Henry Rifle Forums

Could some dead weight be pared from a Big Boy Steel without hurting function? Could some material be milled from under the barrel where it would not show?

I really like the idea of a .327 rifle, but these are porky little guns. I am sure the .32 bore will make one even heavier than say a .45 LC. Do those of you with .357 rifles find them to be too heavy?

I sure would like it if the weight were under 6 pounds for the Carbine. No offense intended, guys.

BTW I have only handled a BB brass and a BB Steel in 20 inch, and they both felt heavier to me than my now-gone Marlin 1895 STP (16.5 inch) bear gun.... I really think that these don't need to be quite so massive, especially in the smaller calibers!

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA

I couldn't imagine milling material off the barrel of a weapon just to save weight. I'm not smart enough to know what would weaken the rifle, and what was just extra material.

On another note, it would ruin the resale value of the rifle. I don't plan on selling my Henry, but the rifle will outlast me. This would reduce resale value to nearly nothing.

clovishound wrote:This would reduce resale value to nearly nothing.

I personally don't care about resale value, and I disagree that it would make it worthless. Reduce it, definitely. It is not something that would bother me for more than about a minute. Mass produced guns are tools that are meant to be enjoyed.

A rare collectable meant to be an investment is another story completely. I would never cut on an old JM Marlin, for example.

John Davies
Spokane WA

John, I understand about the weight thing. It's the reason I prefer my Marlin 357 at 6 pounds. Still, that weight can sometimes be a plus.

One option you might explore is replacing the stock with something synthetic, rather than butchering any of the metal on your Henry. That could reduce the weight, given that Henrys come with some very nice, but heavy walnut. That's also a mod that you could reverse, if you wanted. Not sure if there is a ready made replacement synthetic for a Henry, but you might be able to fabricate something. Might make a fun winter project.

North Country Gal wrote:John, I understand about the weight thing. It's the reason I prefer my Marlin 357 at 6 pounds. Still, that weight can sometimes be a plus.

One option you might explore is replacing the stock with something synthetic, rather than butchering any of the metal on your Henry. That could reduce the weight, given that Henrys come with some very nice, but heavy walnut. That's also a mod that you could reverse, if you wanted. Not sure if there is a ready made replacement synthetic for a Henry, but you might be able to fabricate something. Might make a fun winter project.

LOL, I would not "butcher" any gun.I don't believe anybody makes a Henry synthetic stock set. I am definitely not going to try to make my own.

I actually like the look of brushed stainless with black furniture. OTH I think a black BB Steel with black stock would look a little too Heavy Metal.

Here's a Wild West Guns carbine in black and silver:



John Davies
Spokane WA

I like like that stainless look, too, though I've never had it in a lever gun. Have to admit the all weather durability thing appeals to me and, really, I think it fits the utility image of the lever gun. Some may not agree, of course, but a stainless gun with either a composite or synthetic stock would work up here in our snowy and rainy north woods.

John E Davies wrote:Do those of you with .357 rifles find them to be too heavy?

I own the Brass Big Boy in .357 and I don't think it's too heavy. In fact, I think the weight of it adds a bit of stability to off hand shooting. I can stand and shoot it for more than an hour at a time, though I'll admit that my left arm has gotten a bit stronger. I just got used to it. Now, my H001 seems too light.

It's common for shops to flute a barrel aka mill weight off the barrel. I see no reason the Henry couldn't stand to lose some weight. They're heavy especially as the caliber decreases in diameter. I would google search or call smiths locally and see who can do it. It's a good idea.

you can reduce weight in a traditional firearm by cutting wood or metal .... with a solid wood stock, one can remove the recoil pad or buttplate and drill holes into the end of the stock .... this type of thing is done when installing a mercury recoil suppressor .... I don't know if different weight barrel band is available .... all that being said, I suspect that any weight reduction would be pretty small

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthread ... _reduction

https://www.longriflesinc.com/pages/ser ... el-fluting

I know this is heresy in a lever action form, but I actually like the look of the diamond flutes. On their order page, Long Rifles Inc has a weight loss calculator that shows the amount of reduction based on barrel diameter and length. If somebody knows the OD of the Henry .327 barrel, maybe I could get some numbers....

https://www.longriflesinc.com/collectio ... el-fluting

John Davies
Spokane WA

Might just be easier to find the rifle you want. Probably cheaper too.

I have a Brass Big Boy in 44 mag. I like the weight as it helps a lot with recoil. But I'm a big guy and the 44 I would think has more recoil to deal with than a 327.

Squatch wrote:Might just be easier to find the rifle you want. Probably cheaper too.

?

Show me the long guns chambered in .327 Federal please.

John Davies
Spokane WA

Good point. I hadn't really considered that few are made in that caliber. Can't say I've been looking.

Anyone that starts milling steel off the barrel or receiver for whatever reason, good luck if you ever try to return it to H.R.A. for repairs.

Looking at the fluting available at Long Rifles, the helical might look good on a Henry. Kind of looks like somebody twisted an octagon a little

One man's "a little porky" is another man's "just right". That's true with guns as well as women. I know a fella that sold his HRA Brass Big Boy .357 because he felt it was just too heavy. Reason I know him is because he sold it to me! By the standards of current production leverguns the HRA centerfire guns are a little on the heavy side. But in all honesty the important question is how you are going to use the gun. If you are going to walk the hills of Maine from dawn until dusk still hunting for deer a gun that weighs 8.68 pounds (Brass Big Boy 20") empty and probably over 10 pounds loaded and with a scope mounted is certainly a little on the heavy side. That said, my HRA .357 gets used for range shooting (usually about 50 rounds any day I take it to the range) and for hunting deer from a stand. The extra weight is great at the range since 50 .357 loads doesn't beat up my shoulder thanks to the extra weight. And while the weight is noticeable on the 1/4 mile walk to my deer stand, it is quickly forgotten once I sit down and set the rifle on my lap. What I am trying to get at is that "too heavy" really has a lot to do with how you plan to use the gun. My HRA .357 is GREAT for the range and hunting deer from a stand. I wouldn't really want to carry it 9 hours per day. But for hunting that involves carrying the gun all day I have other rifles. That said, if someone wanted an HRA in .327 and wanted less weight then the carbine version at 6.5 pounds might be a good option.

Weight is relative. Apples to oranges my purpose built AR is 9.8lb unloaded and I carry it all day. Compare the Big Boy to an 1892 and it is heavy. As of this post the henry is almost the only game in town especially in .357. And certainly american made.