Big Boy Trigger Job

[Sir Henry]

Anybody with some experience out there that would give me the pros and cons of a trigger job on a Big Boy?

Steve

I guess me and you are the only one's here that has set behind a good trigger.

Just what I was thinking. This Big Boy will make an awesome plinking/target rifle at about 1-1/2 to 2 pounds trigger pull.

That is a light trigger. Is that where everyone's Big Boy measures in at?

[Steve]

I think in the future I will not post any modification, or improvements, or thoughts of doing some modifying of any type. No mater what it seems it is always a debate if it is not exactly what somebody else has, I'm not telling people to do as I do they can read and decide.

[JEBar]

I think in the future I will not post any modification, or improvements, or thoughts of doing some modifying of any type. No mater what it seems it is always a debate if it is not exactly what somebody else has, I'm not telling people to do as I do they can read and decide.

personally, I'm glad you introduced this topic .... the trigger pull on our Henry rifles works for us but if there is an aftermarket improvement, I'd like to know about it .... the same is true for available sights/scopes, recoil pads, and such

[Rugerfanboy]

I think in the future I will not post any modification, or improvements, or thoughts of doing some modifying of any type. No mater what it seems it is always a debate if it is not exactly what somebody else has, I'm not telling people to do as I do they can read and decide.

personally, I'm glad you introduced this topic .... the trigger pull on our Henry rifles works for us but if there is an aftermarket improvement, I'd like to know about it .... the same is true for available sights/scopes, recoil pads, and such

I'm with JEBar on this subject. I'd like to hear and read all about what is available for our Henry rifles. Just this morning, I learned from rwortman about a low profile receiver scope mount for the Henry rifle. After looking at the website/company that is making the low profile receiver scope mount, I also found/seen they offer a shim kit for shimming the lever (eliminates the side to side play in the lever). Henry rifles are and will continue to grow in popularity amongst the shooting community. Check out youtube, you will see just how popular they are.

You asked about a trigger job and I explained there isn't a kit available for the rifle. The only thing that can be done to the trigger is smoothing out the action. Talk to a gunsmith and they will tell you the same.

The debate that you talk about, that's gonna happen on a forum board. Everybody has there opinion and if they've done it, there gonna be biased about it and tell you about it.

I do know one thing about the Henry Big Boy Steel chambered in 44 Magnum. As for mine, I've worked mine from end to end. Here recently, my forward grip has come loose again. I've already had Henry replace it once and the new one is now worst than the first one. My first forward grip had rear up and down play and Henry replaced it when the outer magazine tube cracked. I sent my rifle back to Henry to repair the outer magazine tube and while they had the rifle, they replaced the forward grip cause of the rear up and down play that it had. Well, the replacement has started moving from front to back when the rifle is shoot. This effects the accuracy when I shoot it. So, I've decided to embed the forward grip to tightened it up. I've also hand loaded some ammo for my rifle and it shoots a 1 inch group at 100 yards. I still have some room to play with my hand loads for my rifle. I just might make that happen and see if I can shoot a 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch group at 100 yards. With some work to the rifle, a good glass mounted to the receiver, a proper bench rest and some bench rest ammo. I think these Henry rifles can shoot under a inch at 100 yards. It won't take a fancy trigger job, a match grade barrel and a bench rest stock set to get the job done. The ammo and a good scope (glass) is what will make these Henry rifles shine in the accuracy department.

[PT7]

Good Day, Steve,

From my perspective, I've not seen the debate you mentioned. You foundational question was: "Anybody with some experience out there that would give me the pros and cons of a trigger job on a Big Boy?" It seems to me that some of the responses provided those "pro and cons" you were looking for.

But I do agree with JEBar and Rugerfanboy as they consider it important to know about any aftermarket improvement or process helpful to Henry owners. That is mostly what our Henry Forum is about, and that's a good reason to be here and to talk about what we individually do. Over the time I've participated, I have learned a lot from many helpful Henry folk. Just as I'm learning from your topic.

I have read this thread with very much interest also. And what I've mostly been looking for is to find out what you will do with your Henry trigger at the end of the day. So I hope to read that before long. Thanks for posting a most interesting question and topic. Have a great day!

