CB cap, 22 Short, Long or Long Rifle. But, that's a 22. Will a Henry 38/357 lever gun shoot and cycle 38 Colt Short and 38 Colt Long cartridges? Or would there be feeding issues?

While 38 spl. brass is certainly easy to come by, I also load the 38 Colt Short & Long for my handguns so am just curious if those cartridges would work or not?

[lightload]

About the shorter .38 cartridges(.38 short or long Colt), I doubt if the Henry would feed them without a lot of shaking and jiggling of weapon and lever. Overall length of the loaded round seems to be the key to reliable feeding of handgun ammo through lever rifles. Also double feeding of two "short cartridges" might occur.

[lightload]

Today I fired the Henry .357/.38 with both .38 special and .357 mag factory ammo and was pleased that the rifle hit point of aim with factory sights without adjusting. Plinking at 60 yard can sized objects was successful.

I did encounter something that surprised me. When loading the mag with 10 rds of with either caliber, pushing the tube down to seat it fully required very firm effort with a bit of twisting and manipulating the tube back and forth. In every case, this effort forced the lever to swing into the cocking cycle. Loading 9 rds or fewer did not move the lever.

Next, turning to my .44 Henry I could induce this lever movement by adding an 11th rd to the mad and then trying to seat the tube. What does this finding mean? Likely, nothing. I'll avoid putting more than 9 rds in the .357. I may try to polish the tube's interior, and I may order a spare tube and experiment with it. Why? Because I like to tinker.

[bedbugbilly]

lightload - thanks for your answer in regards to shorter cartridges - what you state makes sense. Appreciate you taking the time to answer!

Jim

[emorris]

The book that came with my steel frame big boy said somthing to the effect to the effect that that there may be feeding problems with the lighter 38 special loads, and it suggested to use heavier bullets because they are longer.