New Twist for Henry Big Boy .44

I was browsing the Henry site and noticed the new color case hardened Big Boy levers.

The 16.5" bbl. still has the 1/38 twist in .44 mag., but the 20" carbine version has a 1/16".

This was only in the color case models as the the regular brass Big Boys and the round steel bbl. Big Boys still listed both bbl. lengths in 1/38".

I think a color cased 20" .44 mag. in 1/16" twist may have just made my wish list!
I hadn't noticed this posted on anywhere, so just passing on the info to those who may be interested in the 1/16.

Henry may have just sold a rifle. That is about exactly what I have been wanting.

I may wait a few months and see how the reviews stack up.

I've always loved the 44, going all the way back to the 80s.
44 is the reason why I started reloading.
44 is the reason I started swaging bullets.
Swaging bullets caused me to start casting cores, and then casting bullets, so indirectly 44 is why I started casting.
About the time I started casting, I fell in love with the 41...a few years after that, I decided to part ways with the 44 because of the barrel groove size variances and twist rates in rifles. So, I sold all my 44 guns at a auction in 2015...and have slowly sold all my 44 ammo/brass/bullets/swaging gear.

and NOW you are telling me someone is finally are coming out with a levergun in 44 with a smart twist rate [smilie=b:[smilie=b:

:evil:



I wonder if the barrel groove dia is .429 or .431 ???

:veryconfu

Don't know about the groove dia. I just hope it wasn't a misprint on the twist rate on their web site since the 16 1/2" version still showed the 1/38 twist.

Since it was listed under their new case hardened model though, i'm hoping the 16" twist is legit on the 20" bbl.
Maybe they're just testing the waters with the one bbl. length for starters?

If i think about it tommorrow, i'm going to give them a call.
JonB..lol, you can't go wrong with that 41, but if this is true, it may be a good time to get it a big brother??

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Originally Posted by GhostHawk

Henry may have just sold a rifle. That is about exactly what I have been wanting.

I may wait a few months and see how the reviews stack up.

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GhostHawk....me too!!

The new single shot Henry in 44 has a fast twist barrel. So I called and asked if the 44 lever guns had it. The answer “not yet, but be patient”.

If true they sold another one!

Okay,

Just got off the phone with Henry Arms. I was first told by the lady that answered that the case hardened Big Boys are brand new. She first said both bbl. lengths were 1/38, but on 2nd look she verified that the 20" version WAS 1/16 twist!

I asked if it could be a misprint and she told me their "media" guy was on top of things and she felt it was legit as printed on their web site.
She said she did not think it was a misprint.
Also said they should be on the market very soon!

I asked if someone else there could verify this and was just told "she thought their "media person" had it right.
That's all i know for now.....i hope, hope, hope it's true!!

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Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe

I wonder if the barrel groove dia is .429 or .431 ???

:veryconfu

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Like that is going to be any kind of a deciding factor... We all know whatever it is, will get fed cast at .432" so what does it matter?

I noticed that the Single shot rifle had a 20" twist and the Big Boy Case Hardened with the 20" barrel is a 16 inch twist curious the two different 44 Mag rifles would have different twist but I could live with either.

Since I recently sent in a Henry Rifle for warranty repair and have a contact (direct email) at Rice Lake, I decided to sent her an email asking the questions I am curious about.


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I wonder if the barrel groove dia is .429 or .431 ??

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Originally Posted by DougGuy

Like that is going to be any kind of a deciding factor... We all know whatever it is, will get fed cast at .432" so what does it matter?

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At this point in time, for me, it would be a deciding factor...I would start by feeding it .430

Well I just received a disappointing email from Henry.

I had asked, "I see Henry is offering the Big Boy color case hardened in 44 Mag/44 Spl. [On the website, it says] The 20" Rifle version specs the twist is 1:16
Can you verify that?"

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From: Dennette - @henryusa
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2018 11:43 AM
To: JonB
Subject: RE: REPAIR

Hi Jon,
Great! We are pleased to hear you are happy with your Henry!

Also, thank you for your inquiry! The Big Boy color case hardened in 44 Mag/44 Spl. does have a 1:38 twist rate. What you spotted on the web is incorrect and if it is not updated already, it will be very soon. The carbine is also a 1:38 twist.
Have a great day!

Kind regards,
Dennette - Customer Service
Henry Repeating Arms, Co.
107 West Coleman St. Rice Lake, WI 54868

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Absolutely disappointing for sure. If I get a Henry, I'll probably just go with their 45 with what I consider a better twist rate.
Thanks for finding out for sure JonB.

Henry you screwed up, just cost you several sales.

Specs online still listing as 1:16

Hasn't been changed as of 9:13 PM EST

You would think that they would make the correction like " immediately "! Before customers start ordering something they aren't going to get.

Chiappa is the only levergun with a good twist for cast boolits afaik.. I believe theirs is 1:20.

A rep from Chiappa just msg me on Facebook, ALL of their 44 caliber leverguns are 1:20" twist, and ALL of their 45 caliber leverguns are 1:16" twist. If you are wanting to shoot heavy boolits at below subsonic velocities, twist like this is the ticket.

