Henry Big Boy 44 Mag. vs. Ruger Super Redhawk 44 Mag.

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Bowhunter57

New member
Apparently, the Ruger Super Redhawk is a beast and is deserving of the name "Super". Recently, I tried to shoot some reloads that I had been using in the Ruger SRH, in my Henry B.B. The Henry would shoot them well, but you had to work the lever like you were cocking a Daisy Red Rider, to get them to extract. The higher pressures are not handled well in a Henry, compared to the Ruger SRH.

This is the group at 50 yards with open sights. The target dot is 1 1/4" in diameter. Not bad, but the extraction issues were nothing less than horrible.


After reloading some very mild loads with the same Hornady 240gr. JHP, there were NO extraction issues and the groups shrank to 3/4", center to center, at the same 50 yards and open sights. The yellow highlighted group is the final 3 shot group, after some sight adjustments.


Bowhunter57
 
Henry does state you can shoot hot loads (up to and including buffalo bore) in the big boys. I have shot nothing more than CA loads through mine (in 45colt) and have never noticed any extraction issues. I know lever guns have a relatively weak extraction system compared to a bolt and hot loads are likely to compound that issue. That was some good shooting. That final 3-shot group is as good as I can shoot mine at a similar distance. Is yours a steel or brass receiver?
 
I've shot 200 grain double tap in my Henry all steel 357 Big Boy no problems.

I have a brass Henry 44 big boy and some 305 grain HSM Bear loads I will try when the range dries out and report back. But I think the HSM loads are some 100 fps lighter than Buffalo Bore.
 
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Classic example of how firearms can be different in what they prefer for ammo due to little inconsistencies from one chamber to the next.

Apparently your Henry doesn't play well with "hot" loads. I would just do a careful work-up to the point where extraction becomes a little sticky, then dial the charge back from there just a smidge, say .5gr or so.

I had to do the same thing with my S&W 460v... I worked up to the max published charge by Hornady and found that I had difficult extraction to the point I had to tap 3 of 5 empties out individually with a pen. I went back to the load that was .5gr under that charge and all is well. My 460 just has tighter throats than the ones used in testing for the load data I was working with, at least that is what I am told by folks whose opinions I respect.

That's some good shooting with that Henry! :) I would be thrilled with groups like that with open sights.
 
brasscollector,
My Henry is a steel frame. I had a brass frame (in .357 Mag.) and sold it, because it sat in the safe all the time...due to looking too pretty to drag through the woods. :D

RIDE-RED 350r,
Thank you, for the compliment on shooting the Henry. :)

I agree with your load assessment. I used 17.0gr. of 2400 and the starting/suggested load was 16.8gr. Perhaps, after the deer gun season, I'll try an 18.0gr. load to see if the P.O.I. would raise to the center of the target dot...and still eject with ease. The iron sight is at the bottom of its' adjustment and raising it one notch increases the P.O.I. as much as 6". I'll live with it.

Ohio's Deer Gun Season starts Monday, so I'm looking forward to getting a good shot on a fat doe. :cool:

Bowhunter57
 
I don't know if you have ever tried it, but I have found AA#9 to be an outstanding powder for both of my 44mag revolvers in terms of accuracy.

Might be worth grabbing a pound and giving it a try. I think it may be a little better suited powder for the 44 than 2400. IIRC max published for a 240gr XTP is just about 21gr. You might just be able to push them a little faster to raise that POI with #9 than you can with 2400.
 
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