Thread: Henry Big boy 44 mag as a close range deer rifle.

Does anybody have any experience in this rifle calibre as a close range (out to maybe 70m) Deer rifle? had a play at the gun store, I like the look and feel but thats not enough to buy one just yet, contemplating the 45/70 option as well..

What about something like a Ruger American or Howa mini bolt action in 450 Bushmaster? Especially if you are contemplating a 45/70. The 450 BM would have more legs on it than the 44 if you do spot something a little further away. For some inexplicable reason I've got a hankering for a 450 BM!

after my last experience with a henry i would say if you want a 44mag go buy a rossi

Originally Posted by gonetropo

after my last experience with a henry i would say if you want a 44mag go buy a rossi

Was that your Henry 44 mag I shot that night at handloaders @gonetropo?

Originally Posted by Sasquatch

Was that your Henry 44 mag I shot that night at handloaders @gonetropo?

nope, trialled mine on private land, damn thing lasted about 6 shots before it failed. rossi keeps going on strong even with those 300 grain hornady rounds.
i also had a look at a henry 22 l/a. damn thing was made of "pot metal" so i bought a browning instead

I’ve always owned a 44 mag and it has taken a fair few deer, two of note were stags over 100m and were sacked on the spot. The others were mainly <50m.
Just ugly short old Rossi and we own a Ruger bolt action also.

All good. Was shooting a fella's one at the range last year and a vital piece of the bolt broke of during firing...

gundoc is pretty critical of the pot metal framed henrys.
see if you can find an older rossi or maybe a marlin.
The marlins being side eject take a scope/red dot better if that tickles your fancy
A 240-300 grain 44 bullet within 100 yards should be the bizzo.
Cheaper to reload than a 45/70 but the 45/70 gummint has a lot more punch. Rifle wont be as light and handy either

even the henry "yellow boy" is nothing more than cosmetic brass over pot metal, wears off fast too and then it looks really awful.

I have a Marlin M1894 in .357. Looked at the Henry's but the way they load the tube mags "rimfire style" I did not like.
I much prefer loading the tube with the muzzle in a safe direction, not pointed at me.

Had a Henry 22 lever gun, biggest piece of shit I've shot EVER.
Beyond comprehension how in this day a age it's even possible to cobble such an inaccurate lump of dog shit together and expect people to buy it.

I’ve got a blued 16” Rossi puma that I’d sell, replaced with a 45/70. PM if interested.

I had a stainless rossi .44 mag a few years back.lived on the gun rack of my atv,took it work everyday.Great little gun.....but definitely a close range round.I only had open sights,a scope may help but 50m was about as far as I would push it but thats just me.
Eventually swapped it for a stainless .22 mag ,didn't blow out my (or the dogs)ear drums the same

Hi

I run a 16 inch barreled Marlin 1894 in 44 mag, it's a great bush gun (up to 100 metres)!
Really cheap to reload using sod all powder, lead 250 gn projectiles, brass lasts forever.

I also find the Hornady 240 gn XTP dropped aninals in thier tracks.

Thanks for the info guys.