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Rye Miles #13621

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Posted

In the Spring issue of GOTOW, there's a write up about the Henry Big Boy. I'm not a fan of this rifle but I am not putting it down. This post is not meant to be a Henry bashing I'm just curious about a quote that is blown up on the first page of the article:

 

"There is no SMOOTHER-OPERATING LEVER ACTION that I have tried than that of the Henry--in rimfire or centerfire versions. It has to be tried to be APPRECIATED!"

 

 

Really??? :wacko: Apparently the author has not tried a 66 or 73 slicked up with a SS kit, unless he means out of the box! Both my 73's were pretty smooth right out of the box even before the ss kits.

 

Whadyall think???

 

Rye

Posted

I will admit it, I have a Big Boy in 45 colt. Out of the box it was a lot smoother then my 1866.

Take a look at HRA 1860, they are a sweet rifle. Good quality, smooth action. The company stands behind their products as well, with quick service and no questions asked. The 1860 is on the pricey side, but it is made in the USA.

I use my big boy hunting and have had no problems with it.

So please don't hate me for admitting that I own a Henry Big Boy.

Posted

I will admit it, I have a Big Boy in 45 colt. Out of the box it was a lot smoother then my 1866.

Take a look at HRA 1860, they are a sweet rifle. Good quality, smooth action. The company stands behind their products as well, with quick service and no questions asked. The 1860 is on the pricey side, but it is made in the USA.

I use my big boy hunting and have had no problems with it.

So please don't hate me for admitting that I own a Henry Big Boy.

Ha ha, no hate here. I'm just wondering what exactly this guy meant. Maybe the "out of the box" Henry is smoother than any other lever action rifle. The one I shot a couple years ago that a pard had seemed kinda rough to me. Oh well………...

Posted

I can't get over the lack of a loading gate, I mean come on, Winchester made the transition as soon as it could with Kings patent 150 years ago and every good lever gun since has had one, but these jokers know better and have to put that silly clunky loading tube with the cutout that looks like a cartridge so I won't put it in upside down..... :angry:

Posted

I can't get over the lack of a loading gate, I mean come on, Winchester made the transition as soon as it could with Kings patent 150 years ago and every good lever gun since has had one, but these jokers know better and have to put that silly clunky loading tube with the cutout that looks like a cartridge so I won't put it in upside down..... :angry:

IMHO, a loading gate would make it attractive to a number of cowboy shooters that are now forced to buy an Italian reproduction to play the game. The made in the USA label would attract quite a number of us, but the missing loading gate is a deal breaker.

Posted

It's called advertising hype, every company does it.

Henry is American owned and American made Your Italian clone may look more authentic and run better but at what cost?

If your Henry breaks a call to the company will have the problem cured quickly try that with your foreign crap

Posted

It's called advertising hype, every company does it.

Henry is American owned and American made Your Italian clone may look more authentic and run better but at what cost?

If your Henry breaks a call to the company will have the problem cured quickly try that with your foreign crap

Ubteri (foreign) = crap? Legions of cowboy shooters would contest that remark. Me included. So would the dozens of dealers and hundreds of smiths that work with/on them. I have no doubt that the Taylors 1873 that I have would be well cared for by Taylors should it fall ill with an affliction contracted at the factory. . . I have no doubt.

 

Even the Rossi I had wasn't "crap"

 

The smoothest running 22lr I've ever shot was a Henry Frontier. . . worth every penny paid for it.

Posted

No offense intended, but.......................Life is too short to shoot an ugly rifle.

--Dawg

Posted

Well , so far my smoothest out-of-the-box lever has been a Browning 92 Centennial. If that HBB is better that it is , that would be something.

Plus one +1 with Prairie Dawg , but to each his own. Rex :D

Posted

My first rifle for CAS was a Henry Big Boy 45 LC. Out of the box smooth, was better than my current 1866 Uberti's before action jobs. My last 1866 was so stiff out of the box that I used my Henry as a backup until Long Hunter could get to it.

 

I shot the Henry for a couple of years, and finally got it to a point where it was starting to fall behind my capabilities. In my case, it was a good starter. When I started CAS I could not afford $1,300 - $1,400 for a rifle. Frankly I wasn't sure that I would get hooked on the sport long term. So.....starting on a budget, $650 for the Henry was a good spend for me and I could find a new one on the shelf at Gander Mountain. The rifle is very accurate and I found Henry to be very responsive in service. They replaced the bolt a couple of times, their design has evolved on the bolt which solved my ejection problems. Parts were promptly sent, no charge.

