Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Henry 45 Colt All Weather

I might buy one of these for deer hunting here in SW Michigan. We can only use pistol cartridge firing rifles in my area.

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/all-weather-big-boy/

The photo shows 3 screws on top of the action. Wondering how easily one could mount a scope on it.

Also I wonder how much pressure these actions can safely take? I load for a Ruger Bisley. Are these Henry actions as strong or would I need to load to a lower pressure?

Thoughts?

Call up Henry and ask them.

Naturally they basically just said to use factory ammo blah blah blah. Although the guy did say I could use up to and including 260 grain +P ammo. Still not sure what that means compared to my Ruger loads. +P is rather ambiguous.

Scope can be mounted which is good news.

I bought a Rossi in 45LC because I'd "inherited" almost 500 rounds of 45 reloads from my late brothers estate. He had loaded them for a Ruger Vaquero and a S&W. My rifle shoots them fine....as long as they're crimped. Not sure just how hot his loads are, as he typically loaded for accuracy. I will say this about a 45LC levergun....I wouldn't want another one, and my only reason for getting one would be the reason you're wanting one.

Why?

Having shot a few deer (and one elk) with handguns at various times in my checkered past, I would opt for the .357 Mag and use 180-grain hard cast bullets. The .44 Mag would be my second choice...

Henry builds a well made & fitted rifle........

my advise is to e mail Anthony Imperato...

he will promptly address your questions & concerns...

https://www.henryusa.com/henry-repeating-contact/?concerning=contact-anthony-imperato

I would choose a .44 mag because you know that one will handle high-powered loads. If you must go .45, consider one of the .454 M92 clones.

A while back, a reader asked Brian Pearce about the strength of the Henrys. Pearce indicated that from what he could determine, the Henry folks had no clue. No way would I push one of their .45s without an official blessing from them. It's possible that larger chambers may result in less metal in that area to contain pressure.

One of the makers of hot .45 loads like Garrett or Buffalo Bore may have more info for you.

Just a personal thing I guess. I have had lever guns in 357/38, 44mag/44sp, and the 45. I've also had a 30-30 and a 35Rem, and there's no comparing the killing power. I sometimes carry a rifle in a saddle scabbard, and thought the Rossi 45 would be good for that. It's size and weight are what's good about it. It's cute to look at, but I've never really found a use for it. I view the pistol cartridge rifles as being more for fun than anything else. Now, I fully realize how much widespread use the 44-40 got, and the stuff that was killed with it, and you really can't argue about it. But, for me, if I was going to pick a lever gun to use and hunt with, it would be chambered in rifle size cartridges.

They also come in 41 Mag if you'd be interested in something different.