Marlin vs. Henry in 44 mag

I have Henry Big Boy Steel's in both .357 and .41 mag and love them both. Personally I prefer the tube loading over a side gate loading. The .357 is a soft accurate shooter and with .38's it's like shooting a .22RF. The .41 is just dead accurate out to 100yds and packs a pretty good punch but does have substantially more recoil but very manageable. So I would imagine the .44 would definitely have some pretty good recoil but would be most effective on deer out to 100 yds and probably out to 150 yds.
 
Henry built the Big Boys and marketed them to be used in SASS events even tho the gun wasn't sanctioned by SASS. Henry also used a marketing scheme that implied a connection to the original 1860 Henry where no connection existed and that didn't sit well with SASS either. Even tho the rifles were later sanctioned by SASS a lot of members want nothing to do with them. The original Henry was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. later changed to Winchester Repeating Arms Co. Henry Arms Co. was founded in 1993 by Lou Imperato, the same guy that made the 3rd gen Colt's.
 
I've definitely thought about getting into reloading. Very interesting point.
Click to expand...

Do it. Simple Lee loading kit, say this RIDICULOUSLY INEXPENSIVE PRESS

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/807734/lee-reloader-single-stage-press

Yes, $37.99! Add dies, weight scale, reloading book, powder, primers, slugs, and some cases and you are good to go.

Here is a whole kit for $116.99!

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/121744/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-kit

And with 30/30 you can use 100 grain plinkers, 110 grain M1 Carbine, 125 gr HP, 150s, 170s.. and up to 180s!

And with a belling die you can use lead bullets like these:

https://www.pennbullets.com/30/30-caliber.html

Great articles on the subject.

http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/3030.htm

http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/accu.htm

Deaf
 
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm still new, and the reloading thing has seemed to me to be something to approach a little further down the road. Not saying that's right, but 'til now it's been how I've looked at it.
 
weight

I'm not going to look it up, but the .44 Henry's I've shouldered in the LGS's seem unusually heavy for what they are......pistol caliber carbines. The added weight would soak up .44 and 30-30 recoil, but when I want a light, portable carbine, I want just that, and not "this one's a bit heavier than a Marlin".

Yeah, if your wife liked the .357, that's what you should get HER. She needs her own rifle.

If I were choosing for a carbine that I was going to hunt deer size game with, and plink and practice a bit, I'd pick a .44 over the .357 everytime. Just plain more gun. Reverse the roles, plink/practice, and maybe hunt some, I'd pick .357. Cheaper and milder to shoot.

I've no experience with the "new" Marlins......but my pre safety Marlin lever carbines have been nothing but near infallible, and my little .357 Marlin has seen a bunch of shooting.
An early Marlin would be my choice.
 
I used to load a Speer 110gr jacketed hollow point in my 30-30 and my Dad's 30-06. It looks like a pistol bullet and is great for varmints and just fun shooting. I had to use my 30-30 with some Federal 125gr (great bullet supplied by Sierra) to get rid of some buzzards that were roosting in my tractor shed. Dead is dead and the results would have been the same with either a 357 or a 44.
 
I have a custom Marlin in .44 Mag, and I've worked with a brass Henry .44, a brass .357, and a steel .44.

I will keep the Marlin till I die (or thereabouts), but the most recent .357 Henry put 3 holes in under an inch at 100 yards, iron sights, off the bench.

The brass Henrys do run heavy, which is great for recoil control.
If you can get past the issues Hawg mentioned, just look at performance in making a decision.
Denis
 
Rossi is a crap shoot as to wether you get a good one that will shoot or a send back for repair, which I had with a 357 92'. Marlin's are very good guns,I have a 30-30 336Y which is an older one with good looking wood and not the ugly laminate. I also have a 357 & 44mag Winchesters which are very good. The one maker nobody has mentioed is Uberti. They make very nice guns but are alittle pricey. I have a 45LC 1866 Golden Boy and the quality of fit and finish is excellent.;)
 
Years ago I toyed with the idea of having the same calibers in pistol & rifle. Bought a Ruger 44 mag Red Hawk for its ability to cylinder load 3 or 4 at a time and dump all 6 empty's at once. And a early 80s Winchester 94 Trapper 44 mag which was (pre-button) _I thought at the time what a handy dandy short barrel rifle for the woods that Winchester will make.
Revolver shoots excellent. Rifle not so good. In hind site. Wish I would have bought the Trapper in 30-30 and not in 44 mag. Sold that inaccurate piece of __rifle still have that old Red Hawk though.

If I were to do the same~~ today. I would choose a slightly different caliber.
45 Colt would be today's choice.
Sure Shot as does Confucius believe: 45 Trumps a 44. ;)
 
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