 

Downsides, While similar to Marlin actions there is not much you can do to a henry other than polishing and using a Marlin hammer spring to slick one up. The stroke is long and hard to master without rocking the rifle excessively, My rifle had a tendency to have ejection issues, and frequently left an empty on the carrier on the last round. I also found that keeping the action very clean was required to get the best results. I still have my Henry and have not been able to sell it, taking it to local matches. My kids and wife have used it for their introductions to CAS and it's served me well.

 

In retrospect, I believe that anyone who takes the plunge into CAS is going to get hooked!!!!!!!! I suggest that you buy the best equipment you can as you go. Buying used Italian clones is the easiest way to get started on a budget. If you buy one and decide to move up to something fancier you won't have any trouble selling it. Better yet these clones are platforms that you can upgrade as you go adding action jobs, short strokes, and goodies as you go. When I finally bought my first 1866 and had Long Hunter do the full Monty on it, it took me an additional year to catch up with the capabilities of the gun. At the time, I was completely blown away by how much better the 66 was as a competitive shooters rifle.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted

Then there's the American made Marlin 1894/336 for same or less price than the big boy .

Posted

Then there's the American made Marlin 1894/336 for same or less price than the big boy .

That's a valid point, I forgot about the Marlins. I had one in .44-40 that I regrettably sold a few years ago.

Posted

In the Spring issue of GOTOW, there's a write up about the Henry Big Boy. I'm not a fan of this rifle but I am not putting it down. This post is not meant to be a Henry bashing I'm just curious about a quote that is blown up on the first page of the article:

 

"There is no SMOOTHER-OPERATING LEVER ACTION that I have tried than that of the Henry--in rimfire or centerfire versions. It has to be tried to be APPRECIATED!"

 

 

Really??? :wacko: Apparently the author has not tried a 66 or 73 slicked up with a SS kit, unless he means out of the box! Both my 73's were pretty smooth right out of the box even before the ss kits.

 

Whadyall think???

 

Rye

 

 

Of course he means out-of-the-box. All the gun reviews I have ever seen were for out-of-the-box guns unless the work and/or gunsmith was detailed in the review. I've had three of my guns reviewed in GOTOW mag and they all mentioned the work done and by who.

 

As for the out-of-the-box Marlins current and past, they aren't/weren't as smooth as the out-of-the-box Henry's.

I do believe if the Henry BB had a loading gate/spring cover it would be a more attractive seller. I don't mind using the tube load. But, the twin (inner and outer)mag tube and octagon barrel does make the gun feel front heavy.

That said, I salute the Imperato's for their efforts to bring an American made firearm to market. Particularly, in today's legal climate.

Posted

Ubteri (foreign) = crap? Legions of cowboy shooters would contest that remark. Me included. So would the dozens of dealers and hundreds of smiths that work with/on them. I have no doubt that the Taylors 1873 that I have would be well cared for by Taylors should it fall ill with an affliction contracted at the factory. . . I have no doubt.

 

Even the Rossi I had wasn't "crap"

 

The smoothest running 22lr I've ever shot was a Henry Frontier. . . worth every penny paid for it.

 

 

Hanging on my wall is a nice shiny EMF Outlaw. It's hanging on the wall because you can't chamber a round in 3 of the charge holes. After a long vacation at EMF it came back the same way it left with a note that the gun was in spec and it must be an ammo issue. Well damn I guess after only making 44-40 ammo for over 140 years you would think Winchester and Remington would know the specs. So much for customer service and Italian crap.

Posted

 

Ubteri (foreign) = crap? Legions of cowboy shooters would contest that remark. Me included. So would the dozens of dealers and hundreds of smiths that work with/on them. I have no doubt that the Taylors 1873 that I have would be well cared for by Taylors should it fall ill with an affliction contracted at the factory. . . I have no doubt.

 

Even the Rossi I had wasn't "crap"

 

The smoothest running 22lr I've ever shot was a Henry Frontier. . . worth every penny paid for it.

