Henry Rifle Forums

Tonights the night and am planning my next move - cleaning the BigBoy 357 in brass. Looking for a few answers:

1) Does the big boy have to be taken down and cleaned before shooting it?
2) What are the lube points I should focus on - anything exceptional about lever actions?
3) Brass cleaner / wood cleaner = Ballistol acceptable or would you buy separate cleaners / polish?
4) ANY advice for my new out of box Henry - never owned a lever before!

Thanks! I am excited as all get out - 12 hours and counting! I do not believe I have ever been so excited about a firearm purchase as this one!

Congrats on the new Henry, you will love it! Exceptional rifles. I found my new Big Boy had some dirt in the barrel, but the action and internals were pretty clean. Mine was new last spring, so I just gave it a barrel clean and some rem oil for the receiver internals and headed off tho the range.

There are lots of folks here who will give you great tips on cleaning and maintenance.

Well, not sure I recommend it, but here's what I did when I bought my .357 Big Boy. The LGS I bought it from also has a range, in fact I had just finished shooting when I happened to talk to the owner on the way out. He made me a different offer on the model 10 I was going to trade in, and I decided to go for the Henry. After it was mine, I inspected the action and the barrel and headed for the range. I prefer to do a quick cleaning, but I really wanted to try out the new Henry.

My advice is to run a patch through the barrel, and swab receiver/bolt parts with a lightly lubed Q-tip. Mine was clean as a whistle and I did not bother to completely disassemble the bolt and lever assembly until I had over thousand rounds. Even then, it wasn't that dirty.

I think I'd run a patch or two, or even a bore snake, down the bore, wipe down the outside with a soft cloth and head to the range.

Yup, go shoot that Henry and put a smile on your face!

ditto1958 wrote:I think I'd run a patch or two, or even a bore snake, down the bore, wipe down the outside with a soft cloth and head to the range.

that's pretty much what we did with our 3 .... ran a couple of Ballistol patches through the barrel, squirted a light mist of Ballistol in the chamber, wiped down the outside and worked the action for the rest of the evening .... next morning headed out with a couple of hundred rounds

I usually check the chamber, run a bore snake down the barrel one or two times, spray some Ballistol or oil on a shaving brush and brush the outside down and wipe off and go for it.
Once or twice a year I take off the lever, remove the bolt, run a bore brush & patches from the breech end with Hoppe's 9, Ballitsol, or Kroil followed by a bore snake. Each time I return from an outing, I use the shaving brush with oil to brush the rifle exterior and wipe off before storing away.

Steve51 wrote:I usually check the chamber, run a bore snake down the barrel one or two times, spray some Ballistol or oil on a shaving brush and brush the outside down and wipe off and go for it.
Once or twice a year I take off the lever, remove the bolt, run a bore brush & patches from the breech end with Hoppe's 9, Ballitsol, or Kroil followed by a bore snake. Each time I return from an outing, I use the shaving brush with oil to brush the rifle exterior and wipe off before storing away.

What he said.

I am gonna be O.C. about this until the newness wears off....maybe!
I understand the initial cleaning and did what y'all recommended, but what about long term preservation?

Ballistol on wood and internals?

Flitz on the barrel and brass?

Thanks. I know there may be many answers, but just trying to get some ideas.

I bought some good quality paste wax for mine but have not done it yet. Up until now just wiped it with a soft cloth. Still looks like new and been in and out of saddle scabbard lots, shots lots at the range etc. I just use it. Internals get regular clean and oil.

Flitz makes a gun cleaner and polishing kit. Got it on Amazon. Came with wax, polish and cleaner. My 357 shines beautifully!

I asked Henry and their reply was this:

"Thank you for owning a Henry. The pores of the wood are sealed and therefore, it’s not necessary to use anything but if you must, Pledge would be a good choice. You can use any factory loaded .357 magnum ammo in the rifle.

Flitz(or similar) is for brass components only and blued steel surfaces can be cleaned with Hoppes, followed by a light coat of gun oil."

Ziggidy wrote:I asked Henry ..."

Thanks for posting the official reply.

Good to hear. thanks

That's a nice response, but only for the outside
I worked the action on my 44, wiped off the bolt and put on a light coat of choke grease and a few drops off Hoppe's 9 in the receiver & barrel.
About 400 or so through er and 0 issues !!
CHOOT IT !!