Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Henry .327 Federal Magnum

Whenever we discuss “fringe” cartridges and their firearms we see the same questions. Someone opines: A cartridge I am familiar with “will do the same thing….”
West Texas has a lot of “critters.” The small game cartridge is popular here. The.357 and .44 Magnum cartridges will do as small game cartridges but they do not really meet the definition – as it is defined – here.
The .22 Hornet and K-Hornet are more varmint cartridges than small game cartridges.
The small game cartridge is housed in an easy carry, fast shooting rifle. Read this as pump, lever and auto loader. Of the three actions the lever action rifle offers the most varied cartridge options.
The .218 Bee, .25-20, .32-20, and the newer .327 Federal offer the option of quick handling, easy to carry usefulness the larger cartridges do not have.
The .357 Magnum has a large following with the jack rabbit shooters. The .357 offering the portability, the reload options and the trajectory which does not guarantee first shot hits on running critters. There needs to be some uncertainty and excitement in this.
Part of the excitement in off hand shooting is iron sights and the availability of the rapid second shot.
There is some advantage to the flat top open sight when shooting cartridges with low velocity and high trajectory. When you learn how much sight to hold up you can make hits quite easily over a varied range. Still, most shooters prefer the receiver sight.
The tang sight is good but interferes with the thumb, even when held along side the wrist of the stock. Sad to say Marlin quit drilling their lever action rifles for the side mounted receiver sight and Henry never did drill their rifles. The XS, Skinner and other sights of this type are not readily adjusted for elevation and this makes a difference in the field.
The Williams sight using the holes on the of of the receiver is a joke and really does not deserve discussion.
These are not the best pictures but they illustrate three interesting .32 caliber small game rifle. The 327 Federal Henry, .32-20 Marlin 1894CL and the 1894 Marlin in .32 H&R Magnum. Sights are the key factor limiting enjoyment when hunting with these rifles. I wish Henry would listen and drill and tap their rifles for the coin slot adjustable Lyman receiver sight.
Rifles

Sights