Got my Big Boy Steel 41 Mag Carbine today

[Ridgerunner665]

Got the Henry today....

First production line rifle I've bought in a lot of years that I can't find a single thing wrong with it cosmetically.... fit and finish are excellent all over.

The trigger breaks at about 4 pounds, clean and crisp... no takeup, no creep.

I fired 10 rounds...5 each of 2 different handloads just over the chrono, no targets.

My hunting load that I use in the 6.5" Blackhawk, 210 XTP over a stiff dose of Accurate 4100...it gives 1,500 fps in the pistol, and 1,725 fps in the 16.5" Henry.

The other is my steel banging load for the Blackhawk...210 XTP over a moderate dose of Unique...it gives 1200 fps in the Blackhawk, and 1,350 fps in the Henry.

Gonna do the sight in and accuracy work Sunday afternoon.

[JEBar]

outstanding .... sounds like you own a fine Henry rifle .... looking forward to following your load development and other observations as you become better acquainted with it .... please take a look at our How Many ? thread (link below) and add it, along with any other Henry rifles you may own to our community's total


http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 00#p107500

[markiver54]

Great to hear of such positive results...please keep us in the loop!

[Vaquero]

Sounds like a winner, Congrats on the new Henry.
There are a few of us 41 fans here, glad to have ya.
Can't wait to hear your range report.

RP

[BigAl52]

Congrats on the new Henry. Like Randy says there are a few of us 41 mag lovers here. Its only my favorite round for sure and has been for quite some time. Its become more popular in the last few years for good reasons.

[Ridgerunner665]

Looks like I'm gonna have to get a scope on it... no fault of the rifle... just my 46 year old eyes... didn't really want to do that but it is what it is.

If it had a 24" barrel I could get focused on the front sight...I can push my glasses up (progressive lenses) and get focused OK, but I guess I'll just bite the bullet and scope it with a small 1-4x or maybe even a small fixed power 2x if there is still such a thing.

[Vaquero]

I really like that 1x4 Vortex I have on mine.
Especially when working up loads and testing some factory stuff.

I do have a Rossi '92 clone in 357 with the 24" octagon barrel, no scope.
I still shoot it pretty well.

RP

[JEBar]

I guess I'll just bite the bullet and scope it with a small 1-4x or maybe even a small fixed power 2x if there is still such a thing.

that's a decision I came to grips with decades ago .... I thoroughly enjoy shooting and make every effort to eliminate all frustrating or other negative influences .... using a scope takes care of one of the negatives for me .... to each his own, I most certainly support anyone who favors using a scope or any other type of sights

[markiver54]

FWIW, I scoped my BBS 357 20" right after my first outing. It wears a 1-4x20 Weaver. Can shoot with both eyes open as well, if that makes any difference to you.

[BigAl52]

Have you thought about a red dot

[markiver54]

Have you thought about a red dot

Another good suggestion Al! Have thought about trying one, on one of my rifles.

[BigAl52]

I have one on the single shot and my 22 pump. I really like them on those to rifles. I was out yesterday with my SGC plinking clays on the bank. I was having some issues picking up the brass bead on the front sight. Ive never been totally sold on the brass bead front sight. I like the white bead better.

[Ridgerunner665]

Have you thought about a red dot

Yeah... had a Leupold Deltapoint Pro on a 10mm Glock.

Might do that, but I'm leaning towards a small scope.

[Mags]

.
My Henry's wear a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 and a Leupold 3.5-10x40, .30-30 and Long Ranger respectively.
For me the Vortex is very good out to 75yds and iffy at 100yds (not enough zoom). Probably should have gotten the 1-8x version. I also really like the reticle. Illuminated and has subtensions for estimating range, holdover and wind drift correction.
The Leupold is a very good out to 100yds and somewhere beyond (not tested how far beyond). It has a simple crosshair reticle.

Looks like I'm gonna have to get a scope on it... no fault of the rifle... just my 46 year old eyes... didn't really want to do that but it is what it is.
...

[RanchRoper]

Congrats on the new rifle.

[Ridgerunner665]

I'm thinking a fixed 4x Leupold, but still weighing options...

2.5x20 or 4x33... don't want a variable, more weight, longer, not necessary for my uses.

[Vaquero]

Then I'd go with the 4x33.
When I'm easin' through the woods I turn it down, other wise it stays on 4.

RP

[Ridgerunner665]

Well I ended up changing my mind on the variable part....

Didn't want a variable really, but of the available small scopes and the price of them I decided the Leupold VX3i 1.5-5x20 seemed to be the most scope for the money.

Only about $100 more than the VX2 Ultralight 2.5x20... the VX3 glass and 1.5-5 variable... should do well for fast moving targets up close and the occasional 125 yard poke through the bushes.

[Ridgerunner665]

Also, I did go to the range yesterday... but due to the sight issue I didn't get real serious about it.

I sighted it in at 50 yards, I did manage a few decent groups even with the open sights...groups were in the 1 to 1.5 inch range.

I had some fun banging on the 150 yard steel plate (12×12) with it, hitting that was pretty easy... hold on the top of it, hit it in the middle.

The rifle is like all the rest...a little finicky about feeding if you turn it sideways but smooth as butter if you keep it straight.

Oh, and I ordered the picatinny mount from Henry... the picatinny will add some flexibility in scope position... which reminds me, I didn't order any rings yet.

Gotta go back to work tomorrow... so it'll be a few weeks before I get the scope on it.

[Vaquero]

Think you will like that scope, I have the 1.5×4 Pig plex on a shorty 35 Rem. I like it.

RP