Bored... let's talk about the Henry Big Boy!

[McCandless]

Bottle's, another please!

On somewhere else in cyberspace, a feller wandered in and asked, "Is the Henry Big Boy .45 Colt an acceptable rifle in Cowboy Action Shooting?"

The first answer was, "Yes"

The second answer was "Wait for it..."

70 answers later it's still rolling.  (I counted, I was bored)... The answers range from "No"  ????  to, "you'll never be happy with anything but a short-stroked full race Uberti '73"

to "some clubs have banned the Henry 1860"

 

Sometimes I read through these posts just to make myself feel sane because I haven't answered!

 

Ok, who's got something to say about the Henry Big Boy!!

 

 

 

[Calico Mary]

ummm.....it's purty???

[Tyrel Cody]

Good, perhaps great, firearm for hunting, target shooting, or plinking. Probably the worst choice for CAS. But if you already have one bring it and shoot it. 

 

 

[Pat Riot]

Honestly, I am tempted to buy one to shoot CAS just to be ornery. 

Maybe one in .357. 

 

Last Spring I pulled out my Win 94 Trails End and took it to a match. Some people just couldn’t help themselves. They had to comment what a poor gun it is for CAS and give me recommendations on it’s replacement...all the while I am holding it in a fashion (muzzle up, across chest) where they could easily see my badge and SASS number. It was cheap entertainment. 

 

 

[McCandless]

This summer, I'm going to drag out my old '92 and have at it.  Since it was built in 1896, it has never been made "race ready".  But, it spits black powder rounds nicely.  Just have to run it like you mean it!  I haven't added a Big Boy to the collection.  Well, maybe if I sell off that LE .303 that's just sitting there...

[Cholla]

I will be the first to say I'm new to all this, but I have read a ton of people's opinions. Before I shot in a match, I just knew I wasn't going to be competitive unless I had a 73. I even stopped the process of buying a HRA 1860, even though I love how they look.

But, having been to a whopping three matches, two SASS and one NCOWS, it isn't my guns that are slowing me down, it's me. Until I learn how to transition and acquire targets quickly and accurately, an 1874 Trapdoor wouldn't be the thing holding me back.

 

I have a friend that has two Ruger Blackhawks and a bevy of Henry Big Boys. He was wanting to know if he would have fun at a SASS match with them. I told him he would have a blast and that his guns would not be the hold up until he progressed a long way. Then he could decide if he wanted to get different gear.

 

As an outdoor media person, I have watched as a manufacturer after manufacturer and retailer after retailer has pulled sponsorships of organizations that I have part of, so I think we should feel blessed to have a sponsor like Henry. If anything, SASS needs to work with HRA to produce American-made replicas over imports. Which is why I posted their suggestion box in a post yesterday.

[DocWard]

If all I had was a Henry Big Boy, then I'd haul it to a match and shoot it, and have fun. I would give the same advice to any other shooter.

 

I love my '92. I've had some very well meaning shooters suggest I get a '73, and have offered to loan me theirs. I simply don't see a need since I'm not so fast that I see a short stroke making a difference for me. Would I like to have a stroked '73, some tuned Vaqueros with lowered hammers and an SKB or Browning that drops wide at a touch, or maybe an '87 that Lassiter has worked over? You betcha. Would I have more fun than I do with my '92, my Taurus Gauchos and my Stoeger? I don't honestly think I would. Sure, my times might improve a bit, but I don't know that they would improve enough to make me competitive with anyone other than myself. But I've said it before and I will say it again, if I were merely chasing trophies and awards, I would've stuck with Trap.

I should note that, as I type, my '92 is sitting with a broken loading gate cover, and I will likely be borrowing a '73 or maybe a Marlin. Will either spoil me and make me crave something newer and better? No, I think I will still enjoy what I have and appreciate the fact I have it.

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

The problem I have with it is the way you load it...thru the tube magazine. I know...that's the way the original Henry was loaded too. But for me it's very clumsy for loading.

[Noz]

I started with 41 mag BlackHawks, Chinese double and a Marlin 94 in 41 mag. Did I have fun? Yes.  Was I frustrated with my guns?  Yes.  I tuned the BlackHawks, did what I could to the Marlin and got rid of the Chinese double.  Did I have fun? Yes.  Was I frustrated with my guns? Not so much.

