First Henry 20" vs 16.5"

[Highway41]

So I have sold my 308 Win bolt gun to finance something I've wanted for a very long time. A 41 Magnum lever action.

My dilemma is that Henry has just announced that they're making a 41 carbine with 16.5" barrel now. So I need to decide between the standard 20" and the carbine.

Main usage will be a range toy but it will also be carried on occasional field hikes to complement my 41 BH or RH. And maybe if I ever get a chance again maybe a deer hunt with ranges well under 100yds.

The only lever action I've owned was a 30-30 back in the early 80s that got swapped off before I got to familiar with it.

Looking at the BBTI data there doesn't seem to be a significant gain in velocity for the longer barrel.

I plan on visiting the LGS soon and handling some lever rifles he has but last time I was there he didn't have any carbines so side by side comparison isn't really possible for me.

Any input or advice appreciated.

[runfiverun]

I would guess that the barrel itself would determine the weight difference.
I know the carbines and the 24" rifles in the model 92's have a huge weight difference
at 2 pm.

if they just chopped 4" off an octagon barrel and called it a carbine I'd get the 20" one.

[GARD72977]

I have been toying with the idea of 16" leever gun. Im sure it wont hold as well for off hand shooting. Would be easy to carry and if you are hunting @ 100 or less what difference is 4" of sight radius going to make?

[jmort]

I have two 16" Rossi 92s in .357
Very handy
Recommend

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Have a 44 WCF with a 16 inch barrel and it is very handy walking about woods and river bottoms. Have a Henry 41 mag with the 20" tube and it is a no issue to carry about all day in the woods. But again 3.5 inches less may add up to 2 times less bumping a tree. I am also looking at the short barrel Henry. May just sell off my Marlin CCL 41 mag and be happy with the two Henry's. Only once in my life has a longer barrel cost me a shot and that barrel was 36 inches.

If you are going to load powders like 2400 and faster the 16.5 inch barrel will not loose you any velocity.
But if you think you will want to one day fire up some 265 grainers and heavier cast with slow burners like 296 and 1680 then that 3.5 inches less barrel will loose you about 50 -75 fps. Not a real big deal but that is the internal ballistics side of it all.

So to me the question is...Which one will you use the most and be happiest with ? You could just get one of each.
Mike in Peru

[Highway41]

The Big Boy Steel models have the round barrel which only saves about a half pound according to Henry. That small of a weight savings isn't really figuring into my decision unlike the weight savings of the steel over brass which definitely took the brass model off the list.

Either way I'll be putting a Skinner peep sight on it so that would stretch out the sight radius several inches on the carbine. The Skinner peep sight would really stretch out the radius on the 20".

[Highway41]

Mike in Peru I'm having trouble replying with quotes right now but I really appreciate the input. As well as all the others input.

2400 is my go to powder for full house loads and Unique for plinking. I do have some 265gr RD I got from a member here a while back but will most likely stick with the 215-240gr range. I haven't been able to find 110/296 locally for several years but more powders are starting to show up and I intend to snag some or other slow powder as soon as I see any. Although I am not well versed in internal ballistics I would like to choose the barrel length that optimizes the best over all powder and bullet types and from what I've been able to interpret form reading it seems that would push me towards the carbine. Does using 2400 in the 20" also lose velocity with the ordinary weight range of bullets?

And believe me if I had the funds I'd have at least one of every 41 magnum ever made. Sadly thats not the case but at least my 308 went to a good friend who will actually get some use out of it and I get to finally have a 41 rifle.

[Groo]

Groo here
Handle a 16in and a 20 [any cal] and take note of the balance.
I like the 16.
In a handgun chambered rifle, once you get past 16 to 18in the increases don't amount to much.
The 16in will get you 2000fps from a 170gr and get 1400 to 1500 with a 300gr cast.
What more do you need?

[Ickisrulz]

I picked the carbine over the rifle. It felt better to me. I like shorter rifles and the Henry BBS Carbine is shorter than a 10/22.

[gpidaho]

Depends on the use of the 41, I'm a 41mag fan and have had the opportunity to shot the 20" Henry. As stated above, when firing pistol caliber rounds fps isn't that much different with the fast powders. If hunting in the brush undergrowth of the woods, I'd go with the 16.5. If busting beverage cans or targets I'd go with the 20". Either way you're moving toward a lot of fun with a 41mag lever. Gp

[Highway41]

Decision made. I'm going with the 20". Thank you to everyone for your input.