chestnut louie

I tested the 125 grain blue powder coated bullet and it fed OK. In all cases the Henry Big Boy prefers the longer 357 mag case length. Thanks Chestnut

I have shot hundreds thru my Henry Big Boy Steel. They are not sharp shouldered like most semi wad cutters. Jon Boy asked about what feeds in his Henry Big Boy Steel so I told him what feeds best in mine. Regards Chestnut Louie

The best for a Henry Big Boy Steel in 38/357 is a Lee 158 grain tumble lube semi wad cutter OAL 1.589" in 357 mag . This same bullet for 38 special at an OAL of 1.506". Note the firm roll crimp on both. Wheel weight lead lubed with alox works fine A 125 grain powder coated truncated cone @ 1.447” oal also works well. I have found that the truncated cone shape and powder coating (or Hitec coating) are key to good feeding. The blue powder coated one is a Lee 125 grain with and OAL of 1.44". I will try some next trip to the range Regards Chestnut Louie 38 special with Hitec coated truncated cone bullet , OAL of 1.452" 357 mag with only one tumble lube grove showing, OAL of 1.589" 38 special with two tumble lube groves showing, OAL of 1.506 38 special 125 grain Lee, OAL of 1.439"

They are brass colored.

the cowboy ammo that I previously purchased from a local gunsmith works 100%. I have a Lee turret press and their documentation says to use extra care when using Federal primers. What is your experience? Your answer is contained in your question....... ask him what he uses. I did ask and he was not happy with the question so I will go to the local shop and buy a 100 pack of their Winchesters and try them. -Thanks-

I am somewhat hesitant to ask him as my reloading my own ammo takes away from his bottom line. Took a little drive today to Hafer's gun shop in Hagerstown, MD and he has both Federal and Winchester small pistol primers on the shelf. Love it when a local shop has what I want. Chestnut Louie

S&B means Sellier & Bellot?

I am going to start re-loading my 38 special ammo and want to know what you think about the various brands of primers. I have Taylor's Smoke Wagon pistols that were tuned before I got them so the hammer spring is light but the cowboy ammo that I previously purchased from a local gunsmith works 100%. I have a Lee turret press and their documentation says to use extra care when using Federal primers. What is your experience? Regards Chestnut Louie

LostVaquero, Tell me about this "one piece Marlin ejector"? I do not know all of the parts so help me out. If I could see a picture then it will make sense. Where to buy? Yes the lever is wrapped to save my fingers. Regards Chestnut Louie

Seems to be a whole lot of Henry hate'n going on here. As new shooter (one match) I hope to get good enough to where my Henry Big Boy is what is slowing me down, but for right now I need to improve 'my" skills before considering a new and expensive slicked up 73. All of that being said I did send my BB back to Henry and they smoothed the entrance to the chamber, and I followed my older brother's advice and worked the lever while watching TV. These actions plus using ammo that it likes (Oregon trail laser-cast 140g FP) gives me good performance. In my first match my Henry only wasted maybe 5~6 seconds on just one stage with a failure to eject a spent brass. Another fellow with a Henry did not have any trouble. He was about the same time as I was. Not every 73 was perfect at that match. For now the $500 I saved on a Henry vs a 73 from Taylors I was able to get a gun belt, holsters and shotgun shell belt just the way I want them. This winter I will practice putting snap caps from my belt into my shotgun, dry firing at targets, becoming more familiar with the shooting sequences. When "I" get a lot faster then I may think about another rifle if I am faster than what I have now. Regards Chestnut Louie