henry big boy with loading gate

[243shooter]

i was sure i had seen these in ads in past years and yesterday i was looking in my newest shooters bible, which is 3 or 4 years old, and sure as heck there is a picture of a big boy with a loading gate. this is kinda old info, but i wondered what ever happened. i suppose this was something experimental. someday i'd like to have a lever in .44 mag to go with my revolvers. as of now, i'd probably go with a tried and true marlin. i like having a gate and they're alot less spendy, but i sure like that shiny yellow frame. if the henry had a loading gate, i would be more interested. any thoughts?

[Dee]

Actually I like the tube feed. I have had them in 22s all my life and never had a problem. I have had minor difficulties with loading gates, but they were very minor.

[Old Grizz]

Actually, I like the tube loader better than the loading gate. It's easier to load and will hold 10 rounds vs 4 rounds. Don't worry about the shinny brass it doesn't scare the game away. I have used one to hunt with for a number of years and really like hunting with it.

 

[243shooter]

no, i do like the brass frame. that's a nice looking rig you have there. i like the henrys. i have a golden boy. i dont know how to word this right, i guess it just seems like a centerfire lever should have a gate. this is just something i've been dreaming about for awhile and was more curious than anything as to what these pictures i've seen, where of. the loading gate on its own would not prevent me from buying one. maybe i would like the tube load better. thanks

[Old Grizz]

I know what you mean about the loading gate. I have a mess of Marlins and Winchester levers and they just look right with a gate but again the tube loads a lot easier. I guess if I had one complaint about this .44 it would be it's heavy. The weight does help with the recoil and it makes it a little easier to get on target. I have owned for around 5 years and it has taken 1 bear and six whitetails.

[Dee]

I guess it's all in what a person's used to seeing. I grew up with an old octagon barreled lever action 22 my grandfather had. He had found it in a clay cave, along with a coal oil lantern, and cast iron skillet on the Verdigris River Oklahoma back when he was a youngster. Likely someone ridding the owl hoot trail had stashed it there. That's what he hunted with when I was a kid, and it worked.
In 1958 my Dad brought home a brand new Winchester Model 94 3030, and gave that to me. Try as I might, I have never been able to get attached to different actions, and the lever, just seems like what a rifle ought to be.
I'm a Winchester guy, BUT! That Henry is a great lookin rifle, and I wouldn't mind havin one IF I needed one. Which I don't. I still have that 3030, and it's still hittin what I shoot at.

[Old Grizz]

Your right, Dee. It's all what you are familiar with is what you stay with all your life. I grew up in the Adirondak Mountains of New York State where everyone carried a lever usally a 30-30 or .35. So today I own 18 lever action Marlins, 1 Henry and 5 Winchester along with 2 bolt action Savages and 2 Winchester shotguns. My favorite rifle bing the 1895G Marlin in 45-70, killed my first grizzly with that one. More than likely, it will be my last, gettin up in those old years now and not sure I could handle a trip like that again. But I do love those old levers cause that is what I was weened on as a youngster.

[yukondog]

I'v got a puma in 454 casull that has both the loading gate and you can load it from the tube,I load through the gate, but unloading it from the tube is a lot easer.

[243shooter]

i can see where loading and especially unloading would be easier. i deer hunted with a 444 marlin since i was 13 up till a couple years ago, i started using a blr in 308, here in wisconsin you can't have a loaded firearm on any moterized vehicle and jacking the shells out of my marlin all day sure got old. i still like the 444, but i like the blr, too. and loading and unloading is alot easier.

[DEACONLLB]

Was wondering if maybe you were looking at a yellow boy and not a big boy they have the loading gate.

Deaconllb

[243shooter]

it was definetly a henry in the 97th edition of shooters bible (whatever year that was from, 2006 maybe?)

[DEACONLLB]

I have sent a message to Henry on this subject and will post as soon as they get back with me. Another thought is the picture could be incorrect as a lot of publishers use stock pictures and could have used wrong one and was not cought by proof readers. Not wonting to argue the point just wont to get you the correct answer to the question.

Deaconllb

[StevenK11]

Was it this?




http://www.theothersideofkim.com/index.php/P1875/

Looks like it had a loading port.

[243shooter]

yep, that was it.

[DEACONLLB]

I received a reply from henry on this and their answer was that the original henrys from years ago had a loading gate however the henrys that are made by the present henry company have never had a loading gate

Deaconllb

[OLDPUPPYMAX]

It's a shame Henry doesn't make a 24" barrel, loading gate .45LC or .44 mag. The little tube is just not...the west. On the other hand, although Marlin might feature these things, their rifle weighs in at a wimpy 6.5-7 lbs. The 1895 is 8lbs, but only in 45 70 at a big, big price difference in ammo. It would be nice if Henry could incorporate the best of Marlin in its Big Boy line.