Lever change and Trapper comparison

[CP:]

I just could not warmup to the big loop that came with my new Henry .357 Carbine. After a call to Henry’s parts department and a $46.00 credit card charge, I found in my mail box 4 days later a standard lever loop with the lever plunger in place and a new lever take down screw. This new lever is just a better fit for me and my scabbards.

For comparison, I included in the picture my Winchester Model 94 AE .30-30 Trapper. For the past 25 years, this Trapper as been my companion in work and play in the northern Rockies. It fits me...

[Vaquero]

Looks fine, I like he big loops and added one to my 41 BBS shortly after I received it.
Like they say different strokes for different folks.

RP

[ESquared]

They're both beautiful and I envy your Rockies adventures with that 30-30! I bet it has tales to tell!

I'm one of those who like both large and small loop - whatever Henry wants to put on it, I'm fine with! Maybe because of that, the Carbine's tend to look more "natural" with the large loops, but that could just be too much screen time staring at them!

YOUR carbine looks great with the standard loop, and, best of all, it makes you happy.

[markiver54]

The lower one appears to have a slightly larger loop than the one above. I, personally, think the henry small loop is a bit constricting. JMO. I like large loop versatility. To each their own of course, whatever works.

[Mags]

I like the appearance of the loading gate.

[RanchRoper]

I'm with ya...not a big loop lever guy either. I like the Rifleman's and John Wayne's but just wouldn't look right on my 1860.

[Mistered]

I really like the Winchester Trappers - and owned one myself in .357 but it was prone to nearly all the issues the pistol cartridge Winchesters were known for and I eventually sold it to buy my Henry BBB .357 (and did very well on the sale).
By contrast I own Three Winchester 30-30s but they are very different guns than the pistol cartridge models.
And with regard to the 'loops' I prefer the standard on levers as opposed to the large style.

[mrguvna]

I love the trapper, like an idiot I walked away from one in 44 mag a few yrs back and it haunted me for a while till I bought my 44 mag BBB

[JEBar]

that lever looks just fine on your .357 Carbine .... whatever works best for you is what you ought to go with

[CP:]

Uh-oh. Henry just gave me a $46.00 education. Their rifles may be put together with all CNC parts, but that does not mean that all of the parts will go together without some hand fitting. My new small loop lever does not drive the carrier (elevator) down to the proper resting position when the action is in battery. Consequently, 1 in 7 rounds does not completely charge into the carrier and will create a jamb when cycling the action. I put the large loop lever back in the rifle, and I could not make it jamb. I know there are several options that I could pursue to get this rifle to run with my replacement finger lever, but I think I’ll just change my feelings regarding the large loop finger lever and keep it in place.

[Settingsun1892]

Have you put them side by side and see any difference?

[CP:]

I did not put the calipers to it, but the bolt lobe-end of the big loop appears to be thicker and when installed did not have as much lateral side play as the small loop lever. I could not detect any other differences between the two in milling angles or footprint.

[CP:]

OK-The bolt lobe end of the small finger lever has a thickness of .135” and the large loop is .140” in thickness. Everything else appears to be the same except for the size of a cut-out near the snail cam - see below. With the small finger lever installed, I could push the lifter (elevator) down from the up position with my finger, but I cannot do so with the large loop installed. I think I’ll email Henry this post and get their thoughts. CP.

[markiver54]

OK-The bolt lobe end of the small finger lever has a thickness of .135” and the large loop is .140” in thickness. Everything else appears to be the same except for the size of a cut-out near the snail cam - see below. With the small finger lever installed, I could push the lifter (elevator) down from the up position with my finger, but I cannot do so with the large loop installed. I think I’ll email Henry this post and get their thoughts. CP.

I would...

[CP:]

Well, it surely did not take Henry long to react to my email. They believe that the standard finger lever that I purchased may be out of specifications and have put another one in the mail to me. I appreciate Henry’s prompt no muss, no fuss customer service in this regard. Pretty cool...

[CP:]

I received the standard finger lever replacement, for the one that was out of specifications, from Henry. I installed it and it works as advertised-no jambs.

I have a couple of learning from this experience that l’ll share. Henry’s customer service was responsive and timely in providing me with a no-cost fix. Secondly, unlike a Marlin 336, when the finger lever, rocker and lifter are in time you cannot depress the lifter from the loading position with your finger (see photo below). If you have feeding issues with your Carbine, you may want to try this test. The out of spec lever that I replaced today would allow me to depress the lifter with my finger when it was in the top dead center position. The new standard replacement lever received today and the factory big loop lever that came with the Carbine lock the lifter in its loading position during part of the cycling process. CP.