HENRY BIG BOY 44 mag vs MARLIN 1894 44 mag

[durko58]

Henry Big Boy

I purchased a Henry Big Boy in .44 mag and man is it a joy to shoot and the action is as smooth as silk. The barrel is somewhat heavy though but I plan on buying a scabbard and attaching to the back of my electric wheelchair to haul it through the woods for deer hunting. The heavy barrel does absorb a lot of the recoil which makes this gun a pussycat (to shoot), especially using my recipe of 240gr JSP and 19.5gr 2400. Here's a link to a guy who also swears by the Henry (scroll down the link for some video) but good luck with the Marlin nevertheless and happy shooting

http://44magjournal.blogspot.com/

 

[rickyjames]

Thanks guys for the info I am going with the Marlin. What your opinion on the Marlin 1895 in 45-70 new for $660.
Thanks,
Noah

i have the 1895 cowboy in 45/70 and it is a great gun, well balanced and accurate and smooth. i got mine a few years ago for $600 and it was very hard to find one at that time. if they are still hard to find i would grab that one.

 

[rdhat]

henry 44 magnum big boy

I own a henry bigboy chambered in 44 magnum. I have shot the marlin 44 magnums, at 100 yards, the henry will shoot a tighter group than the marlin 44 magnum will. They both are good guns, but for acturaicy, I prefer the henry over the marlin. I shoot hornadys ftx 225 grain.

 

[Edward429451]

I paid 550 for an 1895G and it was worth it. I've never had a problem with it. I put peep sights on it and a Happy Trigger for it from Wild West Guns, and a big loop lever for hunting with gloves.

The Happy Trigger for it is self explanatory, it's almost too good for a LA lol.

It's easy to load for gives me acceptable accuracy with handloads and a wide selection of bullets I've tried. It accounted for a nice Mule Deer Oct 08 so what else can I say about the Marlin? The new Marlins have Ballard rifling so they shoot well with cast bullets. My experiance has shown that my Marlin likes fat bullets (.460)

New ones are 660 now? hm. Sounds kinda expensive. But these guns might make the DD list so maybe get it while you can

I got mine.

 

[Eagleks]

Sounds like you made a good deal ...... that would be a good combination to have.... Marlin .44 , Marline 45-70, and Henry .22 .

Ironically, that's the combination I"ve been thinking about that I may want to get at some point, but I'm not ready to trade my AR for them yet.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I wouldn't have a Marlin if given as a gift.
No way, no how have I ever gotten one to shoot worth a (expletive deleted) with handloads. They want factory ammo only.
BTW, my 30-06 loads give sub-MOA groups at 100 yards from an ordinary sporting rifle. I know how to load.

 

[Hawg]

You were prolly hand loading cast bullets and using them in a rifle with micro groove rifling.

 

[Nite Ryder]

I have severalMarlins and have not had a problem with any of them. I shoot reloads in all of them except the 30-30. I Have the 1894 in the Competition model ( 38 Special, octogon barrel) and also the standard model 357. Both work well, but the competition model was over $700 and I paid $369 for the standard model. I have these guns in 44 Mag and 45 Colt also. For almost all plinking I would recommend the Marlin. For Cowboy Action shooting I recommend either a Win 66 or 73 clone, but there again a Marlin works well. I do have several '94 Winchester's, yes, they shoot ok but don't handle pistol caliber cartridges well, and are more difficult to smooth up.