Observation - Most Popular Centerfire Calibers

[220]

For the man with only one lever action the 44mag is a great choice, it was my first lever.
Then I added a 357mag and the 44mag didn't get used nearly as much, when I added a 45/70 the 44mag never got used.
It is a non contest when it comes to the effectiveness on large and medium game between the 45/70 and 44 and if your chasing small game the 357 is much more suitable yet can still handle medium game if the need arises.

[North Country Gal]

It's an old song for so many of us, but every time I hear about how that old-timer 45-70 still manages to outdo so many modern cartridges, I can't help but smile.

[BigAl52]

And if I could only have one Im gonna be the odd man out. It would be the 41mag

[JEBar]

Not sure I would read too much into the fact that Henry has the 44 mag in more of their lines, but you could be right. Without actual sales figures, though, we're all just guessing.

in thinking about it, guessing is absolutely correct .... but its a guess that seems to me to be based on pretty sound logic ... disclaimer ===> sometimes what seems logical to me doesn't to my wife .. .. based on following Henry for a good while, it seems clear that they do their homework in determining what types and calibers of rifles they manufacture .... as mentioned earlier, I don't think they manufacture rifles with the intent of having them sit on dealer shelves .... thus, when they introduce a new line, they chamber it for ammo that they believe will be in demand .... there isn't a 44 Mag Long Ranger for a reason .... not too long ago they introduced two lines of single shot rifles ... in steel they offer 5 calibers ---- .223, 243, .308, .44 Magnum, and .45-70 .... in brass they offer 2 calibers ---- .44 Magnum and .45-70

[PT7]

Jim, did you consider contacting Henry to learn from them what their info shows to be the "Most Popular Centerfire Calibers?" Wonder if they would give that to you since you're a "Town Marshal / Deputy Admin" on the HRF? It would eliminate our guessing. Plus it would be interesting to find out.
PT7

Not sure I would read too much into the fact that Henry has the 44 mag in more of their lines, but you could be right. Without actual sales figures, though, we're all just guessing.

in thinking about it, guessing is absolutely correct .... but its a guess that seems to me to be based on pretty sound logic ...

[JEBar]

Jim, did you consider contacting Henry to learn from them what their info shows to be the "Most Popular Centerfire Calibers?"
PT7

nope, I'd not considered doing so ..

after reading your question, I picked up the phone and called them ..

the fellow I spoke with said his computer was down so he couldn't give any numbers but he said he does know that overall their best selling caliber is 22LR .... for centerfires it is 44 by a large margin

[PT7]

The .22LR best seller is not a surprise, both because Henry makes such great H001 rifles, and the fact that .22LR is an inexpensive ammo. Interesting to learn for centerfire it is the .44 by a large margin. Sheds a new light on that caliber for me, and will look forward to read up on it a little more.

Thanks for helping to minimize our guessing in this thread!

[ESquared]

It is guess-work, but it seems like it might also be the old chicken and egg when it comes to the re-launch and growth of HRA. If they re-launched with an emphasis on .44 due the Henry history, is it safe to assume that they offered more models in that caliber from the get-go? If so, and they sold lots of them, then the sales data would say 'Let's offer more in .44,' which served them well, while listening to customer demand for other caliber choices. It will be interesting to see how everything might even out as Henry continues to grow. Product development seems to be a strong suit, so it will be interesting to watch...

[North Country Gal]

Jim, did you consider contacting Henry to learn from them what their info shows to be the "Most Popular Centerfire Calibers?"
PT7

nope, I'd not considered doing so ..

after reading your question, I picked up the phone and called them ..

the fellow I spoke with said his computer was down so he couldn't give any numbers but he said he does know that overall their best selling caliber is 22LR .... for centerfires it is 44 by a large margin

That's close enough. I'd say that settles it about the 44 being number in both lines and sales of center fire Henrys. Observation, confirmed.

[GFK]

I have been considering a 357. I have not shoot a 44 mag. But, I guess people prefer shooting them out of a rifle than a handgun. I could be wrong. But, it seems like the recoil in a handgun could be challenging to deal with on a continuous basis. So, a 357 make be more fun to shoot in a handgun or rifle. Just my 2 cent.