Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Henry 44 Mag, And My Old Eyes!

I went to the range today! I shot some really good groups with my Remington 700 VTR 223 and my Browning BAR 300 WSM. I was impressed with my guns more than I was with myself. Then I pulled out my Henry Big Boy 44 mag. It was useless. I couldn't draw down on the target at only 50 yards. I fired a shot off just to see, but missed the target completely. I need to get a scope. What would you guys recommend for 50 to 100 yards on a 16" barrel 44 mag lever gun? Thanks for any input!

To help keep the package as light and compact as possible, something 1-4ish is what I'd use.

And, not one of the "Tactical" scopes. Most of them are 30mm tubes and have a somewhat busy reticle that I don't prefer for hunting or casual shooting.

A red dot sight.

I have a Leupold 1-4 on my AR. I might try mounting that on it and see how it goes before I buy one.

I had lasix surgery and I could use iron sights again.

We should have made the trade this winter!

Straight tube 1-3x20.....1-4x20

The ole Weaver 1-3 is about perfect but no longer mfg'd

Burris 1-6 x24 30 tube with illumination if needed and its a red circle with a dot red dot , i own 4 of them they are very tuff scope.i am almost 70 with poor vision too.

4-16x, 30mm tube, 50mm objective and make sure you get some of them see-thru mounts!! JK....A 2.5 fixed or 1-4 would suit that rifle fine

i forgot to mention i have a 30-06 Browning BLR lever rifle i put a 1-6 x24 30 tube Burris on this rifle works very well for myself and this scope is not so big either.Pete53

I was also in the same situation when I picked up a 1894 in 357. I had an old weaver 4.5 so bought some Talleys and I can see.....

I have a Burris Mini 4X lying around. Reading this post makes me think about pulling my 3-9x off my 336 and replacing it with the fixed 4x. It would be all the power I need on a 30-30 and make a nice compact package.

If you don't want the bulk of a scope, either a ghost ring aperture and post such as Skinner sells, or a red dot type reflex sight will get you back hitting. Not as good as with a scope, but keeps the gun trim and are FAR easier to use with old eyes than open sights.

Put a scope on my BLR and on my 336ss, but can't do it on my Big Boy or on my 1873.

Is your gun factory drilled & tapped for a scope? I bought a first generation gun and had to drill & tap it for a receiver sight. I prefer a scope but I'm good on peep sights to a hundred yards or so. My gun was D&T under the rear sight and found it is the same screw spacing as the Warne 2 piece Marlin bases. Put one of those on there with a red dot using a QD base and have the best of both worlds.

A low powered scope. I'd pick a 2 1/2 power. I have these scopes and I think they'd all work OK: Leupold M8-2 ½, Leupold FX2-2.5X, Weaver Classic 1x3,


I hope I never have to have eye surgery, scares the crap out of me thinking someone coming at my eyes.

Red Dots and such are okay but aren’t near as good as a 2.5x20mm fixed scope. Forget the variables, the 44 magnum is a 75-120 yard cartridge on big game animals. The 2.5x 20mm is clear and bright with potential out to 200-250 yards. No dialing for magnification is needed and fixed power scopes are less weight and more durable.

^^ right on ^^