Henry 357

[bandit1250]

I have been looking at the Henry 357. I have zero experience with them. They feel nice but I would rather have a pistol grip one if they made it. Is the center fires all steel? Do they feed reliable and how is your accuracy if you have one.? I see them here local for in the lower $600 range but may shop around for a nice stocked one instead of the first one I look at if I decide to get one. I have owned about 5 Marlin 1894C 357's and they just aren't my favorites in the Marlin line. My Marlin Cowboy was the best shooter by far but my Marlin 336 SC 35 Remington loaded down to 357 velocity with 158gr. pistol bullets would out shoot the 357 easily. The problem with the 35 loaded with the pistol bullets is reliable feeding due to the overall length being shorter and throwing the timing off. I have had some work fine but the SC is finicky with the shorter length. I also have a bunch of 357 components so that makes me want one again.

[Vaquero]

Can't help ya much on a 357 Henry.
Mine is a Rossi, and is a darn good shooter.
Will say I saw one a couple years ago, not long after I bought the Rossi that I should have bought.
Man that thing had some of the nicest lumber I'd ever seen on a rifle.
Good luck in your search.

[PT7]

I have the H006M .357 Bronze Big Boy now, and regrettably had to sell my H012M .357 Steel Big Boy last year (finances).

Both chamber very smoothly & reliably, especially using .357 ammo. There was an occasional glitch (FTF) when I used shorter .38 Special ammo in the H006M. Honestly, I think I contributed to that with my handling of the lever action. I finally overcame "tilting" my Henry to the right when chambering it.

Also both are very accurate, although I'm not the greatest marksman by any means. But a friend of mine is a former Marine sniper. The first time he shot my H006M with the stock sights, he placed a 5-round group of .357s, all rounds touching at 50 yards. He knows he is an excellent shooter, but the Big Boy surprised him as to how accurate it is.

The H012M was lighter and didn't have the octagon barrel like the H006M has. It was fun to shoot, and I might say even slightly more accurate.

If I would get another .357 rifle, it would be the Henry H006MR Carbine. No hesitation and no doubt about this choice. I think Henry makes excellent .357 Magnum rifles. For me, the .357 Henry in any model is a double thumbs up!

[JEBar]

In August we plan to order a Henry 357 as a birthday gift for our grandson ... he will turn 8 and be eligible to take NC's Hunter Safety Course .... it will officially become his when his father (our son) believes he is ready .... we've pretty well narrowed it down to either the Big Boy Steel or Big Boy Steel Carbine .... I'm happy to hear such positive reports on the Henry 357's

[CT_Shooter]

I bought one after I bought and fell in love with the Classic H001, which was the first firearm I ever purchased. I wanted a center fire, pistol caliber rifle to pair with a Colt .38 Special Official Police revolver that I inherited, but it had to be a Henry! Mine is a brass rifle in .357 and it is an absolute joy to shoot! It looks like a piece of art and it shoots straight. The action is smooth and reliable. Mine cycles .38s, even in a magazine of mixed .38s and .357s; something I tried just to see if would feed them. It did.

[clovishound]

I bought a .357 Big Boy Steel last year. It was my first lever rifle. Paid more than I was looking to spend, but the Henry build was superior to the other levers I looked at. I was hoping that my daughter and I would like it.

I was wrong.

We don't like it.


We absolutely love it!

Seriously, this is one really fun weapon. The big problem I have with this rifle is loading enough .357s to keep my daughter happy at the range. I had a little problem at first with feeding. With a few cleanings, a couple hundred rounds through it, and a minor change to my reloading routine, it now feeds slicker than snot on a doorknob. HPs, RNFPs, TCs, and SWCs, it feeds them all. You do have to keep the rifle upright. You do need to operate the lever with a little authority. I rarely have a feed problem these days, and the rare ones I have always clear with a quick run back of the lever.

The Big Boy Steel has a steel receiver, and a lighter round barrel than the octagonal barrel, brass receiver model. I like the balance better on the steel. The price is a little lower as well.

I have also taken this rifle hunting. A 158 grain soft point American Eagle off the the shelf round chronographed at 1800 fps. That works for me as a hunting round for the 150 lb or less hogs and deer that are in the woods in my area. I haven't taken anything with it yet, but I'm not a serious hunter. I mainly enjoy getting out in the woods. Some free range, organic pork in the freezer would be a bonus.

Daughter and I were talking last night about how much we love this rifle. YMMV, but I would be very surprised if you were disappointed in the .357 Henry.

[PT7]

Very nice write-up on the .357 Big Boys, clovishound! Especially that you noted, "There won't be any disappointment in having a .357 Henry."
I 100% agree with you -- and with your daughter!!

As you reminded me of deer hunting, I thought I would add a blip on my "go-to" ammo when I do my yearly deer blind excursion. One of my favorite ammo brands is Black Hills. Here is what I load in my Bronze Big Boy:

Black Hills_357 Magnum 158gr JHP.jpg

Ballistics Information:
•Muzzle Velocity: 1250 fps
•Muzzle Energy: 548 ft. lbs.


BTW, cool picture of your steel .357 Henry! Thanks again.

I bought a .357 Big Boy Steel last year. It was my first lever rifle. Paid more than I was looking to spend, but the Henry build was superior to the other levers I looked at. I was hoping that my daughter and I would like it.

I was wrong.

We don't like it.


We absolutely love it!

Seriously, this is one really fun weapon. The big problem I have with this rifle is loading enough .357s to keep my daughter happy at the range. I had a little problem at first with feeding. With a few cleanings, a couple hundred rounds through it, and a minor change to my reloading routine, it now feeds slicker than snot on a doorknob. HPs, RNFPs, TCs, and SWCs, it feeds them all. You do have to keep the rifle upright. You do need to operate the lever with a little authority. I rarely have a feed problem these days, and the rare ones I have always clear with a quick run back of the lever.

The Big Boy Steel has a steel receiver, and a lighter round barrel than the octagonal barrel, brass receiver model. I like the balance better on the steel. The price is a little lower as well.

I have also taken this rifle hunting. A 158 grain soft point American Eagle off the the shelf round chronographed at 1800 fps. That works for me as a hunting round for the 150 lb or less hogs and deer that are in the woods in my area. I haven't taken anything with it yet, but I'm not a serious hunter. I mainly enjoy getting out in the woods. Some free range, organic pork in the freezer would be a bonus.

Daughter and I were talking last night about how much we love this rifle. YMMV, but I would be very surprised if you were disappointed in the .357 Henry.

[clovishound]

That 1250 MV listed on the box is about the same as that listed for the American Eagle. However, when chronographed real world from the 20" barrel of the BB Steel, I got 1800 fps. I knew I would gain velocity from the longer barrel, but was surprised it was that much of a difference. BTW I went with the soft points as they may have a little better penetration on tough hogs than a HP bullet. For deer, I would probably go with the HP.

[Whaler]

I have the Henry Big Boy 357mag carbine and love it. The fit and finish is flawless and the action is the slickest that I have ever operated.

[Deadwood Dutch]

For you guys that hunt deer with a .357 magnum, what is the maximum distance at which you would consider shooting a deer, for a clean kill? Shot placement and ammo type, of course, being important.