 

 

Hanging on my wall is a nice shiny EMF Outlaw. It's hanging on the wall because you can't chamber a round in 3 of the charge holes. After a long vacation at EMF it came back the same way it left with a note that the gun was in spec and it must be an ammo issue. Well damn I guess after only making 44-40 ammo for over 140 years you would think Winchester and Remington would know the specs. So much for customer service and Italian crap.

 

That's funny because ALL my Uberti's run great! Never had a problem with any of them. 6 revolvers, 3 rifles. I did have a problem with a pair of Colts though, had to send one back to Colt TWICE!!! Italian crap???? Not in my house! :)

Posted

I would totally agree about the Henry RF rifles being amazingly slick right out of the box..... The CF rifles.... Not so much. But then again I've only handled a half a dozen or so of each.

Posted

IMHO, a loading gate would make it attractive to a number of cowboy shooters that are now forced to buy an Italian reproduction to play the game. The made in the USA label would attract quite a number of us, but the missing loading gate is a deal breaker.

Actually, they have stated that almost all feed problems with lever action rifles are due to the side loading gate and therefore their decision not to use the King's Patent. I don't drive trains for a living, so I can't say... However, these are the same folks that bill themselves in a less than straight forward fashion...but as with anything... one can pretty much tell any lie... repeat it often enough and few will challenge it. AND, you just might convince some folks it's true. Or... if no one else, yourself!

Posted

Actually, they have stated that almost all feed problems with lever action rifles are due to the side loading gate and therefore their decision not to use the King's Patent. I don't drive trains for a living, so I can't say... However, these are the same folks that bill themselves in a less than straight forward fashion...but as with anything... one can pretty much tell any lie... repeat it often enough and few will challenge it. AND, you just might convince some folks it's true. Or... if no one else, yourself!

 

Evidently that's the case, because I can't figure out any other reason not to manufacture a rifle with a built in customer base. Personally I've never had a loading gate cause a feeding problem and to tell the truth I've rarely heard of it happening to anyone else unless the loading gate broke. Their logic or lack of is a puzzle to me.

Posted

I had 2 new shooters at our club this year who were first time shooters for CAS. they both came in with Big Boys. I guess I am used to my action jobs on the Uberti's I shoot. when working with them at our New Shooters clinic I tried The HBB out. It operated ok having been right out of the box. They shot a few matches with them that year but now the have come over to shooting 73's. I try to get to new shooters before they purchase but some times the dealer they go to tells them it a great cowboy gun. The dealer was not a CAShooter. When you look at championship shooters what do you see. I do own a Henry 22 talk about stiff action.

Just My 2 Cents Worth.

JK

Posted

I remember seeing a picture of a Big Boy prototype with a loading gate. That brass colored frame was really homely with those two big steel slots in it.

Posted

Actually, they have stated that almost all feed problems with lever action rifles are due to the side loading gate and therefore their decision not to use the King's Patent. I don't drive trains for a living, so I can't say... However, these are the same folks that bill themselves in a less than straight forward fashion...but as with anything... one can pretty much tell any lie... repeat it often enough and few will challenge it. AND, you just might convince some folks it's true. Or... if no one else, yourself!

 

 

Hi Griff,

For some folks I know this has been an ongoing issue. So, I'm wondering if you feel the same way about a Japanese based company using the Winchester name?

You do know the Imperato family has been in the gun making business here in the USA since the early 1900's and now that they have brought back a true American made 1860 I feel they have much more street cred than any of the foreign makers selling historic American gun designs.

Posted

Still get a clammy feeling about Henry Co. ads. and always think the new folks coming to cas matches with a Henry big boy were sorta taken.

 

Not every shot one and think the big boy Henry would be wonderful for folks that just want a lever rifle that looks Old West.

Posted

Still get a clammy feeling about Henry Co. ads. and always think the new folks coming to cas matches with a Henry big boy were sorta taken.

 

Not every shot one and think the big boy Henry would be wonderful for folks that just want a lever rifle that looks Old West.

 

 

I feel the same way about the current Winchester 92's :(

Posted

 

 

I feel the same way about the current Winchester 92's :(

I feel the same way about the current Winchester 73!! :unsure:

Posted

 

 

Hi Griff,

For some folks I know this has been an ongoing issue. So, I'm wondering if you feel the same way about a Japanese based company using the Winchester name?

You do know the Imperato family has been in the gun making business here in the USA since the early 1900's and now that they have brought back a true American made 1860 I feel they have much more street cred than any of the foreign makers selling historic American gun designs.