I think in the future I will not post any modification, or improvements, or thoughts of doing some modifying of any type. No mater what it seems it is always a debate if it is not exactly what somebody else has, I'm not telling people to do as I do they can read and decide.

personally, I'm glad you introduced this topic .... the trigger pull on our Henry rifles works for us but if there is an aftermarket improvement, I'd like to know about it .... the same is true for available sights/scopes, recoil pads, and such

I'm with JEBar on this subject. I'd like to hear and read all about what is available for our Henry rifles. Just this morning, I learned from rwortman about a low profile receiver scope mount for the Henry rifle. After looking at the website/company that is making the low profile receiver scope mount, I also found/seen they offer a shim kit for shimming the lever (eliminates the side to side play in the lever). Henry rifles are and will continue to grow in popularity amongst the shooting community. Check out youtube, you will see just how popular they are.

You asked about a trigger job and I explained there isn't a kit available for the rifle. The only thing that can be done to the trigger is smoothing out the action. Talk to a gunsmith and they will tell you the same.

The debate that you talk about, that's gonna happen on a forum board. Everybody has there opinion and if they've done it, there gonna be biased about it and tell you about it.

[Mgr2]

........ Just this morning, I learned from rwortman about a low profile receiver scope mount for the Henry rifle. After looking at the website/company that is making the low profile receiver scope mount, ...........

Is this an alternative to the mount the Henry factory supplies, and does it fit the BB/BBS? Could you post a link?

[Bish1309]

I'm not sure what's wrong with mine, but every time I pull the trigger there's this big bang sound...

I dunno but I might recommend some ear protection. But that's just me.

[Alnamvet68]

........ Just this morning, I learned from rwortman about a low profile receiver scope mount for the Henry rifle. After looking at the website/company that is making the low profile receiver scope mount, ...........

Is this an alternative to the mount the Henry factory supplies, and does it fit the BB/BBS? Could you post a link?

He may be referring to the Ranger Point Precision offerings of scope mounts. www.rangerpointprecision.com

[Rugerfanboy]

........ Just this morning, I learned from rwortman about a low profile receiver scope mount for the Henry rifle. After looking at the website/company that is making the low profile receiver scope mount, ...........

Is this an alternative to the mount the Henry factory supplies, and does it fit the BB/BBS? Could you post a link?

The mount having a lower profile will put the scope closer to the shooters eye....meaning the shooter doesn't loose there cheek weld on the stock. When the shooter losses there cheek weld, they have to strain there neck to be able to see threw the scope. This will mess with the shooters side alignment and sight picture. The alternative is putting a riser on the stock. Another alternative is getting low profile scope mounts which sometimes is not cheap.

Here is a video for a DIY Cheek Pad.> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1TsWnz91Tc

One must also consider when lower there scope, the scope might interfere with the cocking hammer. You might have to install a hammer extension from Henry.

http://henrypride.com/collections/rifle ... extensions <Grovtec Hammer Extension

While I was on the website, I included the shim kit for the lever. I also included another company that sales shim kits that gives more options when ordering. You can get Lever, Hammer and Trigger Shim Kit from trigger shims company.

http://triggershims.com/henry_rifle.html <Lever, Hammer and Trigger Shim Kit

http://rangerpointstore.com/lever-actio ... unt-rails/ <Low Profile Scope Mount

http://rangerpointstore.com/big-loop-le ... ms-4-pack/ <4 Pack Shim Kit

[JEBar]

One must also consider when lower there scope, the scope might interfere with the cocking hammer. You might have to install a hammer extension from Henry.

agree .... we've put hammer extensions on all 3 of our Henry centerfires .... there are a couple of other issues one might face with lowering a scope .... one, it may come in contact with the OEM iron buckhorn sight .... two, the front sight may stick up into the field of view causing a fuzzy, dark blob at 6 o'clock .... neither issue is critical

[Rugerfanboy]

One must also consider when lower there scope, the scope might interfere with the cocking hammer. You might have to install a hammer extension from Henry.

