Henry Rifle Forums

o.k. you are only going to buy 1 henry rifle and not a 22 - and had $ 800.00 combination of hunting the range - which one would it be ??

what game will be hunted ?

what distance do you anticipate needing to be able to shoot ?

do you have any favorite calibers that you prefer ?

will you be hand loading or using factory ammo ?

That's easy for ME. My 44 mag Big Boy classic brass. If I only had one non 22 rifle that one would keep me happy. It is fine for hunting deer or hogs even black bear if you build a load for that. I have light cowboy loads worked up that don't kick any harder than a 38 special for target shooting. And that's without even going down to 44 Special. It'll hit anything I point it at that I can see with my eyes. Dozens of people have shot it and all walked away impressed.


If I lived in the north woods and had to worry about grizzly's and maybe elk or moose hunting then it would be my 45/70 brass. It has most of the same versatility as the 44 mag but also has big time knock down power if needed. Straight wall cartridges are easy to load and can be loaded from mild to wild. The Henry's are strong enough to handle most heavy for caliber loads. The 45/70 is a bigger heavier gun so not quite as handy as the Big Boy.

If you are deer hunting, I'd say the H009 30-30 is the best choice. It's also a good range rifle. Factory ammo is cheap for center fire rifle ammo, and is plentiful. Components for reloading are also easy to find, and economical.

Henry 45 70

Well I'm partial to my Big Boy .45 Colt. Of course that's the only Henry I've ever shot, but it's fun to shoot and satisfies my love of big a** lead cowboy bullets.

Well, you will probably get answers for every centerfire caliber Henry makes.

My choice would be the Henry .357/.38, particular model doesn't matter. I like them all.

I love the Big Boy steel. It is under $800, and the lighter barrel balances better for me than the heavier brass version which carries a higher price tag. I have mine in .357, which makes for great range times. It is cheap to reload for, and even factory ammo isn't too bad in comparison. The .357 magnum will easily punch a 158 grain bullet to 1800 fps. I have chronographed factory rounds at that speed. Not the hot Buffalo Bore rounds either. This should be sufficient to take 150 lb game as long as you don't try too long a shot. 44 mag would be a more potent round, but more expensive to feed.

If you don't have deep pockets, you will want to reload, assuming you don't already. Daughter and I go through an average of a hundred rounds a week through mine. That is in addition to what we run through the .38 revolver, the .22 rifle and the .22 target pistol. Take one or two of the other weapons off the table, and the round count for the .357 rifle would rise dramatically.

Here in Alaska its my 44mag big boy and mares leg to go with my 44mag Ruger SBH.Have taken brown bear no problem

My choice is the Henry Big Boy .357mag Carbine. I like the balance with carbine barrel. If I still hunted I might have bought the .44mag but for fun shooting and home defense the .357mag is perfect for me.

Still love that pic Whaler.

all of the suggestions and the reasons for them have been sound .... if looks are important, the brass of the BB is hard to beat .... the BB Steel doesn't have that glitz but it does offer one major positive in the larger calibers, that being a good recoil pad .... as to caliber, if I could only have one Henry, without a doubt, it would be a 45-70 because it can do it all .... I do like the Color Case Hardened look, it is unique with more glitz than the BBS and without my paranoia of trying to keep a BB looking sharp

No wrong answer here, and will vary from person to person.
But if I hadn't already bought one, it would be the 41 mag.
Because I've wanted one for some time, and no one else makes one.
Good luck in what ever you choose.

I would say the BB steel carbine in .357 or .41

JEBar wrote:... I do like the Color Case Hardened look, it is unique with more glitz than the BBS and without my paranoia of trying to keep a BB looking sharp

The case hardened receivers are truly beautiful. If I didn't already own a flawless H006M, which I happily keep polished with Flitz and Renaissance Wax, that would be my choice, too.

I love my 45 Colt brass big boy, but if I could have only 1...that H011 original is sure a beauty. But at almost $3k Canadian it's an expensive beauty.

357 FTW. I just like the caliber...

Every rifle mentioned are great rifles but it mostly depends on you and the type of shooting you plan to do the most. The Henry rifles with octagon barrels and brass receivers are very beautiful but they are heavier. Steel versions with round barrels are lighter. I have both brass and steel rifles and like them both. The walnut on the brass models seems to have more appealing grain.
For just general all around shooting, I would choose .38spl/.357 magnum - if more knockdown power is desired I would be looking at .44spl/.44 magnum, .45LC, or the .45-70.

I would predict that whatever you decide, down the road you will want another Henry center fire in a different caliber. They are very habit forming.

I'll have to ride a Clydesdale to pack all the Henry's I want. Scabbards hanging all over both sides.

RanchRoper wrote:I'll have to ride a Clydesdale to pack all the Henry's I want. Scabbards hanging all over both sides.

RR maybe a Belgian they are larger than the clydesdale.
Just sayin!