Henry's SASS Rifle

[Cypress Sun]

2 hours ago, Cinch said:

I missed the post where someone recommended this for CAS. 
 

 

 

I highly recommend this rifle for EVERYONE shooting in the Silver Senior Category, especially those who reside in Florida.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Here's what I think.  These guns are not marketed to new shooters.  They will not be in stores on the shelves where a newby will see it and say "oh look, a Big Boy made for SASS!".  They need to be ordered, by SASS members, and most SASS members already know that this is not a good competition rifle.  Yeah, they will sell a few to SASS members who want it for one reason or another, but I doubt too many will be sold.

 

When the Big Boy first came out, there were some folks who thought it looked really nice.  Maybe because it was shiny.  I was never one of those.  It looked Butt ugly to me.  Now that I'm used to seeing them, it isn't that bad but to me it is the least attractive of all the SASS legal rifles.  But that's strictly subjective.  

 

The one gun they make I wouldn't mind having is their 1860.  I know, they are overpriced and overpolished which dulls the edges.  That's okay, they are still very nice looking.  If I ran across a used HRA 1860 44-40 at a really good price, I would consider it (partially because I've never owned a '60).  Since they can make this gun, they could very easily make a '66.  If they did that, and chambered it in .45 for the general public, and 44-40 and .38 for CAS, I think they would sell quite a few of them even if more costly than Uberti.  And if they did make it, copying Uberti's parts would be smart.

[Red Eye Jim]

When I started in this sport, my first rifle was a Henry Big Boy because that was what was available at the time that met the requirement and I just wanted to shoot damn it.  Now I am not the fastest gun.  In fact, I'm one of the slowest.  Even before I took a break because of covid and the changes in my work schedules, my average raw stage times were between 30 and 40 seconds. But even then, I started to outrun that HBB in the rifle portion of the stage by the end of my first year and managed to pick up a Miruku '73 carbine.  Not to mention the pain in the ass that loading the HBB is at a loading table...

That being said, I still have my HBB.  That rifle is my go-to for "Match Rifle" target shoots at annuals.  My wife has started shooting this year.  She's been using my '73 carbine while I use a '73 rifle I picked up in .45 Colt for WB (I know I was supposed to get a '94, but I'm left-handed and I just prefer top ejects.)

Will I get this gun?  I haven't decided.  My wife thinks it's pretty but wasn't that interesting when I showed her.  The funny part is, if they had a BPOE version, she'd likely want one...

[Rye Miles #13621]

13 hours ago, Cypress Sun said:

 

I highly recommend this rifle for EVERYONE shooting in the Silver Senior Category, especially those who reside in Florida.

Good advice for all the Cattle Barons in Ohio too!!!

[Zach Taylor,SASS#14359]

Like anything else, once you get a bad rep for something, such as the aforementioned Henry and pump action rifles, it will take a lot of shooters using them with good results for opinions to change, if ever. Personally I had a Lighting a while ago and with three trips to the factory, I scrapped it. I doubt if I will ever shoot anything but my 73 or 66 and will not change rifles.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

1 hour ago, Zach Taylor,SASS#14359 said:

Like anything else, once you get a bad rep for something, such as the aforementioned Henry and pump action rifles, it will take a lot of shooters using them with good results for opinions to change, if ever. Personally I had a Lighting a while ago and with three trips to the factory, I scrapped it. I doubt if I will ever shoot anything but my 73 or 66 and will not change rifles.

 

Who made your Lightning?   When you say scrapped, do you mean sold, traded or retired to the safe?

[Zach Taylor,SASS#14359]

Taurus made and I sold it to a dealer, because no one wanted it unless the price was real cheap.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

WaBac (Thank you Sherman & The Perfesser), when the Big Boy came out, they were actually nice rifles.  Unfortunately, the guns didn't set up well at all.  Wasn't much could be done to em.  figured out the "Action" was a lame copy of the Marlin but with a round enclosed bolt.  Worked fine cycled firmly but not fast.

 

I retired a Lustrum or so ago and don't know of anyone shooting one of the more recent rifles so I can't comment on Henry's "newer build" rifles.   Anybody here actually try one of the newer build rifles before totally writing them off and bad mouthing 'em??   Curious am I.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

6 hours ago, Zach Taylor,SASS#14359 said:

Taurus made and I sold it to a dealer, because no one wanted it unless the price was real cheap.

Ah, a Taurus.  Okay.  Makes sense that it was problematic.  Takes a lot of work to make them, well, work.

I really would not pay more than $400 for one, and since I remember when the cost that new, I'd prolly be inclined to not pay that much for a used one.