Henry Big Boy Steel .44 Magnum Journey

[Goodbye Middle Class]

Well I tried a ton of different options...

Henry mount.....

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Talley single piece mount for Henry.....

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Then I tried the Ranger Precision Rhino Rail which is very nice and low, figuring I would try a one-piece cantilever AR style.....

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With HIDEOUS results,

Vortex......

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And Leupold.....

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I didn't like any of them. I will say. The Talley One-piece and the Rhino Rail we're both very easy to install. They would be a great option for a standard eye relief scope.

But....... I want to use an IER scout scope. No one makes makes a long scout rail for a Henry.

Not Henry. Not Ranger Point Precision. Not XS Sights.

No one.

It's outrageous!!

So when I realized I basically needed a XS Lever Scout or XS Lever Rail. I figured, well, I guess I'm just going to have to do it myself...... And I picked up a


XS Sights Lever Rail for The Marlin 1894.....

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Ohhh......yeeaaahhh. you know what's coming next.....

Nothing that a hand file, a little imagination, and a stubborn will to achieve can't handle...

[JEBar]

interesting .... looking forward to following your project

[Goodbye Middle Class]

There was no way I was going to modify or tap my new Henry but I don't mind chopping up a $70 piece of aluminum.

I decided against the Lever Scout because the Henry receiver only has one screw on the front end. Since what I'd be using wasn't going to be a perfect match I wanted to make sure I could get at least two screws secured into the receiver. So I chose to go with the Lever Rail.

Having never seen one and ordering blind I decided to order one for another .44. The model 94. I just guessed that the barrel width and curvature would be closer to the Henry Big Boy's. I might order the 95 as well just because it has a longer receiver that may be more in line with the Henry's.

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I started by tapping out the buckhorn rear sight and using that as the alignment point for the rail using the XS Anchor.

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It's not a very tight fit so the grub screw, more than anything, will be holding it in place.

The first modification was to file down the tapered machined area that would cover the rounded front of the receiver. Hand file because I wanted to remove slowly as I went along as not to grind past flush on the bottom of the rail.

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Once that was done I aligned with the front anchor to see what I was up against...

[JEBar]

ours ain't nowhere near as fancy but it performs well for us .... the scope was mounted in March of 2016 .... the target shows 50 of our loads fired at 50 yards in August of 2018

[Goodbye Middle Class]

That's awesome!

[markiver54]

Sounds and looks like a whole lot of Work to achieve the desired results.

[Goodbye Middle Class]

Sounds and looks like a whole lot of Work to achieve the desired results.

I agree completely. The fact that no one makes a ready made Henry compatible scout rail is beyond me. Seems like somebody is leaving a lot of $$$ revenue on the table or just doesn't want it.

The moment one is offered, I will buy it.

[Rifletom]

ours ain't nowhere near as fancy but it performs well for us .... the scope was mounted in March of 2016 .... the target shows 50 of our loads fired at 50 yards in August of 2018

I like that kind of shooting Jim. Consistent load and shooter.

[Goodbye Middle Class]

Once I got the rail modified and aligned it up to the receiver and barrel it became necessary to lift the front end of it. The rail tipped down in the front due to the taller receiver on the Henry.

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I began with the desired result in mind and just figured it out as I went. Kind of fun actually, problem solving on the fly.

A little Sharpie black-out action.....

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I picked up some washers to lift the rail to level.

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Filed to fit. The fiber washer I used in order to file thinner as needed to adjust the height. It was also tighter than the collar so I could open it up a little until it snapped on. And the brass lock ring was to fill the gap inside the rail hole since the mount collar did not come up all the way into the rail when raised. This keeps it from wiggling laterally. I also had to temporarily use a different screw since the grub screw that came with the rail wasn't long enough after raising it. The 8-32 x 1.5 grub screw I ordered hadn't arrived yet when I was doing this part.

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Before and after....

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The trade-off is the rail doesn't hug the barrel. It actually floats above it a little. I'll find out at the range if this creates an issue or not....

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Filing and aligning....repeating until front and rear level to reciever.......

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[Goodbye Middle Class]

To drill holes for rear of rail, one existing channel lined up. So I was able to use a cap screw with washer to secure the rear end. Using the the Rhino Rail as a template on top, I was able to line up and pencil a drill mark.

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Drilled and counter sunk the front hole. (Obviously, not while it was resting in the rifle )

Touched up with black then on to the next step.....

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Moving ahead. Did a quick wipe down of the rail to rub off the excess shine from the Sharpie black-out of the logo.

Longer grub screw arrived.

It also had to be filed down a little at a time until just right for the can screw to properly fit over it.

Original came with rail on left, 8-32 x 1.5 on right, filed down finished in center....

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After being satisfied with the leveling it was time for final assembly. Also lined up before tightening down.....

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Then rail.......

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Tightened the screws with a touch of lock-tite.....

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One last check for level and true......

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And there she is fellas!

I'm really happy with how it turned out. Of course the real measure of that will be at the range later.....

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That brings me up to date with where I'm at. Next up will be scope mounting height and eye relief checks using Leupold Medium (shown) and Low scope rings. After that I'll post a few Glamor Shots before zeroing it in and range report......


-- Will

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[JEBar]

tip of my cap .... I enjoy following your project

[Goodbye Middle Class]

Thanks Jim

Hope others enjoy it too.

It's been fun. I've only joined this forum recently, but it is very helpful for ideas. As I stated earlier, I was constantly searching online for actionable information. The thread also keeps me motivated.

[Team Roper]

You have done wonders with your Henry. Good job.

[Goodbye Middle Class]

I previously had a pair of lightweight Leupold Rifleman 1" scope rings. (medium height) as previously shown.....

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Probably ok for a .22 but too light weight I think for a Magnum. So I ordered the Leupold PRW2 1" (Low Height) which arrived today....

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I put the Leupold pop up lense covers on the FX-II Scout 2.5 x 28mm. Mounted the new rings and leveled the scope.

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All that's left now is to hit the range and see how she performs!!

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Enjoy!

[Travlin]

That looks like a very practical setup. I am looking forward to your range report.

[Team Roper]

Dang !, that's nice.

[fortyshooter]

Looks good! I call those kinds of things "machine ons" instead of bolt ons !

[Goodbye Middle Class]

Lever Rail - for the Marlin 1895 arrived today.

It looks promising. When I have time later I'll see if it aligns better with the Henry receiver.

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Looks like a longer and much better option. We'll see.

[Goodbye Middle Class]

The Lever Rail for 1895 model will not work for the Big Boy Steel .44 Magnum. It is longer, but would require unworkable modifications to get it to align properly.

The 1894 was the right choice to start with first.

I also repeat myself. Outrageous that one is not offered compatible with a Henry. Or something similar by Henry themselves.

If one is made. I am a buyer.

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.

[John E Davies]

Love it...... thanks for the detailed step by step pictures. I wish more folks did this, instead of “here is what it looks like when I finished.” Do you plan to keep the scope on always, or will you mount a backup ghost ring in back? That is a great rifle vise, I have used and liked mine for many years.

Have you sent pictures to Henry? It would not be at all hard for them to offer one that doesn’t require fabrication by the owner.....

John Davies
Spokane WA