The Saga Continues

[parson48]

I posted about my 44 mag BB issues in the thread "Back To The Mothership" that 5shot started. I don't want to hijack his thread, so I'll start one for my issues.

Beautiful day in Indiana, so I took a couple of hours to visit the range. I wanted to give this rifle one more chance before contacting Henry AGAIN!

Quick background: Bought a Henry steel BB sidegate little over a year ago; it was sent back 3 times for lack of accuracy. on the third journey there they replaced it with a new one. Have had 2 range sessions with the new gun with same results- shooting off of a bench at 50 yards, groups range from 2 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches. And the rifle is scoped with a known optic.

Got home, pulled up Henry's contact page and sent a message re. my frustrations at this point. I stated that if a refund were an option, that would be my preference. They've had, in my opinion, ample opportunity to get it right.

We'll see where this goes. They sure make some pretty guns, but I'm wanting a shooter.

[JEBar]

just wondering .... what do you consider to be acceptable accuracy ..?.. I fired both of the targets shown below with our BBS 44Mag with a 3X9 Nikon scope from a sandbag bench rest shooting our hunting level Nosler 240 gr JHP handloads .... the first one 50 rounds at 50 yards, the second 100 rounds at 100 yards .... both show roughly 3X3" groups .... realizing our Henry is a lever action hunting rifle, I consider they to sow pretty fair shooting .... its most certainly capable of putting them all in the same hole but but I'm happy with it

[BigAl52]

just wondering .... what do you consider to be acceptable accuracy ..?.. I fired both of the targets shown below with our BBS 44Mag with a 3X9 Nikon scope from a sandbag bench rest shooting our hunting level Nosler 240 gr JHP handloads .... the first one 50 rounds at 50 yards, the second 100 rounds at 100 yards .... both show roughly 3X3" groups .... realizing our Henry is a lever action hunting rifle, I consider they to sow pretty fair shooting .... its most certainly capable of putting them all in the same hole but but I'm happy with it

And Jim with all due respect your gun was made when people still gave a damn. And Henry had alot less going on than they do now. Their quality control has gone south and if I was this guy Id also ask for my money back and seek someone who cared about making myself a gun that shoots like its supposed to.

[GFK]

Yes, that is nice shooting JBar! Yet, I probably would not be happy with a 2" grouping at 50 yards either. Heck, I would even not want a 2" grouping at 100 yards, with a scope. However, I am wondering if different brands and weights of ammo were tried. I have learned that my Marlin 30-30 likes Winchester, and my Henry 30-30 likes Federal. Both at 150 grain. So, I seem to keep both brands on hand.

[Redthies]

just wondering .... what do you consider to be acceptable accuracy ..?.. I fired both of the targets shown below with our BBS 44Mag with a 3X9 Nikon scope from a sandbag bench rest shooting our hunting level Nosler 240 gr JHP handloads .... the first one 50 rounds at 50 yards, the second 100 rounds at 100 yards .... both show roughly 3X3" groups

If mine could hit 3x3 groups with 100 rounds at 100 yards, I’d be ok with that. Below is mine at 50 yards with a 1-4x Nikon M223 scope. Not even remotely acceptable. And it was made “when Henry didn’t have too much on their plate”. (2015). How old is yours Jeb, and is it 1:38 or 1:20 rifling?

[Redthies]

I should mention, the above was shot with copper monolith bullets (225 grain if I recall correctly), so I’m going to try some 240 Federals, some Hornady and some hand loaded cast I have. If it won’t shoot them, it’s probably down the road too. My .357 BBSC is a freaking tack driver, so I know the platform can shoot…

[5shot]

JEBar. I'd be 100% satisfied if my .44X shot like that. Have you ever slugged the barrel? I'd really like to know what the groove diameter is on your rifle.
I think my H015 single shot .44 mag might shoot almost that well but have not attempted any multi shot groups like you have.

Redthies. I've printed a bunch of groups that size with this X-model. I feel your pain.

parson48. I'll be watching your posts closely. A refund certainly sounds like a fair request in your situation. I sometimes feel sorry for customer service people when they get complaints about inaccurate guns. I've probably shot a truckload of 300 yard+ prairie dogs and a few benchrest matches. I have some understanding of the need for a consistent hold and rest, tight screws and good ammo, etc but the cust. svc guy doesn't know that. At least he was polite but my claim was put in last Thursday and haven't heard back from them yet.

My .357X model shoots very well. The .44 has an excessive groove diameter of just over .431" and the muzzle crown is a little rough with maybe a hint of tool chatter. A bore scope didn't reveal any obvious flaws but something definitely ain't right.

Henry Colt.jpg

This is my BB .45 Colt and the flyer is called. Ten shots at 50 yards.

