Did I miss something? .44 mag twist rate?

[wjv16]

Before buying one I'd try and verify what Overall Cartridge Length the Henry can handle. That could also limit what weight bullets you can use.

[Vaquero]

You know you can check the twist rate easily. You are looking for either a 1:20 or a 1:38 twist rate which means one full turn in either 20 " or 38". Just mark your cleaning rod and, with a patch, pull the rod through the bore and watch how much the rod turns. About one full turn for the 1:20 twist and about i/2 a full turn for the 1:38 twist in a 20 inch barrel. A 16.5" barrel will have turns of about 3/4 for the 1:20 rate and about 3/8" for the 1:38 twist.

Last year I had to send my 2007 made 44 BBB back for a tube replacement, which in turn they replaced the barrel also.
They didn't even inform me, just sent it back replaced. as soon as I received it I made a call to see which they replace it with.
They had NO CLUE, which perturbed me, and that was their response.
Not very professional in my book but it is what it is, as they say.
So I assume, which we all know that meaning, they still must have still had some of the older 1:38's laying around.

RP

[Vaquero]

Before buying one I'd try and verify what Overall Cartridge Length the Henry can handle. That could also limit what weight bullets you can use.

I load a 320+ gr cast that I cast myself, it's right at 1.622 and loads with ease, but I also load a 240 gr that comes out at about same length.
Both cycle with no problem. YMMV

RP

[Redthies]

So I may come across as unknowledgeable for asking this, but are the 1:38 barrels not able to spin the bullets fast enough for good stability? There is a bunch of talk about bullet weight factoring in. Would a 1:38 twist be fine for 240 grain projectiles? Would that twist rate not stabilize heavier bullets well? I saw where Henry said “up to 260 grain”. That’s their way of saying “it’s not our fault if your 280 grain bullets tumble”.

[Jdl447]

So I may come across as unknowledgeable for asking this, but are the 1:38 barrels not able to spin the bullets fast enough for good stability? There is a bunch of talk about bullet weight factoring in. Would a 1:38 twist be fine for 240 grain projectiles? Would that twist rate not stabilize heavier bullets well? I saw where Henry said “up to 260 grain”. That’s their way of saying “it’s not our fault if your 280 grain bullets tumble”.

I’ve found it depends on how fast the bullet is traveling. For heavy bullets push them hard for success.

[Jdl447]

I have a 1-38 .44 and wish it was a 1-20. But it shoots pretty well. Still trying out loads. I have had to push up the velocity in the 1-38 twist a bit harder for accuracy so far. But I have not shot any cast out of it yet just jacketed.. But groups are much tighter as I get near about 90% of listed max loads of AA9 or 2400.

Or what he says.

[Redthies]

I have a 1-38 .44 and wish it was a 1-20. But it shoots pretty well. Still trying out loads. I have had to push up the velocity in the 1-38 twist a bit harder for accuracy so far. But I have not shot any cast out of it yet just jacketed.. But groups are much tighter as I get near about 90% of listed max loads of AA9 or 2400.

Or what he says.

Which is useless unless you hand load, which I don’t anymore. The info is great, just no practical benefit for me.

[JEBar]

our Henry BBS 44 Mag is a little over 5 years old .... I do not know its twist rate but, based on the info given in this thread, I would guess 1:38 .... the target pictures below were both fired from a rest at our family range, the first in Aug 2018 shows 50 rounds fired at 50 yards .... the second shows 100 rounds fired at 100 yards in Dec 2018 .... on both occasions, the weather was pretty much perfect and my mindset was to take my time .... those two targets pretty well show the best that I can do ..... I also have no doubt that in other hands our 44 is capable of firing a smaller group .... the bullets fired were our 240 gr Nosler JHP reloads .... if a 1:20 twist is superior, I really don't care .... if I do my part, when I pull the trigger, it hits close enough for me ...

[Redthies]

That’s awesome JEB. What color is the bottom of your receiver? I picked up a .44 BBSC today and my .357 has a blued bottom, and the new .44 has a brown color. I’ve never seen that. My .357 is serial number 0035xx and the .44 is 0008xx so obviously an earlier gun, but both were bought new at similar times. The .44 came from a podunk town with a podunk gun shop, so it might have sat there for a while.

[JEBar]

ours has a blued receiver, the same on all sides .... looking forward to your coming range reports and use impressions .... ours has literally sent tens of thousands of rounds down range and has been back to Henry twice .... should she ever need it, I'll not hesitate to send her back again