Decision time!

[RanchRoper]

I wouldn't sweat it too much. If I was woods hunting a lot the carbine makes a lot of sense. But my Brass Big Boy swings just fine. In reality most any lever gun is pretty much a carbine. Some just a little shorter than others. Short or long they are fine weapons!

I have a Brass Henry in 22LR, 44MAG, and 45/70. All of them in the standard length. They all balance just fine. I like them all just fine. For me when in doubt it's all about sight radius. The more distance between the sights the better your aim will likely be. With my old eyes sighting is more important than weight.

Dozens of folks have shot my Big Boy (aka Mr. Ambassador). Not once has anyone shot it and then said "If this was just a little shorter I'd buy one". It's never even come up. But they do have some weight compared to modern style rifles. But that weight is mighty nice when shooting hotter loads. Not that recoil will be an issue with a 357.

Agreed. The Big Boys are mighty fine rifles. Many of the books I have on the old west refer to 20" barrel rifles as "saddle carbines". The Big Boys with their heavy octagon barrels, even though it's not a replica of any particular old west rifle, make you feel like you are holding history in your hand and ready for anything that comes at ya.

[Les]

The Big Boys with their heavy octagon barrels, even though it's not a replica of any particular old west rifle, make you feel like you are holding history in your hand and ready for anything that comes at ya.

That sounds good to me!

I made the decision today that I'm going to phone the LGS first thing tomorrow and order the .357 Big Boy to go with the .22 Frontier that I have already ordered. It's going to be a good Henry Christmas/New Year for li'l old me!

[RanchRoper]

Good choices. You'll be a happy man at the range. Photos please!

[BigAl52]

I have one of each and would buy both again. The 357 is just fun to plink with and its some pretty cheap shootin when you can load up some 38 special and just plink at clay pigeons on a ditch bank like I do. Al

[JEBar]

I made the decision today that I'm going to phone the LGS first thing tomorrow and order the .357 Big Boy to go with the .22 Frontier that I have already ordered. It's going to be a good Henry Christmas/New Year for li'l old me!

congrats .... I have no doubt you will enjoy them both .... the 357 is really a fun rifle to shoot .... just curious, are they very common in your area ?

[ace73]

Congrats, that does sound like a good Christmas!

[Les]

congrats .... I have no doubt you will enjoy them both .... the 357 is really a fun rifle to shoot .... just curious, are they very common in your area ?

I know quite a few people who own one, but they don't seem to shoot them very often. We are limited here to using them at indoor gun clubs or outdoor ranges. We don't have the luxury of being able to find an open area and just plink away, which is a great pity, because that would be the perfect way to use a Henry.

I did have a really nice hex barreled Rossi Puma .357 a few years ago, and I made the mistake of selling it because I didn't use it very often. I've been wanting another .357 ever since. I didn't want another Rossi, and the Henry doesn't need any explanation from me!

[Henry88]

congrats .... I have no doubt you will enjoy them both .... the 357 is really a fun rifle to shoot .... just curious, are they very common in your area ?

I know quite a few people who own one, but they don't seem to shoot them very often. We are limited here to using them at indoor gun clubs or outdoor ranges. We don't have the luxury of being able to find an open area and just plink away, which is a great pity, because that would be the perfect way to use a Henry

Hey Les,

Here where I live, there really isn't any place to plink either. You're not allowed to shoot on the management areas, they're for hunting (though who would know). The public ranges are just that. There is a private range in the area that a friend belongs to that has a plinking area set aside, but that is it. Unless you're lucky enough to own enough land, it's really not legal. Not like when I was young, and you just went out in the woods; it's not like that anymore.

Maybe it's different out west. The land out there seems to go on forever, but that doesn't mean anything if you don't own it. These days you have to be careful because trespassing with a firearm is a felony.

[Bugs]

The 357 is just fun to plink with and its some pretty cheap shootin when you can load up some 38 special and just plink at clay pigeons on a ditch bank like I do. Al

Recently got a .357 Big Boy Steel with 20 inch barrel. A lot of fun doing what Al described above. Mine will also be used as a brush gun for pig and deer. I also looked at the brass version with octagon barrel but that sucker was a tad heavy. If you are just going to use yours for range plinking the extra weight of the brass and octagonal barrel version should be fine but carrying that around in the woods all day might change your mind.

[Cofisher]

To all of you who have no open land, my heart goes out to you. Here in Central Nebraska, I can go five minutes and find a place to shoot. It is glorious! Within 30 minutes there are 5 mi.² of wildlife preserve dedicated to hunting. These do not include shooting ranges, but we all know how easy it is to set that up. Y'all come on out!

[Cofisher]

I have been taking grandsons out for bunny hunting. It is to dance for rifle work so using a shotgun on the run. Those boys make great dogs!

[Cofisher]

Make that dense... damn you auto correct

[SGC]

I have the SGC with the 16.5" and I liked the way it balanced and pointed better than the 20", but that is just me. I also have the .357 BB Steel Carbine and like the way it handles. I spend a good deal of time in brushy areas so the shorter barrels handle a little quicker, and they weigh a little less. Both are smooth and accurate. I would buy either again if I were to need one.