Why are all the rifle manufacturers, with the above exception, that produce 44 mag so stubborn about the 1 in 38 twist?

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Originally Posted by buckshotshoey

Why are all the rifle manufacturers, with the above exception, that produce 44 mag so stubborn about the 1 in 38 twist?

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It works well with factory ammo offerings, and I know it is hard to believe but reloaders and especially casters are but a small percentage of the buyers.

But by going 1 in 20, it won't hurt the performance of that factory ammo, and will open up a niche market for factory heavy boolits. Its a win-win. And it won't cost any more to produce. I don't see the issue.

What is the twist rate of a common .44 mag revolver?

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Originally Posted by buckshotshoey

But by going 1 in 20, it won't hurt the performance of that factory ammo, and will open up a niche market for factory heavy boolits. Its a win-win. And it won't cost any more to produce. I don't see the issue.

What is the twist rate of a common .44 mag revolver?

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SBH 44 is 1:20

BH, Vaquero, 45 Colt 1:16

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Originally Posted by DougGuy

SBH 44 is 1:20

BH, Vaquero, 45 Colt 1:16

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That's about what I thought. If the factory ammo performs in a handgun, then it will do as well or better in a rifle. There is absolutely no reasonable excuse not to get rid of the 1 in 38 altogether. At least I can't think of one. Other then Elmer might roll in his grave.

When I barreled my 1873 Uberti lever gun to .45 Colt in 1982 I specified that I wanted a Douglas barrel with a 1:16 twist. My gunsmith was surprised I wanted a fast twist until I told him that I might be shooting a 300 grain bullet and I want it stabilized at 150 yards. Regardless of the bullet, it eats the center out of 6 inch bulls at 25 yards. Anything slower is not going to as accurate out past 100 yards.

Way bring a dead thread back to life but I noticed all the 44 mag henry rifles are now listed as having a 1:20 twist rate so I emailed them to verify this is their response;

Thank you for your interest in Henry rifles.

Henry Big Boys chambered for .44 Magnum can use any reputable, good-quality brands of factory standard or +P loads of .44 Magnum or .44 Special which have standard profile bullets (lead or semi-jacketed round-nose, semi-jacketed or jacketed flat-nose and hollow-point) up to a maximum projectile weight of 260-grains.

The .44 Magnum Big Boy series rifle barrels have recently undergone a change from the old twist rate of 1:38” to a new twist rate of 1:20”. This was to simplify production of .44 Magnum barrels using the same twist rates for both the Big Boy series and the Single Shot series; however, there is no functional difference in the use or operation of our .44 Mag Big Boy lever-action rifles, or the loads they can use, no matter which twist rate the gun has. .44 Magnum rounds with larger bullets than 260-grains do not cycle reliably through the Big Boy action, regardless of the twist rate, so for the lever-action BB rifles, we are staying with the above load recommendations.

The changeover in the .44 Magnum rifles' twist rates was a running production change for which we have no specific date or serial # reference. It was done gradually as barrel stockpiles were used up. Unfortunately, there is no way to identify which guns have which twist rate without measuring the individual barrel, using the simple procedure outlined in the following YouTube video from MidwayUSA:

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Originally Posted by Flailguy

SNIP...

all the 44 mag henry rifles are now listed as having a 1:20 twist rate

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Thanks for posting, I'll have to keep my eye out for a new one at the LGS

I bought a new Henry BB Steel in 45 Colt because it had 1-16 twist. Jedman

What is the twist rate of the .41s? Anyone know that will share?

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Originally Posted by ddixie884

What is the twist rate of the .41s? Anyone know that will share?

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1:18"

What?? A manufacturer that listens?

Good morning
41 mag twist.... Depends on if you want to shoot 340 grainers at a slow velocity out to 100 yards or a 300 grainer at 1500 fps out to 100 yards or so.
1-16 twist will do it all plus some. 1-18 works very well until you try doing things a might unique using Unique.

And yes Henry has a long history of being attentive to received correspondence.

Hey fellers,

I don't mean this in a confrontational way. I am genuinely curious.

How much will a faster twist rate effect accuracy on a pistol caliber carbine? Rifles that are meant for 100 yards or so.

I have a Marlin 1894 in 45 Colt that shoots a 250 gr bullets at 1150 fps into a 3" group at 100 yards. With the factory buckhorn sights.

Is a faster twist rate going to make that much difference?

(Accurate 45-250P/ 8.8 gr Unique/ 100 yards. This group is typical)

Attachment 271642


Steve in N CA

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How much will a faster twist rate effect accuracy on a pistol caliber carbine?

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I can't really answer "how much", but I will say it'll make attaining better accuracy easier, with heavy boolits.

I can't count the number of posts where people can't get a 1:38 twist Marlin to shoot heavy boolits accurately, Now I will admit, 99% of those complaints usually include no details of what they did or also rarely mentioning what level of accuracy (or lack of accuracy) they had.