Henry Rifle Forums

Took my BBS in 357 for its second outing
Good: It is accurate-far more than I am!
Bad: 3X out of a box of 50 .357 jacketed it jammed up feeding
I am always willing to consider operator error-please let me know what I might be doing wrong!
with thanks

As always, be authoritative about your lever work.

Yes. My Big Boy did not feed properly if I weeny-armed it. Had to work that lever like I meant business.

thank you!!!

agree with the need to firmly work the lever ... I have noticed that as we run more and more rounds through ours, it seems to work even more smoothly .... that could easily be in part to us doing our part

Cofisher wrote:As always, be authoritative about your lever work.

I concur. I noticed my Big Boy .45 colt had some issues the last time I was at the range. I was levering easy like so that my case wouldn't eject out onto the ground so that my lazy butt wouldn't have to bend over to pick them up.I was trying to keep them on the bench. Once I started to lever it with authority......no problems. I need the exercise anyhow.

My 357mag likes 38specials better than 357's.

It may be more forgiving after you get a few hundred rounds through it.

agree with the need to firmly work the lever ...

So do I but this doesn't mean force it if something hangs up and simply does not move. If everything is still moving and not actually 'binding' keep doing what you are doing and try to take notice if it is smoothing out. My BBB took a couple 100 rounds before it smoothed out but part of that was my fault for not accomplishing a complete disassembly, inspection and cleaning before taking it out because it was just so dang smooth out of the box ! I just shot it full of Rem-Oil and went on my way and it is now like butter (well almost) as I still haven't given it a complete take down yet - but will soon. Actually my BBB has been the smoothest of all the lever action rifles I have owned (both new and used) - except maybe my 1899 mod 94 Winchester which has an incredible action - and still hasn't had a complete take down and cleaning!

Frontiersman wrote:It may be more forgiving after you get a few hundred rounds through it.

I am hoping. I have noticed the cases dinging the receiver while I work the lever firmly as they fly out. I do oil it when I am finished. I just hope the cases do not take off too much of the bluing before it becomes more forgiving.

When you shoot straight wall case like 38/357 and 45 Colt from a tube feed lever gun and it use a ramp to feed it in the barrel it can get picky . That is why I use a 32-20 or 44-40 bottleneck are perfect for ramp feed guns . Org Henry's , 1866 and 73 have a elevator to lift the cartridges in to barrel and work perfect for a straight wall case . When I was able to shoot I shot SASS/CAS many moons ago I shot gunfighter class below . A pistol in each hand .

. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXPB8I1FuF8

larry7293 wrote:My 357mag likes 38specials better than 357's.

I believe that is not the norm. I know mine likes .357s better, in fact I normally only run .357 through it. I reload, so the only down side is a little more powder, and magnum cases are tougher to find at the range.

Not sure I would be overly concerned if the first box only had 3 failures. Like has been mentioned before, a clean and lube would be in order (not necessarily a complete strip down, just make sure the action has no detritus from manufacturing and enough CLP or gun oil to keep things slippery), operate the lever with authority, remember it may take a couple hundred for both you and the rifle to break in to final smooth feeding.

One other issue to be aware of, you must have the rifle upright when chambering. Some folks like to tilt it to the side to either get the ejected shell to go where they want it, or think that gravity will help extract the empty. It doesn't have to be + or - 1 degree, but it does need to be more or less upright.

If it still is failing to feed properly after a couple hundred, or gets worse, then a call to Henry would be in order.