Henry Rifle Quandry

[wcd]

Looks like they have 30/30 out now I am looking it but some say ammo for them is expensive? So I was looking at 357/ 38 Super but ammo looks pretty pricey for that as well.

Ammo asside which would be more enjoyable to shoot?

Thanks

 

[Mgderf]

The .30/30 ammo isn't that bad. They are both a blast to shoot, but the .30/30 is also going to carry further too.
If you hunt deer on private land, I would choose the .30/30 any day of the week.
That said, there's nothing wrong with the .357mag.

By the way, as far as I knew, the .357's Henry are producing fire .357magnum and .38SPECIAL,
NOT .38 Super

 

[wcd]

The .30/30 ammo isn't that bad. They are both a blast to shoot, but the .30/30 is also going to carry further too.
If you hunt deer on private land, I would choose the .30/30 any day of the week.
That said, there's nothing wrong with the .357mag.

By the way, as far as I knew, the .357's Henry are producing fire .357magnum and .38SPECIAL,
NOT .38 Super

Thanks I knew it was 38 something. I was considering the 17Hmr but I really want to step up to a centerfire. Mostly I will use it for plinking but it may get called on for deer as well.

Something about shooting a lever action that puts a smile on your face.

 

[Winamac]

I have a Ruger 77/17 and I would not hesitate to use it on a yote. It would ruin its night. Just my 2-cents.

 

[Mgderf]

Shooing the .38special is really not that expensive, and if you hold your shots to 100 yards or under, that .357 round will do the job.
You just need to put it in the right place.

The .30-30 will reach out further, but at a little greater cost.
If you reload, the .38 special can be dirt cheap.

 

[Bigtanker]

Henry also offers the .327 Fed Magnum. It can shoot about every rimmed 32 cal cartridge out there. Recoil is extremely light and with the .327 Fed Mag, it gives you a potent round.

 

[Mgderf]

Henry also offers the .327 Fed Magnum. It can shoot about every rimmed 32 cal cartridge out there. Recoil is extremely light and with the .327 Fed Mag, it gives you a potent round.

All true.
Ammunition cost are going to be higher than .357 though, IF you can find it.
While legal for deer ( on private land) as of this year, I would say shot placement would be even more critical.

Just finding a Henry lever in .327 Fed/mag can be a challenge.
How do I know? My Big Boy steel .327 has a serial number below 000120.

 

[sloughfoot]

Define enjoyable. Please WCD.

 

[wcd]

Define enjoyable. Please WCD.

Not too much recoil, affordable

 

[Leadeye]

I have a Henry in 45 Colt and at woods ranges it's a very effective hunting tool.

 

[Hop]

I didn't realize until after I got my lever gun and saa, both in 45 Colt, that there were not any 1873 lever guns originally chambered in 45 Colt back in the cowboy days. Sigh. It's only become popular since the cowboy action shooting caught on.

 

[Leadeye]

The rim diameter of 45 Colt has changed over the years, back in the day no lever gun could extract the cartridge. The big rimmed pistol round was 44-40.

 

[Thor]

The first lever gun I bought was a .30-30 win 94 back in the day. Teddy R thought it was the deal for Elk...though that was probably because it was the first smokeless cartridge available for hunting on a broad basis. That being said it has killed everything on this continent. Is it the best? No, but it is adequate. For deer in IN it is certainly so.

 

[Ballstater98]

I like the all-weather .357, but that price tag.... Dad has the octagon .357 that is fun to shoot with SP rounds. I like it too because I do not have to add another caliber to the arsenal (plus, one day it will get passed down to me...hopefully later than sooner). I tend to find .357 on sale pretty often too. The Federal rebates that keep popping up are pretty nice.
Side note: Wife got me the .22lr for Christmas.

 

[700 LTR 223]

Ammo aside which would be more enjoyable to shoot?

Mostly I will use it for plinking but it may get called on for deer as well.

I picked up a Big Boy Silver last year and it would serve well as a centerfire plinking gun especially if you get in to reloading. The rifle is accurate with 125 , 158 and 180 grain bullets as opposed to my Marlin 357 which prefers 158s.
View attachment 62567

 

[1nderbeard]

I know from experience the importance of shot placement with a .357 out of a carbine. Haven't hunted with a 30/30, but I will likely step up in caliber next season. Considering 30/30, but may likely move to a 45/70 or 458 for exclusive woods hunting. I would not anticipate the bigger calibers being fun on the wallet or the shoulder.

 

[Mgderf]

I know from experience the importance of shot placement with a .357 out of a carbine. Haven't hunted with a 30/30, but I will likely step up in caliber next season. Considering 30/30, but may likely move to a 45/70 or 458 for exclusive woods hunting. I would not anticipate the bigger calibers being fun on the wallet or the shoulder.

I picked up a new Marlington 336 in .35 Remington.
Used it to put 2 doe in the freezer and recoil is not like that of the .30-30 or the .45-70

 

[johny5]

I picked up a new Marlington 336 in .35 Remington.
Used it to put 2 doe in the freezer and recoil is not like that of the .30-30 or the .45-70

I'm curious about .35 Rem, but ammo does not seem to be nearly as available at retailers. Might to be an issue if you do not make it to the range much. Ballistically, the gap between 30-30 and .35 Rem doesn't seem to warrant the difficulties finding ammo. What say others?

 

[snapping turtle]

The. 35 rem is much better in the field than the ballistics tables show.

That said the 35 rem is a auto round that rests at the shoulder and the 30/30 a rimmed round. Some marlin 35 rems will have light primer strike issues if the ammo does not set into the chamber correctly. Using fireformed ammo solves this issue. Most marlin 35 rems will show no issues some will.

My my main issue with Henry is not having a loading gate tube only.

 

[spankys56]

All you guys thinking 30-30 go for it. My suggestion is go to gunbroker and get a pre 64 Winchester 94 or a later Winchester 94ae model to save a little money but still get a great Winchester. In the long run the Winchester will hold its value, the henry??? For what the 30-30 henry will cost you. Go vintage Winchester.