Go ahead 15 years.  I shoot half cock lowered hammer Ruger New Vaqueros, a Codymatic Uberti 1873 and an SKB with mechanical triggers. Do I have fun? Yes.  Am I frustrated? Yes.  But now it's because my guns handle and shoot well but it's the shooter that is letting me down.

Moral of the story is shoot what you have at the highest skill level you can manage but never be completely satisfied.  You can always improve both skill and equipment.

[Calico Mary]

1 hour ago, DocWard said:

I should note that, as I type, my '92 is sitting with a broken loading gate cover, and I will likely be borrowing a '73 or maybe a Marlin. Will either spoil me and make me crave something newer and better? No, I think I will still enjoy what I have and appreciate the fact I have it.

 

if you need a rifle for state, I won't be using my Marlin but could bring it.....

[DocWard]

1 minute ago, Calico Mary said:

 

if you need a rifle for state, I won't be using my Marlin but could bring it.....

 

I've already had several offers, but thanks!

[Calico Mary]

as long as you don't skip jus cuz yer rifle's broke....

[Birdgun Quail, SASS #63663]

You’ll shot your eye out.

 

Get a ‘73. 

[Grampaw Willie, SASS No.26996]

the original rule was -- a 19th century rifle, or replica thereof

Louis Imperato's  Henry Big Boy ?    xxx

 

he weedled and cried until he got a waiver for his gun.   but he never got my vote.

 

SASS is a long way from what it was back in 2000 or earlier.

better?   worse?

 

what kinda chaw ya like ?

[DocWard]

19 minutes ago, Calico Mary said:

as long as you don't skip jus cuz yer rifle's broke....

 

Nope. That would disappoint a few people for some strange reason.

[Grampaw Willie, SASS No.26996]

the WORST thing about Imperato's "Big Boy" is he has the nerve to offer it in .41

[Calico Mary]

10 minutes ago, DocWard said:

 

Nope. That would disappoint a few people for some strange reason.

 

yeah....ME!

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

2 hours ago, Paako Hunter said:

I will be the first to say I'm new to all this, but I have read a ton of people's opinions. Before I shot in a match, I just knew I wasn't going to be competitive unless I had a 73. I even stopped the process of buying a HRA 1860, even though I love how they look.

But, having been to a whopping three matches, two SASS and one NCOWS, it isn't my guns that are slowing me down, it's me. Until I learn how to transition and acquire targets quickly and accurately, an 1874 Trapdoor wouldn't be the thing holding me back.

 

I have a friend that has two Ruger Blackhawks and a bevy of Henry Big Boys. He was wanting to know if he would have fun at a SASS match with them. I told him he would have a blast and that his guns would not be the hold up until he progressed a long way. Then he could decide if he wanted to get different gear.

 

As an outdoor media person, I have watched as a manufacturer after manufacturer and retailer after retailer has pulled sponsorships of organizations that I have part of, so I think we should feel blessed to have a sponsor like Henry. If anything, SASS needs to work with HRA to produce American-made replicas over imports. Which is why I posted their suggestion box in a post yesterday.

Outstanding!

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

1 hour ago, Grampaw Willie, SASS No.26996 said:

the original rule was -- a 19th century rifle, or replica thereof

Louis Imperato's  Henry Big Boy ?    xxx

 

he weedled and cried until he got a waiver for his gun.   but he never got my vote.

 

SASS is a long way from what it was back in 2000 or earlier.

better?   worse?

 

what kinda chaw ya like ?

I don’t chaw. 

SASS has changed. 

To paraphrase the great sage REO Speedwagon, I’m rollin’ with the changes. 

Life is good. 

[Ace_of_Hearts]

I shoot one a couple of times a year....... Just to shut people up.

 

[DocWard]

I should mention that I got interested in Cowboy Action Shooting prior to having some setbacks that led to me having less discretionary income. I had to sell a '73, a '92 and my Cattleman revolvers. Without getting the '92 and the Gauchos from a couple of pards here for prices I could afford, I wouldn't be shooting, period. As strange as it may sound, that makes them a bit special to me, and even if I could afford the "race ready" guns, I would likely still be shooting them often.

[Laramie]

Although my favorite lever gun is my 73, I have three 1892s and a big boy that need attention sometimes. They're all fun to shoot. Besides, like Mary said, they're purdy. 

