Big boy steel 44 problems

[2guns]

I bought this and a brass framed 45 last year. The 45 is a tack driver at 100 yards. Using a 1-5 Leupold on the 44 and multiple factory loads plus many reloads there is no other words to use than this rifle sucks. At 50 yards best groups are in 5-6 inches. Take that to a hundred and looks like birdshot out of a shotgun. I shoot a lot of long range competition with bolt actions and am a proficient shooter. I know this isn’t a bench gun but off a rest and scoped it should do way better. Best groups I’ve had have been my own cast 245 grain bullets which are gas checked and still in the 4 inch range at 50 yards. Traded scope over to a Ruger 375 h&h and it holds with no issues. Everything is tight and level. Torqued to specs but even then stock and forearm screws have to be tightened after every 20 shots or so. Barrel is spotless. No lead or copper. I keep googling it and finding people shooting 180-200 grain bullets with better luck than I’m having with 240-260 grain bullets. Emailed Henry but no response. Thinking I have a lemon barrel on my hands. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[JEBar]

I recommend calling Henry and speaking directly to a rep ..... give them the side by side facts on both rifles .... I wouldn't push the reload point, speak to the different factor ammo you've tried

[ESquared]

Yep^^^^^^, what JEB advises. More data is better in terms of performance of different factory loads, distances and group sizes. Wouldn't bring up reloads, not pertinent. Comparison to 45 is a major point, as is the relative performance of the same scope on a different rifle.

They'll likely want it back for evaluation. Sounds like a barrel problem, as good as it may look.

[BigAl52]

Agreed call them. I know they will make it right.

[Omegaspeedy]

Sorry to here about your .44, how does the crown look? The best I can do with my .44 at 100m is about 3” and I understand it’s shooting a big slug a long way. You should at least get that.

[2guns]

Crown looks great. Henry has it now. Just waiting for them to test it and see what th verdict is.

[JEBar]

looking forward to hearing what they find

[ESquared]

Yes, please keep us posted. Glad to hear (but not surprised) that they wanted it back to trouble-shoot for you. Look forward to the next chapter in this story!

[2guns]

Well, it’s July 2nd and no response yet. Called on the 28th and they had it in hand but no updates. Maybe try again today. Last gun in was back in a week. Sure would like to have it over the 4th to try it out again.

[JEBar]

I suspect that like most every other business, many of their employees are taking part if not all of this week off .... looking forward to hearing what they say when you get a response