Henry .357

sageadvice

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Over Thanksgiving, i had the chance to shoot my old hunting pard's wife's Henry big boy golden in .357 with the 20" octagon barrel. i checked it over pretty good and thought it a nice looking and well made piece, about perfect for the horseman or ATV'er that would like to have a carbine rifle in the scabbard and a pistol on their hip, both using the same cartridges.

The deer sized flat rock that i shot at across a draw, about 80-90 yds really cracked at impact of those 158 gr .357 loads i was given to run through her. I was surprised at what i felt as the force of impact. Those rounds moved right along, noticeably smacking loudly into that rock instantly with each shot i fired.

I'm thinking that rifle ammo combo might be good medicine on game up to deer at 100 yards. Maybe that's too far?

Your thoughts or comments on the Henry and it's abilities?

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"
 
I have no experience with the Henry but I owned a Marlin and it was a sweet little carbine. It's long gone as money ebbs and flows and I came to the realization that my 270 works at 100 yards too and well beyond that.
It's an awesome toy but I found it easy to part with it.
Zeke
 
LAST EDITED ON Dec-11-15 AT 01:06PM (MST)[p]Those were my thoughts too, why limit oneself to the comparatively small cartridge?

But then i thought of all the days that i used to put in scouting. Most years in my teens and twenty's, i scouted from the ranch house near everyday for at least a month or so before the season started. The gun that i packed then was for critters and/or my comfort.

I always liked the idea of a two gun combo that used the same bullets. Aside 22lr, i've never had that. I guess it's in case i'm attacked by wild Indians or some foreign nation invading over our mountain. That way, with both rods shooting the same recipe, i could load up on the one ammo and not run short of the other.

Maybe a 44mag might be more practical?

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"
 
I have a 44mag single shot handi rifle. It packs a mean punch on deer. I shoot it with the flat top open sights so 100 yards is about as far as I can shoot it accurately off hand.

I'd not hesitate shooting the 357 at distances of 100 yards.
Sure a 50BMG will reach out and kill a deer at 5,000 yards but doesn't mean it will make a deer any "deader" at 100 than your 357 will.

Good luck.
 
Joey that 357 mag lever action will take deer out to 125 yards with no problem if you put it into the lungs or heart. Those 158 gr. bullets will be doing 1700-1800 FPS at the muzzle from a 20 inch barrel.
I have a Rossi 357 mag with 20 inch octagonal barrel and have obtained 1800 fps velocity with my handloads using a 160 gr. lead hard cast bullet. Several of the hot factory loads using 158 gr. bullets average 1750 fps. over my chrony.

RELH
 
Travis, thanks for your input and perspective!

RELH, 125 yards, i believe it. My pards wife is a crack shot, no doubt in my mind that she could do her part. Thanks for the info!

Anybody have experience with Henry Rifles? They seem like a decent or better product but also seem a bit pricey at around $700.

I'm not saying that i think that is too much but like Zeke mentioned, those cartridges have their limitations and $700+ is a lot for something that just fits a nitch.

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"
 
LAST EDITED ON Dec-12-15 AT 10:57PM (MST)[p]Joey, if you use Davidson's Gallery of guns, you can have that Rossi, 357 mag, 20 inch round barrel shipped to a dealer in Paradise, CA. for a out the door cost of $530.00.
Davisson's is out of the 20" Octagon barrels with case harden frames. The model with case harden frame and blued octagon barrel always sell as fast as they get them.

The Henry is a very good rifle, but as you found a little bit on the high end dollar wise. I like the Rossi as it is about 1 pound lighter in weight and is also a copy of the Winchester model-92 that is a very strong action.

RELH
 
RELH, I've had to let a couple of my pride and joy go to help meet expenses, i'm certainly not a buyer at this time.

But that's good info and seems like a more likable price for some of the others interested in that kind of shooter. I've had little dealings with Rossi products but they have all been good. If you have one and like it, that's good enough for me!

I forgot to mention, her Henry, the Wood on it, most of it front and rear, has been covered with some kind of leather kit, real heavy duty stuff, kinda like knife sheath leather, and nicely done if you like that kind of thing. I didn't handle it enough to form much of a opinion if i like the leather or not, but it's hers, she musta paid extra for it and it's not mine so moot point.

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"
 

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