Henry Rifle Forums

I’m thinking about purchasing either a Henry steel receiver 45LC or Marlin 1894 45LC. I read that Henry uses a faster twist rifling than Marlin and other makers which favors heavier bullets.

I want a 45 cal to go along with my Blackhawk 45LC and have settled on a very mild load using a 200gn RNFP running around 800fps. I’m using HP-38/231 and found my load to be very accurate in my Blackhawk. I have arthritis in my hands and wrists and just can’t take the recoil I once did.

My question is, will this load perform well in the Henry? How is accuracy at say 50-100 yds? As I mentioned it’s very accurate in the revolver but that’s a totally different animal.

If it turns out to not be a good performer I can go to a heavier bullet like a 250 or buy a Marlin. I’m a little partial to the Henry since I currently have a Henry 22 carbine that’s one of my favorites.

Thanks in advance.

I shoot lots of 200 gr lead. Like it quite a lot. My rifle is not a BB but still 45 Colt. Little to no recoil.

50 yds.

My Marlin Cowboy cyckes and shoots them well.
Sorry my Henry's are 41 and 44's.

RP

Thanks for the info. I really favor the round barrel and I think the only option is in the steel receiver. The octagonal barrel just feels too front heavy. I bought a Henry pump 22 a couple of years ago and sold it for the same reason. The balance just wasn’t right. In the end I wound up buying a really clean Winchester 62A that feels just right.

I forgot to mention I’m only plinking with it. I’m too lazy to hunt.

My .45 Colt BBS shoots 200 grain "cowboy action loads" very accurately and as has been said, recoil is practically non-existant!

Tomorrow I’m going to call my local dealers and see if I can locate one.

Thanks again! Exactly the info I was looking for.

If you reload, try 7 gn of Universal with 200 gr lead. Fun load to shoot. That's what I shot today. Lots of punch.

Never used Universal.

I initially did a series of loads with 231/ HP38, HS-6 and Unique with my Blackhawk. Each powder I did several different weights of each powder and chronographed each and from a rest determined best accuracy. It came down to two loads. One load with 231 was very mild recoil and very accurate and one with HS-6 had equal accuracy but was very stout. I don’t remember velocities and will have to look them up.

Took a little drive to Buds Guns and Smoky Mountain Guns & Ammo this afternoon and looked at a Marlin 1894, Rossi 92, Henry big boy octagonal barrel carbine and steel carbine in 45 colt and came home with the Big Boy. The brass, wood, bluing and overall fit and finish plus how smooth it cycles made it a no brainer.

I really thought I’d wind up with either the Marlin or Henry steel carbine but when I handled the BB carbine it just felt right. I expected the barrel to make it front heavy like the 22 pump I had but it balanced just right.

Tuesday I’m taking it to the range and will report back. It makes the perfect companion for the Ruger Blackhawk 4-5/8 my wife gave me for Christmas.

.45 Colt is a great one to shoot! I have a Uberti/Winchester 1873 in 45 Colt 24 inch octagon barrel and with the 250 gr. bullets and 8 gr. Unique
there is little recoil and great accurate shooting.
Your Henry BB will go great with the Blackhawk! I have the Henry/Blackhawk combo in .44 Magnum.