[JEBar]

How old is yours Jeb, and is it 1:38 or 1:20 rifling?

don't know when it was manufactured .... I bought it new in March of 2016 ... no clue as to the twist rate .... its not a special order, twist is whatever they used at that time

[JEBar]

JEBar. I'd be 100% satisfied if my .44X shot like that. Have you ever slugged the barrel? I'd really like to know what the groove diameter is on your rifle.

my point in posting the picture was to show what my 44 can do with me pulling the trigger .... if I'd fired 3 so rounds that impacted within the largest group area, I'd probably not be too happy ... my grandfather taught me to shoot and he didn't believe in adjusting sights or making firm judgements based on only firing a few rounds .... that lesson has stuck with me

[Redthies]

Ok, same timeframe as mine, so quite likely 1:38. Mine is a Feb of 2015 manufacture, and I think the switch to 1:20 was only a few years ago. I know you hand load, but do you know of any factory loads yours has shot well? Looking for a nudge in the right direction to see if I can find something mine likes. If you don’t have a factory load to recommend, what bullet weight does best in your .44?

[Redthies]

Have you ever slugged the barrel? I'd really like to know what the groove diameter is on your rifle.


.45 Colt. Ten shots at 50 yards.

What is involved in “slugging” the barrel?

I’d be overjoyed if my .44 could achieve that!

[BigAl52]

Have you ever slugged the barrel? I'd really like to know what the groove diameter is on your rifle.


.45 Colt. Ten shots at 50 yards.

What is involved in “slugging” the barrel?

I’d be overjoyed if my .44 could achieve that!

Use pure lead a round ball of 45 cal Black Powder should work. Lube up the barrel with a oil patch and force that ball thru the barrel using a protected rod or wooden dowel. You can also use a lead bullet as long as it isnt very hard. Then measure it with your calipers

[JEBar]

If you don’t have a factory load to recommend, what bullet weight does best in your .44?

so I’m going to try some 240 Federals,

I haven't bought a single hunting bullet for any of our rifles and/or handguns since the mid to late 1960's .... what I can say is the only hunting bullets I fire are made by Nosler .... in 44 Mag I've been shooting their 240 gr JHP's for decades .... my hunting loads using them is the is the same for our Henry BBS and Ruger Redhawk .... I've taken black bear, boar, and whitetail deer with them .... I can't remember where but I do recall reading that 240's are the preferred weight for 44 Mag

[parson48]

just wondering .... what do you consider to be acceptable accuracy ..?.. I fired both of the targets shown below with our BBS 44Mag with a 3X9 Nikon scope from a sandbag bench rest shooting our hunting level Nosler 240 gr JHP handloads .... the first one 50 rounds at 50 yards, the second 100 rounds at 100 yards .... both show roughly 3X3" groups .... realizing our Henry is a lever action hunting rifle, I consider they to sow pretty fair shooting .... its most certainly capable of putting them all in the same hole but but I'm happy with it

I consider 3moa acceptable for a lever gun. Henry's promo vids show better than this level of accuracy- that's one reason that I made this purchase.

The gentleman that I spoke with at Henry agreed with my assessment, but I haven't achieved it with either of these rifles.

[Redthies]

I sent Anthony an email, posted below along with the instant reply I got. Not good…





The reply:



I don’t see this as a good omen…

But at least I can get a free catalog

[BigAl52]

If Dan responds it will surprise me. He has never responded to anything I have sent him

[parson48]

Henry's recommended Federal 240 gr. loads, which I tried. At a dollar a pop, chasing accuracy via different factory loads would soon break my bank!

Such bullets have long been pretty much the standard. I believe that a fairly costly rifle should shoot these accurately.

I don't know if a refund is a possibility, but that is my hope at this point.

[Mags]

I sent Anthony an email, posted below along with the instant reply I got. Not good…
...

I don’t see this as a good omen…

But at least I can get a free catalog

Try messaging via LinkedIn or Gmail.

Screenshot 2024-02-27 115101.png

[fortyshooter]

Mine had the slow twist and over sized bore at .4315 and would not shoot a cast bullet .430 mid level load worth a darn with key holes.
However it would shoot better with no key holes with hot jacketed bullets like 180 or 240 XTP. Even with a 3 inch group at 50-100 yds. a hot 44 Mag is going to kill what you hit. Don't think the Henry rifles were built for ultimate target shooting in 44 Magnum as their tolerance for bore size is hit and miss. I sold mine and invested in a hard to find but nice Uberti 1873 Winchester 44 Mag and that thing shoots very nice groups with .429 bore and a 1-20 twist.

[5shot]

[/quote]

What is involved in “slugging” the barrel?

I’d be overjoyed if my .44 could achieve that!
[/quote]

Big Al52 pretty well described slugging. For a .44 I use a 3/8" hardwood dowel and spin the last inch on both ends in sandpaper until a fired 9mm case can be slipped on. (40 S&W works on a .45) I slug from the breech end and with the Henry's the toughest part is getting it started because the transition from chamber to rifling is very abrupt. Make sure the bore is well oiled.