Henry Big Boy Steel Range Report

[garryj]

I went to the range yesterday mainly to check out my Henry Big Boy Steel in .357 Magnum. I just installed a Skinner Big Boy “Express” rear sight because I cannot stand buckhorne sights. The Skinner sight installs on the receiver where a scope mount would normally go (pictures added).

I was only working with handloads to find out what it likes. So far, the most accurate short range (25yds) is a 158gr lead round nose flat point (Oregon Trail Laser Cast) under 4.2 gr of American Select powder. I got two 3” or less 10-shot groups at 25yds with this load. The most accurate long range (100yds) is a 158 gr FMJ (Armscor) under 6.0gr of W231 powder. With this load, I was consistently hitting an 8” steel plate at 100yds until all of the paint came off of it and I could no longer see it (~30 rounds). I had some loads with H110, but this rifle does not like them. I may have to try less H110 to see if that works, but only time will tell.

This rifle is just what I was looking for—a .357 rifle to compliment my Dan Wesson .357 revolver. It will perform at 100 yards which is something I couldn’t get my .45 Colt Henry to do (which is why I traded it for the .357 Henry).

All said and done, I love this rifle!

Garry

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[PT7]

~Good choice getting the Skinner "Express."
~~Great that the BBB likes your handloads, that you & ammo & Henry took out the 100-yard 8" target!
~~~Excellent caliber & model choice you made on getting the Henry!
~~~~Wow, a DW .357 Magnum "good buddy" to your Henry BBB!
~~~~~All-in-all, what a grand day at the range for you!

Thanks for your Range Report.
PT7

[JEBar]

our 357 has quickly become one of our favorite rifles .... it is truly fun to fire .... looking forward to continuing to follow your load development

[BigAl52]

Garry
If you have some 2400 around give it a go. I have not had much luck with the 110 either and they tell me it only gives good accuracy at near max charges. Other than that as far as I am concerned a 357 levergun is maximum fun at the range. Al

[Henry88]

Nice gun, and good shooting. In a couple of weeks, watch out.

BTW, check out the wood to metal fit in those pics; looks pretty good.........

[North Country Gal]

Love that Skinner Express on your Henry. Great product, both the rifle and the scope. Congrats.

[Mistered]

The loads you are using are on the TOP end for those powders.
You might want to move to a slower powder and create 'heavier' loads. They don't have to be 'full house' but something more in the arena of 1300-1400 FPS as per the manual data.
Very fast powders on the top end typically shoot well in handguns but in a rifle the powder burns too fast and doesn't get the advantage of building up the pressure in a longer barrel and accuracy can suffer. The reason I suggest this is you should be getting much better than 3" at 25 yards - even if offhand shooting.
The .357 Mag is a reloader's dream with the variety of bullets available along with the range of loads that can be created but rifles turn the .357 into something really special and seem to like a little more velocity. I have found a 'hot' .38 Specials loaded with a slower powder (such as Unique) will typically shoot better than a low end .357 loaded with a fast powder.
Think about stepping it up a bit with your .357 loads and you might cut those groups in half!

[SGC]

Looks great, look forward to you range reports. Any issues with the skinner working with the factory front site as far as being able to zero in the vertical?