Henry Rifle Forums

Hey everyone, new member here. I've run 240 grain magtech and 240 grain Winchester white box SJSP ammo through my 44 mag big boy steel, and I'm not happy with my groups (or lack of groups) at 100 yds. I have a 2-7x33mm Leupold scope on the gun to help with accuracy. Have any of you found some factory ammo that the gun seems to group better with? I'm getting good groups from my 30-30 with 170 grain Remington corlokt bullets. I'm hoping to get the 44 mag dialed in because I plan on taking it to the woods with me this deer season. Thank you for any help.

Wish I could help with specific ammo recommendations, but I don't have any guns in .44.

Just a few questions and suggestions, though. First, how small do you want your groups to be at 100 yards? Shooting 1 inch groups with a lever rifle and a 2-7 scope is doable, but that doesn't mean it's easy. Generally speaking, hunting accuracy for game like deer is being able to hit a paper plate. At 100 yards, that's about 8 or 10 MOA.

Second, given my first observation, maybe it's not the ammo. Again, what you're trying to do with the rifle is not the easiest thing in the world, and perhaps you just need to shoot it more. Also, you may be having better results with your 30-30 simply because it's a 30-30. That longer, thinner .30 caliber bullet is going to fly better out to 100 than a fatter and stubbier .44. Sure, both can be shot accurately, but the 30-30 bullet has an advantage.

Third, if you don't already load your own ammo, you may want to strongly consider it. Factory .44 magnum ammo is not cheap. Factory .44 special ammo is not easy to find, and is also not cheap. Both can be handloaded for a fraction of the cost of factory ammo, AND, you will very likely find that your handloaded ammo will be noticeably more accurate than the factory stuff right from the get-go.

Hey ditto1958, I am still learning the rifle for sure. I've only shot about 60 rounds through it. I was actually shooting at a paper plate with a bullseye on a target stand at 100yds. I would average hitting the plate 2-3 times out of a 5 shot group. I'd like to be able to hit that plate every time and get a consistent 3 inch group out of the gun. I do plan on starting to reload and actually have most of the equipment needed to do it, but I have a lot to learn about it.

What size groups were you getting at 50yards?

They were pretty good at 50. I was hitting about 2.5 inches high from point of aim, and most groups were about 1.5 -2 inches. Some may have been less. I didn't actually measure but they were acceptable.

I've ordered some hornady leverevolution 225 grain ammo and am going to try that out next weekend. I really enjoy shooting the gun and have had no failures to eject or feed or anything like that from it.

My experience with a BBS in 44 I have found that my BBS does shoot less accurate with heavy bullets,300,310 325...not bad but a noticeable difference, The 180,200,240s do group tighter. I am using a Skinner peep on the rear and have it sighted in for 75 yrds ... plus if this gun is new recheck the patterns after 200 rounds, you and the bbs need to get used to each other

sorry, can't help with info on 44 mag factory loads .... we hand load our ammo, haven't fired any factory 44 ammo since the late '60's .... below is a picture showing one of the best targets, I've fired out of our Henry BBS .... it was fired in April of last year under what I'd consider to be perfect conditions .... at an indoor range, taking my time, from a sandbag bench rest .... the bullets were our long time hunting load using 240 gr Nosler JHP's .... there is no doubt in my mind that our Henry 44 is capable of firing smaller groups .... I'd like to believe I can fire a smaller group but so far that ain't happened and, frankly, I've come to believe that it probably never will

Awesome. group there

Whaler17 wrote:Awesome. group there

complement appreciated .... like I said, best I've ever done with that rifle

JEBar, what loadings did you use to obtain that group ? What powder/weight and primers. Lastly, what distance ? Thank you for your help and time.

I use the Mag-tech and Winchester white box 240s as practice ammo and for that both do fine. In certain guns, in fact, the Mag-tech does very well (and it burns cleaner than the Winchester). At 100 yards, though, either should get you at least 3", five shot groups at 100 with a scoped lever gun, but you'll need a day of good conditions and you should also be using a good rest/shooting bag/technique. If you're already in the inch and a half range at 50, 3" should be doable at 100 with more practice. Also, some new guns also respond to some seasoning. 60 rounds is what I would consider just the beginning of breaking in a new gun.

If I was to do any hunting, though, I'd spend the money and move up to the premium factory 44 mag ammo like the Hornady XTP or the Barnes 225s. With these, I do see a noticeable improvement in group size over the Mag-tech and Winchester, but the premium stuff is way too expensive to use as practice ammo.

Slugnut wrote:JEBar, what loadings did you use to obtain that group ? What powder/weight and primers. Lastly, what distance ? Thank you for your help and time.

Nosler 240 gr JHP ---- 23.8 gr W296 or H110 ---- CCI Large Pistol Pimer (note: I haven't found that the brand of primer makes any difference nor can I tell any difference between Large Pistol and Large Pistol Magnum primers) .... Starline Brass (here again I haven't been able to tell any difference when using a different brand of brass )

MSUDAWG wrote:I've ordered some hornady leverevolution 225 grain ammo and am going to try that out next weekend. I really enjoy shooting the gun and have had no failures to eject or feed or anything like that from it.

I think you are on the right track with Hornady ammo. I suggest also trying their 240gr XTP load or the 240gr load from Blackhills that also uses the XTP bullet. Blackhills probably has the best quality control of any of the ammo manufacturers and Hornady would be close behind. The Hornady bullets will probably be very accurate out of your Big Boy because they are sized at .430 rather than the .429 of most jacketed. However, all of this is not from my own experience as I have not tried them out of my Big Boy in .44. I have only tried one factory load with poor accuracy at only 50 yards. But that may have also been me that day and needing to learn how to shoot it better.

Also, I think you are right in that you may just be learning the gun since you were getting significantly better groups at 50 yards. Let us know how the LEVERevolution rounds work.

JEBar, thank you. I'll give those loading a try.

one point in selecting reloading bullets .... most 44 bullets marked for reloading (the same applies to 41, 45, 357) are designed for pistol level velocities .... consequently at much faster rifle velocities they may not expand at a rate designed to maximize impact .... I choose to use Nosler because they have designed to deliver peak performance at both pistol and rifle velocities

MSUDAWG wrote:Hey ditto1958, I am still learning the rifle for sure. I've only shot about 60 rounds through it. I was actually shooting at a paper plate with a bullseye on a target stand at 100yds. I would average hitting the plate 2-3 times out of a 5 shot group. I'd like to be able to hit that plate every time and get a consistent 3 inch group out of the gun. I do plan on starting to reload and actually have most of the equipment needed to do it, but I have a lot to learn about it.

MSUDawg
If you need any pointers or help or have questions about reloading dont be afraid to ask more than willing to give you advice or the help you need to get started. You tube is also a good place to go for help on reloading. Al

Well just got back from shooting again. The Hornady Leverevolution 225 gr FTX shot very well. I think I've found my hunting round. Was able to get 1.5 - 2 inch groups at 100 yds, and I'm very happy with that. Thank y'all for all of your recommendations. Now if November 17th would hurry up and get here.

That is excellent! I would be very happy with those results. Thanks for letting us know and looking forward to hearing about your hunting results.

MSUDAWG wrote:Well just got back from shooting again. The Hornady Leverevolution 225 gr FTX shot very well. I think I've found my hunting round. Was able to get 1.5 - 2 inch groups at 100 yds, and I'm very happy with that. Thank y'all for all of your recommendations. Now if November 17th would hurry up and get here.

outstanding ....I'm not surprised in the least that you have been able to find a load that produces that type of group with your Henry