[Three Foot Johnson]

10 hours ago, McCandless said:

Ok, who's got something to say about the Henry Big Boy!!

 

 

 

Well... it's a step up from a Taurus Thunderbolt!

[DocWard]

10 minutes ago, J Bar Binks, #47015 said:

Well... it's a step up from a Taurus Thunderbolt!

 

Never tried, or even handled one, but from what I've heard, I'm not sure what a step down would be...

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

Here ya go... at about two grand a mite pricey ~ but since they could produce this, why not a more reasonably priced '66 or '73? 

 

 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Im never going to tell anyone the Big Boy  is their  best choice for this game .

But I know several Pards who use them with out a issue .

 

I bought a New Big Boy 44 Mag just because I wanted one .

Not for SASS but because I like the looks of the rifle .

I took it One time to a shoot just because I wanted to try it myself .

 

Now dont get Me wrong , Im NO speed Demon .

But Bone Stock right out of the box , She shot great .

I shot a  Clean Match !

Never used it for a SASS Match  again .

I use a 66 or a 92 most of the time .

 

I think Most People just Repeat what they have read !

With No experience for themselves .

 

Is it your best Choice ? Hell NO it is Not.

Will it work ? Just fine knowing the Guns has Limitations .

 

Rooster 

 

  

[Pat Riot]

1 minute ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

I think Most People just Repeat what they have read !

With No experience for themselves .

That seems to be human nature in many things, but it is prevalent in the gun world.

[Rye Miles #13621]

They're made in America!!

[Pat Riot]

I know this much, after seeing the quality put into my Henry Single Shot rifle and buying it new for $369.00 I will definitely look into their other products. I am considering getting their little AR-7 .22 Survival Rifle to carry in the saddlebags of my motorcycle. Also, after shooting a Henry .22 lever gun at a shooting gallery a couple of times I will be getting one of those for my Grandson for Christmas this year.

I have also decided that the next time this guy, don't remember his alias, offers to sell his Henry to the next new shooter that appears at our monthly match I am going to buy it from him. One to shut him up about it. Two because he is offering for a good price and three, because he is such a #$%* for always trying to get new shooters to buy it.

[Rye Miles #13621]

The Henry .22's are great!

[Red Cent]

Nobody touched the real SASS story. Well, GP Willie did a tad of a touch. 

[Pat Riot]

5 minutes ago, Red Cent said:

Nobody touched the real SASS story. Well, GP Willie did a tad of a touch. 

So? What’s your point? What is the “real SASS story”? If there is one that can be posted here without it being removed.

 

Is it the story about Henry saying their rifles were SASS legal before they were deemed to be SASS legal? Oh, the drama...

 

Honestly I don’t care....not sure why I am even asking.

[Dubious Don #56333]

I sell quite a few Henry rifles at the shop. They're solidly made, excellent wood, fit & finish. The actions are quite stiff compared to my other CAS rifles but they were stiff too before I worked on them, LOL.

 

The lever throw seems kinda long but now I'm gonna have to measure when I go in to work. The 1860 would be the only 'traditional' model but I'm not a purist so any of their rifles would be fine IMO.

 

I can tell you that Henry is a top notch company. Anthony Imperato is a wonderful guy to deal with.

[Tennessee Trapper Tom]

I had a Henry big boy for about 6 month. Beautiful rifle. But I had nothing but problems with it. Couldn’t get thru a stage.  At the time I was just trying new things. I had a 73, a 66, and a 60. I sold the Henry and luckily got most of my money back. I seem to have been a rare case, because others didn’t have the same issues. 

[Father Kit Cool Gun Garth]

4 hours ago, Dubious Don #56333 said:

I sell quite a few Henry rifles at the shop. They're solidly made, excellent wood, fit & finish. The actions are quite stiff compared to my other CAS rifles but they were stiff too before I worked on them, LOL.

 

The lever throw seems kinda long but now I'm gonna have to measure when I go in to work. The 1860 would be the only 'traditional' model but I'm not a purist so any of their rifles would be fine IMO.

 

I can tell you that Henry is a top notch company. Anthony Imperato is a wonderful guy to deal with.

 

I can attest to that.

He personally worked with me on the acquisition of my Henry Big Boy Silver .357 which I shoot in matches with no issues.