agree .... we've put hammer extensions on all 3 of our Henry centerfires .... there are a couple of other issues one might face with lowering a scope .... one, it may come in contact with the OEM iron buckhorn sight .... two, the front sight may stick up into the field of view causing a fuzzy, dark blob at 6 o'clock .... neither issue is critical

JEBar....you bring up a good point. As for me....I'd remove the buckhorn sight and install a plug....(if the scope was gonna be permanently attached to the rifle). As for the front sight post being somewhat fuzzy in the field of view in the scope. If it bothered me...I'd just remove the front sight post and install a plug in it's place. The plugs that I'm referring to....are the ones that Skinner Sights has for sale on his website.

I have a AR-15 that has a red-dot mounted on it and I can see the front sight post. But I have to really focus on it to see it....so I just left it on the rifle. It's part of the gas block is another reason as to why I left it alone. I could have cut it off the gas block but I decided it didn't bother me enough to cut it off. But truth be told....I do sometimes like to take the red-dot off of the rifle cause I still like to use the iron sights from time to time.

[JEBar]

I do sometimes like to take the red-dot off of the rifle cause I still like to use the iron sights from time to time.

agree .... that is the reason I don't like to remove the iron sights .... if I'm in the woods and something goes wrong with the scope (it has happened), I can remove it and fall back on the OEM iron sights

[tractortad]

Shimming a Henry sounds like an excellent idea - I think I'm going order three of these shim kits. Thanks for the info, Rugerfanboy.

This is what I like about this forum - always good, friendly info and advice on how to improve an already great rifle.

[Steve]

I did the trigger assembly work on my Big Boy today.
All it took was the following:

Removed 1 turn from the main spring. (fired 150 times, no FTF.)

Cover flat file with 6,000 grit paper from my knife sharpener. File had smooth sides.

Polish (Jut shine) area on trigger and sear that engage each other with the 6,000 grit paper.

Came out just about perfect. absolutely no creep! Just a nice clean break. Can't find what I had made for measuring trigger pull. I can tell it is a good amount for me to walk around in the woods with.

EDIT: Thought I should come back and warn you, pay attention to the instructional video on the hammer screw. It had me going for a while, then it just fell into place.

[PT7]

Good job, Steve.
Especially that it "Came out just about perfect."

[JEBar]

http://triggershims.com/henry_rifle.html Lever, Hammer and Trigger Shim Kit

in checking their website, a kit isn't listed for any of our 3 Henry rifles .... I've emailed them to see what, if any, might be available

[North Country Gal]

I've been looking at these guns in the stores in our area and have found a fair amount of variation in the trigger pull, one gun to the next. Some pretty decent, but some heavy enough to be a deal breaker for me. Just what can be done with these guns?

[JEBar]

I've been looking at these guns in the stores in our area and have found a fair amount of variation in the trigger pull, one gun to the next. Some pretty decent, but some heavy enough to be a deal breaker for me. Just what can be done with these guns?

I'm somewhat surprised to hear that ..... with our 3 Henry rifles we have seen some initial stiffness in the lever action that smoothed out rather quickly when in use .... I haven't put a scale on them but can't detect much, if any, difference in the trigger pulls .... none have a competition, set trigger pull but all have a very respectable hunting rifle pull .... all that being said, I'm looking forward to reading reports from folks who have experience in this area

[Steve]

For people like myself with the perfect neck length the drop at the heel of the Henry rifles is just about perfect for the open sights.
To add a optical sight on my Big Boy I had to add a cheek piece to get proper position to shoot.

[Bugs]

The .357/38 BB Steel I just picked up had a nice smooth trigger right out of the box. I suppose one could tinker with the main spring, remove a coil and stretch out to original length, and test fire. Polish some action parts, etc. making sure not to change any angles. Or IMHO leave it alone and shoot it; the trigger and action should smooth out with use and wear. Quite frankly most of a "trigger job" really equates to artificially accelerated wear if the action angles (sear/hammer) are set correctly. Contact Henry and see if they sell a polished trigger mechanism??? If you are going to mess with springs I'd buy replacement stock springs first to return it to "normal" in case you get a little too aggressive with your spring coil removal.