Nate, to me it's not about using the name. I appreciate who the Imperatos are and the guns they make today. I have a Golden Boy 22 and love shooting it. (However, I admit to total ignorance of the guns they were making in the early 1900s. What were they making back then?) It just irks me that they continue to go to such lengths to give the false impression that they were the original makers of the 1860 Henry. For the life of me I don't know why they continue to do that.

Posted

I can't get over the lack of a loading gate, I mean come on, Winchester made the transition as soon as it could with Kings patent 150 years ago and every good lever gun since has had one, but these jokers know better and have to put that silly clunky loading tube with the cutout that looks like a cartridge so I won't put it in upside down..... :angry:

 

 

yup

 

IMHO, a loading gate would make it attractive to a number of cowboy shooters that are now forced to buy an Italian reproduction to play the game. The made in the USA label would attract quite a number of us, but the missing loading gate is a deal breaker.

 

 

yup

 

No offense intended, but.......................Life is too short to shoot an ugly rifle.

--Dawg

 

 

yup

 

 

Of all the hundreds of folks shooting this week at the National Champeenships how many are using a Big Ugly Boy? I would bet a dollar that it is exactly zero. That should tell anyone thinking of getting into CAS all they need to know about THE rifle not to buy.

Posted

Nate, to me it's not about using the name. I appreciate who the Imperatos are and the guns they make today. I have a Golden Boy 22 and love shooting it. (However, I admit to total ignorance of the guns they were making in the early 1900s. What were they making back then?) It just irks me that they continue to go to such lengths to give the false impression that they were the original makers of the 1860 Henry. For the life of me I don't know why they continue to do that.

 

Probably for the same reason a company that bought the Winchester name claims to be making Winchesters or a company making pistols claims to be Springfield Armory. Charles Daily, Dan Wesson and Charter Arms among others have either zero or tenuous conection to the original companies

Posted

Nate, to me it's not about using the name. I appreciate who the Imperatos are and the guns they make today. I have a Golden Boy 22 and love shooting it. (However, I admit to total ignorance of the guns they were making in the early 1900s. What were they making back then?) It just irks me that they continue to go to such lengths to give the false impression that they were the original makers of the 1860 Henry. For the life of me I don't know why they continue to do that.

 

 

I'm sorry but I still don't see the difference in what they are doing and what Miroku is doing with the Winchester name. Oh, and to me impressions are somewhat like assumption and you know what they say about those.

 

As for the Imperato gun connection I have read historical accounts about the time-line connection of the Imperato's and the Iver Johnson firearms. Some say the 1930's other say the 1970's.

But, like this article states the time line is fuzzy as to when the Imperato's became involved with the production of the IJ's.

Why the Iver Johnson Deserves Some Respect

Posted

 

Probably for the same reason a company that bought the Winchester name claims to be making Winchesters or a company making pistols claims to be Springfield Armory. Charles Daily, Dan Wesson and Charter Arms among others have either zero or tenuous conection to the original companies

One of us doesn't get it. :)

Posted

 

 

I'm sorry but I still don't see the difference in what they are doing and what Miroku is doing with the Winchester name. Oh, and to me impressions are somewhat like assumption and you know what they say about those.

 

As for the Imperato gun connection I have read historical accounts about the time-line connection of the Imperato's and the Iver Johnson firearms. Some say the 1930's other say the 1970's.

But, like this article states the time line is fuzzy as to when the Imperato's became involved with the production of the IJ's.

Why the Iver Johnson Deserves Some Respect

That's 2 out of 3 of us that don't get it. :)

Posted

Boy did this go waaaaaay off topic!! :wacko:

Posted

The Henry BB doesn't compare to a nice slicked up 73'. But out of the box....the Henry BB or rimfire for that matter is by far the smoothest I've ever tried.

Posted

Japanese winchesters kinda make me sad...they coulda done it right. . HENRY claiming to be making the original Henry rifle...kinda makes me sad too..and they charging round 2 grand???? You can keep it. No thanks. Uberti makes a nice clone with no qualms bout calling it that. I think uberti has done a pretty good job with the sass clan..Those seem to be the chosen rifle by the best shooters in sass for a reason I guess( not me, I'm slow and smokey)..and they are beautiful rifles...all this jmho..;)

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