Anyone shooting a Henry single shot in .357 or .44 mag? I am thinking about getting one but am hung up on which caliber. Good or bad let me know what you think.

I am working up loads for my 357. Put a Burris 4X compact on it and a lace on cheekpiece as there is too much drop at the comb.
First tried were a few from a friend who also had one. Not good. Next were my Lyman 358156 gas check and around 14 grains of 2400, my old favorite Ruger Blackhawk and Sec Six load. Much better. (all at 100 yards, the longest likely shot on my farm). Two and a half inches for three.
I just sized, flared and primed fifty new Rem cases and will load 15 with the 140 FTX, 15 with the 158 FTX (or fxt, I get dislexic), and the rest with the gas check bullets.
Powders will be from the Lyman book that show the highest velocity for that bullet. I will go from there.
Three shots with each bullet, from bench, at 100 (zero), 75, 50, and 25. That will give me trajectory, groups, and have a few left for water jugs.
We get to use straight wall single shots after Jan 1 here in the Peoples Republic of Illinois, although I might stretch things on my own land.
If I could have found one, I'd have bought the 44.
I'm working on a couple other straight wall guns for this purpose, figuring I can put in a magazine plug.
Marlin 336-444, Marlin 1894-44, and a Rossi Rio Grande 45-70. Have an original 1892 Win converted to 357 around 1964 but not gonna work on it this year. Sights are tough for my 78 year old eyes.
Probably more than you wanted.

I picked up a .357 earlier this year after a long search. Prettiest wood I’ve seen on one yet. Mounted an old K4, but plan to change over to something else to lighten it up. I have a .44 single already, and tons of .38 stuff, so the choice was easy. The .357 can be loaded for small game, targets, and medium game. Looking forward to futzing around with it more.

If killing stuff is the goal, while the .357 will do it, the .44 is a hammer. There’s nothing in the lower 48 I’d not shoot with one with the proper bullet. There are practical range limitations, of course.

For some reason, mine likes the XTP 158 HPs better than the flatpoints. The FPs are better at speed, so that’s something I need to figure out.

I have been very tempted to scoop one up in 44 magnum for a while. I haven't been able to view any in the flesh though, and if I am going to get one, I want the wood to have character.

Thanks for the reply's. I know how the .44 Mag kills. I have a Ruger 77, and have taken several deer with it. I made the mistake of looking at and handling a Henry single shot at a gun store. I was very impressed. I have and had quite a few single shot shot guns in the past and found them ok, but this Henry is at a whole new level. If I can't find a .44, I wouldn't pass on a .357. I have dies, brass and powder for both.

This got me up off the couch and I grabbed mine, pulled the scope, flipped and chopped the rail, then mounted a Bushnell Lil P prism sight. Still not a lightweight at 7-12, but it’s not top-heavy anymore and
I can grab it around the middle.

I have one in 357 Maximum and it is a fantastic shooter. I wish I could find another one in 357 Magnum to convert to 357 x 44 Bain & Davis.

Steve...........

This one is used with GREAT wood.


https://www.guns.com/firearms/rifle...;utm_campaign=35987&utm_medium=df_NA

https://egunco.com/product-search-r...uct_category_id=17220&from_form=true

I’ll post pics of my wood (😳) later when the wind drops below 30.

Meanwhile, the optics swap cut 11.2oz off the weight. The view through the tiny prism is similar to a receiver sight. If I can get a pic of that I will. Those sights are discontinued, but I bought three on close-out. Where they work, they’re excellent, and weigh only 4.2oz including mount. Illuminated too.

Pappy - I just looked up that sight and had a question. Looks like a see thru mount. Can you still use your open sights?

The sight comes with two bases. I’ve always used the low one. Wish it was lower, but it’s the same height as a 1” scope in low rings. To get it closer to my eye, I reversed the rail and chopped off a piece to clear the hammer. That rail is the one Henry sells. Even if I used the see-through, the rail would block view of the rear sight.

Rolled back the Beartooth Products stock cuff for pics of the wood. Can’t get a good image of the reticle.

Very nice Pappy.

The .357 B&D has intrigued me for 50 years. An alternative would be to extend the .357 chamber with a .357 Maximum chamber reamer. Quite a simple task. The more I play with my .357 Maxi the more I'm liking it. "Where have you been all my life?" (A line that works on some women, but falls on deaf ears when you say it to a gun....)

Back in the late ‘80s, there was someone selling sabots for shooting .357 slugs in .44s too, with similar results to the B&D. Still have a copy of an article somewhere in the Pappy Archives. I’ve hankered for a Max myself at times, but since we don’t have any of those pesky straight-wall restrictions here, a regular one is just fine. No great trick to get 1900 with 158s and LilGun as it is.

Tomorrow, a .308 is getting first crack at any volunteers for the freezer. Bucks, does, and bears are all on the approved list. Gonna be cold.

Shoot straight and good hunting Pappy.

Will try, and thanks.

It was purchased sight unseen off of GI. When I asked the dealer on the phone about the wood, he said it was “okay”. Pretty dang okay was what I thought when I got it.

gnoahhh

Really like my Henry in 357 Maximum, shoots great with 180 gr XTP HP's and Lee 200 flat point I got from a group buy several years ago on the Rossirifleman.com
I have a Ruger 44 Mag bolt action I had barreled in 357 x 44 B&D, sold my Marlin in it (one of those wished I hadn't things) but still have my T/C barrels in Bain & Davis. One day I'll get a 357 Henry single shot to rechamber to the Bain & Davis round.

pappy348

That was the 357 Bobcat, one article was in the 1979 March issue of G&A. In the real world it turned out to be more trouble than it was worth to use the plastic sleeves. Back about 82 a guy I was stationed with in Tx that had one of the 357 x 44 Bobcats and the sleeves were kind of a pain in the butt, much easier to use the Bain & Davis.


Steve...........

How's the freezer looking?

Freezer be full. Took a fat 1x3 at 0915. 165gr Accubond over 44gr of Varget. Straight on shot. Bullet ended up in the Bag of Unmentionables, but didn’t spill any. Bang-flop. Those bullets and BTs are interchangeable, so whatever blem is available gets bought.

Have to say the trip out with the buck and all my crap had me re-thinking my choice of avocations……..and bears have been scratched off the list!

The problem with all those contraptions is that they come and go, and leave users in the lurch when the supply of stuff like those sabots dries up. I saw it as a way to futz around with something different without getting into any gun modifications, but never tried it as my work plate was pretty full in those days, with little time for fun and games. I did pick up the stuff for loading .22 bullets in sabots for .30 cal rifles. Still have all of them too! Maybe someday…..

You go girl!!

That makes two so far so the pressure is definitely off. Any more will be strictly for fun, and after my poor old bones recover from the return trip.

The doe I Grendeled in October is simply delicious. She spent a week in the cooler before being cut up.

In the 44 Mag, Henry uses the faster 1:20 twist instead of the typical 1:38 twist. That may explain why mine shoots 240 gr bullets well, but 180 gr bullets pattern like buckshot. I plan to test some 300 gr loads when I get a chance.

I’ve got the Henry in 357 mag. It’s amazing how many ideas pop up in my tinkering thoughts times.
1) leave it be.
2) thread for a can.
3) ream to 357 Maximum. (I have enough brass).
4) 357 Bain&Davis. (I have a form die).
5) 358 Win.
6) ???
I’m still at step #1. 😆

Don't run 38sp in it, you'll be disappointed. That is all I have to say about the henry 357 single shot.

Pappy that’s a sweet looking rifle