My New Henry .38/357

[Pete]

Here's a picture of my new Henry that some of the guys over on the new members forum wanted to see. Could have posted this over there but this seemed like a more appropriate place to put it. If there are any questions feel free. I notice the recoil pad looks different that a film clip I saw a while back so suspect there might be some other differences too.

What I'm trying to find out is what is the actual twist rate of the .38/357? Seems most of the comments I''ve seen on the internet say it's pretty slow. Checking mine several times I come up with 1-17 1/2". That's about the same as my S&W .357 Mag. revolver. Thought 1-18 was the standard for the caliber. Any thoughts or comments?

Pete

Henry-1.jpg

[RanchRoper]

Congrats! Good looking rifle.

[PT7]

I'd suggest that you contact one of the techs at Henry RAC. Going to the source would be best/easiest.

There are Forum discussions in abundance on the .357 Big Boy twist rate.
For instance, in a 2014 MarlinOwners.com post, one fellow wrote:
"The .357 Big Boy has a 1:16 twist as listed in my catalog, and which I also confirmed via email with a Henry tech some months ago."

So that would be what my .357 BBB is, as it was built in March, 2013. I checked a 2015 Henry catalog I have, and it lists this same stat for my H006M rifle: Rate of Twist: .357 Mag = 1"16.

Then there is an article by Chuck Hawks titled "Rifle Twist Rate." http://chuckhawks.com/rifling_twist_rate.htm It provides a formula for determining twist rate, plus has a list of usual twist rates for most of the popular rifle calibers. The formula exercise might be interesting to do. But you'll read also that there may be variables on the end stat.

Oh yes, great choice of a Henry rifle!!

[Deadwood Dutch]

Congratulations on the new rifle!

[CT_Shooter]

What I'm trying to find out is what is the actual twist rate of the .38/357?

The twist on the H006M is 1:16. It confusing because HENRY describes the twist rate in the entire series of H006 as 1:38, but the H006M is different, and is described here:
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/pro ... s_id/26449

[Pete]

CT_Shooter, & others,

The twist confusion for me came from a poster on here who claimed he'd heard that the .38/.357 had a slow twist rate. None was mentioned but I've read on different forums twist rates as slow as 1-38". I wasn't all that worried about it since I wasn't figuring on going with the heavy bullets you see some want to use. But figured I'd check mine. 4 tries averaged 1-17 3/8". So thought I'd ask for what others had found.

On another note, I've seen a short video showing the recoil pad ventilated like a shotguns. As you can see mine is solid. A design change? Gets you wondering if there have been other changes and what they might, or will be

Thanks for the heads-up from a coupla members on here. It really gets amazing some of the bull that gets passed around on the different forums.

[Neon Horse]

Looks like a handy rifle. Very nice!

[ditto1958]

Pete, my H009 .30-30 from 2013 has the same butt pad as your rifle. The current H009's have the one with holes in them.

[clovishound]

Regardless of the twist rate, this gun is a solid ton of fun to shoot. I hope you reload, or have lots of money, you are going to want to shoot lots and lots of ammo through it. I bought mine last August. I was surprised to see that I have run over 2,000 round through it already. Down to the last 100 out of the second 1,000 box of magnum primers, plus a couple boxes of factory, and few .38s every now and then.

It is accurate, smooth, looks great, and there is just something about operating that lever. It has enough recoil with .357 magnums to let you know you are shooting a rifle, but not enough to make you think twice about shooting 100 rounds or more in a range session. My daughter (she has sent the lion's share of rounds downrange through this rifle) and I were just talking the other day about how great a purchase the Big Henry was. We also have an H001, little Henry in, .22lr.

We've got a holographic red dot on the Big Boy. Daughter has been talking about trying a scope on it, after using the H001 with a nice little Nikon on top. I may take the Bushnell off my Savage, just to try out a scope on it. Neither of us do too well with the semi buckhorn it came with.

[Pete]

Clovishound,

Been casting and reloading since the mid 50's when I cast round balls in a ten Pd. pot on the kitchen stove.

If the weather holds up will be shooting tomorrow afterrnoon.. Doesn't look good but we'll see.

Got Hornady's handbook so I can start at the bottom of their Cowboy loads and keep working up till I find a good lite load for plinking at 50yds. Then keep on going up to find an accurate load for 100 yds.

Figured originally to use a red dot like you have but using it I couldn't get my head down on the stock. That's why the picture has a 6x Burris on it.

Pete

[clovishound]

Sounds like you want to use cast. I haven't done cast in the Henry yet. I have found that the most accurate load has been 158 grain heavy plated, or jacketed using a slow powder like IMR 4227 in a .357 magnum load. Probably a little fast for cast unless you are going to use gas checks.

Enjoy.

[Vaquero]

Good looking 357, I recently picked up one of the H0012M41's.
Looks like yours but I added one of the large loops.
Very fun shooter, but no help to ya on the twist.
Enjoy
RP

[Pete]

Clovishound,

Haven't shot a jacketed or plated bullet for so long I can't member even what I might have shot them in. Has to have been more than five yrs. ago when I sold my equipment for making bullets out of 22 RF cases..

Will be starting out trying for a good 50 yd. load with the Lyman 358212 RN cast out of range scrap. 148 grs. with Bhn of 12/14, sized .358 and lubed with Lyman Alox. Hodgdons in their reloading manual recommends for Cowboy loads going with Unique starting at 3.7 grs. up to 5.0 grs., so that's what I'll start with if it isn't raining today.

Vaquero,

Can't get excited about the big loop levers. Maybe if I was John Wayne.

Pete

[RanchRoper]

I'm kinda the same way about the big loop levers. I like the look, but the Big Boy looks so darn good as is I hate to mess with it.

[PT7]

Pretty cool that Henry provides the different "looks" for different "tastes," isn't it?

My Henry BB has the standard lever; the SGC has the larger-loop lever.
Still haven't figured out which I like better for looks...
... but they both handle quite well.

[RanchRoper]

So if I hear you correctly, I need more Henry's.

[White Squirrel]

So if I hear you correctly, I need more Henry's.

Don't we all?!

[Sir Henry]

So if I hear you correctly, I need more Henry's.

Just a dozen or so. All mine are rimfire so I need to get a few centerfire.

[Pete]

How to begin....... I don't really care for thread hi-jackers.

Been waiting to have someone ask how I did with my new Henry the other day if it didn't rain. Didn't rain! Was really amazed considering about all I wanted to accomplish was get the gun sighted in and try out a few loads, so just shot a shoulder and front hand on a sandbag for a rest.

But seems you guys are more interested in YOUR guns. At least I know not to waste my time posting pictures and test data. Thanks for that info anyway.

Pete

[CT_Shooter]

How to begin....... I don't really care for thread hi-jackers.

Been waiting to have someone ask how I did with my new Henry the other day if it didn't rain. Didn't rain! Was really amazed considering about all I wanted to accomplish was get the gun sighted in and try out a few loads, so just shot a shoulder and front hand on a sandbag for a rest.

But seems you guys are more interested in YOUR guns. At least I know not to waste my time posting pictures and test data. Thanks for that info anyway.

Pete

I'm not sure if this is serious or not.

I just re-read this entire thread, Pete. As a result, I have no idea why you wrote, "At least I know not to waste my time posting pictures and test data". Sorry you've been disappointed, though I can't understand why. Everyone here is interested in Henry rifles, shooting, and helping each other whenever possible and the comments in this thread seem to me to be on or nearly on point. One doesn't need to be asked to post about a day at the range. Just post it. Comments and discussions will surely follow.