Speed loader for 357 Big Boy

[gregw72]

I love my Henry 357 steel big boy. It puts 10 shots into <1-3/4" at 100 yards routinely. I went thru a bunch of Marlin 1894s in 357 and 44 Mag plus one Rossi 357 and never came close to this accuracy.

One thing that I would like to fix on the Henry is a way to reload it fast. I actually like the tube better than the loading gate, or should I say my thumb likes it better. I saw where one forum poster bought Henry inner mag tubes, removed the spring and used them to pour rounds into his BB. Seems kinda expensive, though it worked. There are the plastic speed loaders, but they are not optimal for 357. Anyone found a cheaper means of "pouring" ten rounds into their BB?

[PT7]

Why are "the plastic speed loaders not optimal for 357," e.g. such as shown here?
https://www.amazon.com/QUICK-FILL-Speed ... ast_bbp_dp

I think there are some threads on the HRF where DIY centerfire speedloaders are discussed. But I can't find them using our search tool. I know there are youtube vids where folk share their DIY products. One I recall is a fellow who used pvc pipe. Of course, getting the correct inside diameter is a key to building your own.

I used a Henry Spee-d-Loader for my SGC in .22LR. Worked great and provided a total of 120 rounds. From my perspective, I didn't need a speedloader for my Henry .357 BBB. 10 rounds was easy to load individually with that size bullet. The small, light .22LR cartridge is definitely a different handling story.

Good luck with getting what you need. Let us know what you end up with.

And Welcome to the Henry Forum.
PT7

[CT_Shooter]

Welcome to the forum from CT. Glad you joined us.

I love my Henry 357 steel big boy.

[JEBar]

welcome to our forum, happy to have you join us .... understood on the accuracy of your Henry 357, ours has proven to be a real shooter .... please feel free to jump into ongoing conversations; as well as, to start others of your own .... be sure to follow the link below and add your Henry to our community's total


http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 99#p118199

[BigAl52]

Welome to the forum glad you joined us. I think PT has you pointed in the direction that I would have suggested also.

[GunnyGene]

I've been kicking around an idea for a different design for a speedloader for about a year that I think would work. Haven't got around to making a mockup yet, but hopefully this Spring when it warms up enough to spend some time in the shop. If it works, I might go for a patent.

[The Wiz]

Welcome in the forum!!!

[gregw72]

Thanks for mentioning the plastic tubes. I have formerly looked at them and the reviewers all said that they work great for 44 mag and 45 LC, but not so well for 357. The problem for 357 is they do not fit inside the magazine tube, so you really have to carefully align everything to get them to work. I would like to figure out what size brass tubing Henry is using and get some from McMaster Carr and make either 5 or 10 round holders that fit inside the mag tube. I would cap them one end and have a pin on the other that can be removed (i.e. Dillon primer drop tube).

[Mistered]

I would like to figure out what size brass tubing Henry is using

Just 'miked' mine - its .529 OD.

I think you'll be fine using .50 .

[gregw72]

Fantastic, thanks. I was meaning to get into the safe tonight and do that. SAAMI lists the rim of the 357 as 0.440 +0/-0.012, so ideally for a sliding fit I would get a tube with an ID of 0.442" for worst case. Ok, now time to find some brass stock.

[Mistered]

I am researching this now and I have found some .50 OD - but it's ID is .436.

I just miked a .357 rim diameter and it's .435.

This may be what you need - .472 ID.
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/79800140

[gregw72]

McMaster Carr has a few options:

6061 Aluminum with T6 temper https://www.mcmaster.com/9924k16 ID 0.444" and OD is 0.500" +/- 0.008"
260 Brass (cartridge brass) https://www.mcmaster.com/8859k33 ID 0.472" and OD is 0.500" +/- 0.002"

We have an account with them at work, so I get super cheap shipping. Looks like it might be time to place an order. The Aluminum would be much stronger as we make as lot of machined parts from 6061 T6, but it would be more prone to scratching up the bluing.

[Mistered]

There ya have it!

I doubt the aluminum would be much of an issue since you'will have plenty of clearance - but I would stick with brass - ya know ? aesthetics, appearance etc.

[gregw72]

Thanks for the help! I have used MSC before, but like I mentioned we have an account with McMaster. I get overnight shipping for the cost of ground since we do so much business with them. Looks like the exact same stuff.

[PT7]

I believe I recall correctly because I no longer have the SGC and loader in my gun cabinet. The Henry Spee-d-Loader didn't fit inside of the .22LR tube either. It was really very simple to lay it along the interior edge of the rifle tube, and since it's best to slide the ammo in at an angle (lessens any hard hits on the primers), this always worked for me. Getting the cartridges loaded was often easier than getting good POIs when sending those cartridges out of the barrel aiming at the dead bull. Have to "aim" well for both procedures!

I hope I understood correctly your hesitation about the loaders being a problem for the 357. You'll find the best results for whatever you do as it looks like help and advice is coming from all directions!

PT7

Thanks for mentioning the plastic tubes. I have formerly looked at them and the reviewers all said that they work great for 44 mag and 45 LC, but not so well for 357. The problem for 357 is they do not fit inside the magazine tube, so you really have to carefully align everything to get them to work.

[Mags]

.
Try 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" PEX pipe.

[Mistered]

5/8" OD PEX is the smallest .357s will slide into and they are 'loose' but just snug enough to hang up and not fall free. A couple more thou gap inside and they would slide free.

I know this because I just tried it.

[shootinthecinders]

Welcome to the forum gregw72. I can’t vouch for the quality of these tubes but have read of others using these tubes from Amazon.
QUICK-FILL Speed Loader Tubes - 10 Round Speedloaders for Henry Big Boy Rifles - 5 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J9LC5SD/re ... cEbVKJNMFN

EDIT: OOPS! So much for the Evelyn Wood’s speed reading courses I took in the 60s. I gave the very same answer that PT7 gave in the second post. Sorry folks.

[MarkB]

I used 1/2" PEX tubing. The .357 round fits good with a little clearance so the rounds slide in and out with no hold up. I cut a length of 12 1/4" for seven rounds of .357 for the 16.5" carbine. I used 1/2" PEX plugs for one end of the tube. These fit very tight and will not come out. I used safety pins to hold the rounds in the tube. These were safety pins from Home Depot. The pins are slower to use than a plug but they will not come off until you take them off. See the photos.

P1110168.JPG

[JEBar]

kudos for a very innovative concept .... looking forward to following your reports as you gain more and more experience using the loaders