Henry Rifle Forums

Hello all, I’m a recent buyer of a big boy brass in .45Colt. Looking at taking it out pig hunting this fall, and wanting to work up a spicy load similar to Buffalo Bore’s +p ammo. Had a question about the receiver strength I wanted to run by you fellas...

I know the brass is a hardened alloy with a similar strength to their steel model, and it is +p rated according to Henry. Buffalos +p 225gr Barnes xpb load comes out of 20” barrel about 1850fps, and according to another site I found, that’s approaching 30,000cup (more than double SAAMI specs for 45colt). Worried about damaging the receiver with the pressure. Had a guy at a gun shop tell me a customer brought in a Henry that had the brass stretched to the point the action wouldn’t close, swore he only shot 1 box of +p ammo through it as fast as he could... guessing it’s normal gun shop Baloney but still got me thinking.

One thing that eases my mind is that the rifle is also made in 41 mag, 44 mag, etc, and those calibers are in the 36-40,000cup range for SAAMI specs. Would it be reasonable to assume that if the rifle can shoot .44mag all day long at 36000cup it could fire .45colt +p in the 30,000cup range without damaging anything?

I did ask Henry the same thing, they said the rifle could fire any commercial ammo, std or +p, within saami specs for the caliber. Problem is there are no saami specs for .45colt +p.

Any advice is greatly appreciated, looking forward to being part of the forum! Thanks!!!!

Welcome to the forum from CT, Maht_g. Congratulations on your new Henry!

Others will surely provide advice, but -- as for me -- I wouldn't be concerned about damaging the receiver with that ammo. If the 45C brass cartridge case can handle the pressure without any damage, the Big Boy Brass receiver will, too.

That was kind of my thoughts too, but was looking for other opinions. The brass cartridge case should be the weak link IMO. Thank you Shooter!

Agree with CT Shooter on this - your Henry should be able to handle the +p Buffalo rounds - the real issue is will the rounds feed? A lot of those hot Buffalo 45LC rounds are too big to cycle thru a Henry (or a Marlin) and are really intended to be shot out of a big heavy revolver (think Ruger Blackhawk)....

They make a 225 Barnes (all copper) and a 260gr jhp that will feed, any larger bullet is too long to feed on the Henry

Actually planning on loading my own 250gr jhp Nosler projectiles, just looking to mimic buffalo bores speeds/powers

Sounds like you already knew the answer to your question - that kind of round should really ruin a pig's day....

tractortad wrote:Sounds like you already knew the answer to your question - that kind of round should really ruin a pig's day....

I had a guess, but I’m new to the Henry lifestyle and wanted some advice from those that had more experience with the rifles and their durability. I’ve spent hours researching and reading about the rifle, but never hurts to ask someone with more experience.

Stretched brass receiver?! I find that amusing. When you pull the trigger the work is done in the chamber not the receiver. That brass Big Boy has a very stout octagon barrel! I wouldn't shoot Ruger only rounds in a Henry. But other than that I wouldn't sweat it. 45 colt is on par with a special not a magnum even +p. Magnum for 45 colt is 454 cassull!

Maht_g wrote:Actually planning on loading my own 250gr jhp Nosler projectiles, just looking to mimic buffalo bores speeds/powers

excellent choice of bullets .... we have used Nosler's 240 gr JHP 44 caliber bullets since the mid '60's .... they perform extremely well .... run them 800 to 1350 fps and their combination of controlled expansion and penetration is exceptional .... in short, put one anywhere near the right spot and they will take care of the rest

JEBar wrote:

Maht_g wrote:Actually planning on loading my own 250gr jhp Nosler projectiles, just looking to mimic buffalo bores speeds/powers

excellent choice of bullets .... we have used Nosler's 240 gr JHP 44 caliber bullets since the mid '60's .... they perform extremely well .... run them 800 to 1350 fps and their combination of controlled expansion and penetration is exceptional .... in short, put one anywhere near the right spot and they will take care of the rest

Yes I think they will get the job done. Just ordered them yesterday, looking forward to getting them and developing the load.

Maht_g wrote:Yes I think they will get the job done. Just ordered them yesterday, looking forward to getting them and developing the load.

link to a site that handles Nosler's "BLEMS" ===> http://www.shootersproshop.com/nosler-p ... 100ct.html <=== these bullets have "Cosmetic Blemishes: Minor discoloration/oxidation of product or scratches on product. These blemishes will not affect performance." .... over time I've used bunches of them and very seldom have been able to tell what the blemish is .... they are cheaper than Nosler's first run bullets but their performance is identical .... I started using them with the thought of saving money on practice ammo .... now I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with them

Thanks for the tip, it may work if you’re buying a bunch of them but for 1 box the shipping kills it. I bought from brownells with a 10% off and free shipping code... I’ll keep them in mind next time I need bullets though, thanks again!

Brownells is a good company .... I have 3 boxes of Nosler's 150 gr Ballistic Silvertips ===> https://www.brownells.com/reloading/bul ... 56993.aspx <=== on order from them that are due to arrive here early next week .... since the mid '60's I've been reloading for a Model 94 Winchester 30-30 that was built in 1941 and they are the most accurate bullets we've ever fired through it .... we also use Nosler's 300 gr Ballistic Silvertips for hunting with our Henry 45-70 .... here again, they have proven to be extremely accurate .... haven't found any 30-30 BLEMS but, thankfully, have found 45-70's

I'd find a new shop. I don't for one minute believe the Henry would fail with one box of ammo.

Frontiersman wrote:I'd find a new shop. I don't for one minute believe the Henry would fail with one box of ammo.

I don’t either, I thought it was classic gun shop FUD. Just wanted to ask here to get others opinions.