Henry's Big Boy Steel Carbine Part II

The combination of short barrel, lever action carbine and the 45 Colt cartridge suggests the use of metallic sights; limited woodland visibility, 102 yard point blank range, the trajectory of a softball, and a relatively soft landing beyond a hundred yards. So why the Leupold scope?

High performance 45 Colt ammunition boosts velocity and extends reach to the point a scope could be useful. Point blank range is extended to 139 yards and a 200 yard shot  would be reasonable.

Additionally, where a hunter does not possess the eyes of a hawk, a scope can keep a hunter safely out in the woods or at the range and a bit of this applies to me. So if I am going to comment on the mechanical accuracy of a manufacturer’s firearm, out of respect for that enterprise, I want to make sure I am critiquing the product and not critiquing my own eyesight.

About that +P ammo

All firearms are not suitable for use with 45 Colt ammunition bearing the +P designation. According the Buffalo Bore, their 45 Colt high pressure ammunition may be used only in listed stout firearms and the Henry Big Boy appears within the Buffalo Bore list. So that covers the ammunition manufacturer’s perspective.

According to the folks at Henry, the Big Boy Steel Carbine can be used with 45 Colt ammunition bearing the nebulous +P ammo label. Nebulas because there is no industry +P SAAMI or CIP standard for the 45 Colt, it is determined by each individual manufacturer. Exceeding the industry standard of 14,000 psi, +P ammunition generally fall into the 20,000 psi to 30,000 psi range.

As numerous +P loads exceed 260 grain and fall inside the SAAMI maximum cartridge length spec, I will assume the limit is in deference to the Henry’s lazy 1:38″ rifling twist and an inability to stabilize the heaviest weights. The twist rate is shared with Marlin, Rossi’s M92 has a 1:30″ twist and Winchester’s rifles are 1:26″.

Dr. Jekyll and almost Mr. Hyde

There are currently 58 commercial loads widely available for the 45 Colt that cover the spectrum a spectrum of application; a cross section of eight were selected for this project. When shooting 1,000 fps ammo, report was moderate, recoil was light and the Henry had good manners. Bumped up to +P and the little rifle developed a serious bark, recoil became more pronounced though still comfortable to shoot and the Henry was moved up to a different class of firearm.

Warne suggested their Marlin mounts would fit, but they do not. The pattern is the same on the rear, however the only front hole that comes close to matching up with their one piece base is off by 0.030″ and it has a built in 20° of elevation. The Warne two piece base overhangs at the rears and has two holes where only one can be utilized. According to Warne, the 20° of elevation is an offset for lobbing trajectory rounds normally associated with cartridges like the 45 Colt and the offset keeps a scope closer to center range of adjustment.

The Henry mount matches the mount holes, raised a 40mm objective lens above the non-folding metallic rear sight with low Leupold rings. It was a system that stayed put throughout the shooting portion of the project.

Conclusions?

Drawn from distribution inventory rather than a T&E loan from the manufacturer, the subject Henry Big Boy Steel Carbine had plain grained stocks rather than exhibition grade, highly figured walnut examples often seen in cooperative reviews. Still, the wood fit, finish and metal work were clean and both are tightly joined where abutted. Mechanical operation was smooth and reliable throughout the project. Trigger pull had a bit of creep. The Henry’s shooting personality was classic lever gun. Accuracy? Good hunting rifle accuracy, good enough that I would have no problem with the Henry as a selection. The design of the action, as an almost scaled down Marlin 336 is stout.

The Henry MSRP exceeds that of a similar model Rossi lever gun by approximately $300 and a similar Marlin by approximately $100, but falls below Winchester by approximately $400. Shooting precision wise, the Henry in about on par with the Rossi, below the Marlin and Winchester. Fit and finish wise, the Henry is head and shoulders above the Rossi and Marlin, not near the level of a Miroku Winchester, particularly in aesthetic finish of metal parts. So I think price positioning is about right.

The thing that is off putting about the product is the company that produces them, or a least the approach to marketing; boastful, at times grossly misleading and legacy claims well beyond the substance of the products they make. And if it isn’t their standard products that are the focal point of vacuous marketing, Henry trades heavily on the commemoration of virtually anything. Henry’s President Anthony Imperato’s use of a Holy Bible as a prop on the Henry website to signify his commitment to U.S. manufacturer is incredibly offensive.

What does all of this mean? The Henry Big Boy Steel Carbine is a well made, appropriately priced, hunter’s grade firearm that should provide many years of service. Perhaps Henry could do itself a favor and market on those valuable assets of the product and lose the executive BS.