Henry or Puma?

[Bowhunter57]

I'm considering the purchase....naaa, I'm going to purchase a lever action rifle in the near future. My only choice/decision at this point is brands...Henry or Puma/Rossi. The caliber is .357 Mag. and it's going to be used for hunting varmints inside 75 yards.

I've talked to and read so much about the excellent customer service, high quality and accuracy of Henry rifles. Nothing wrong with Puma rifles, but I think that I'd be farther ahead to spend a little more and get the Henry Big Boy, instead of the Puma.

Any thoughts, opinions and experiences are appreciated.
Thank you, Bowhunter57

[Graybeard]

I have zero experience with the Henry rifles but a fair bit with the Rossi rifles having owned several and been very well pleased with them. I currently have one in the .357 magnum chambering you are thinking of and like it a lot.

Having said all that Henry is an American company and once was a sponsor of this site tho they are not at this moment as the owner decided to put all his advertising dollars into TV ads this year. He did tell me to get back with him toward the end of this year and ask about advertising again next year. I suspect he'll find that TV ads aren't that effective a use of his advertising budget but ya never know.

I'm pretty sure that if you need customer service you'll get a lot more of it from Henry than Rossi who is owned by Taurus and tho run independently of them they still do belong to the company with the worst customer service in the industry.

[ncsurveyor]

FWIW, I had my Henry 22mag get scratched on the receiver cover.  The scratch was my fault, but the paint chipped while I was examining it.

At the time I didn't know that the receiver cover was just an alloy part covering the actual receiver.

I emailed them and asked them what they used to finish the gun, so I could repair the scratch.

They sent me a new cover.  No charge, no shipping and handling, no fuss.  No Delay and definitely no BS.

[HillBillyFarmer]

I've been wanting a lever action for several years now, but I couldn't settle on a caliber or brand. I did know that I wanted a good quality rifle. After factoring many aspects I decided on 30-30 for caliber, but up until recently I hadn't made up my mind on brand. My mind is made up and the deed is done, I've put a Henry 30-30 on lay a way in my father-in-laws gun shop.

I don't think you'll go wrong going with a Henry and from what I've seen they're worth the extra money just in style and fit and finish alone. Great customer service and AMERICAN made, hard to find fault with that either.

[Bowhunter57]

FWIW, I had my Henry 22mag get scratched on the receiver cover.  The scratch was my fault, but the paint chipped while I was examining it.
At the time I didn't know that the receiver cover was just an alloy part covering the actual receiver.
I emailed them and asked them what they used to finish the gun, so I could repair the scratch.
They sent me a new cover.  No charge, no shipping and handling, no fuss.  No Delay and definitely no BS.

nccurveyor,
Odd that you would share this story. A local dealer here in N.W. Ohio was telling me of this same situation and how it was resolved. Yet another plus for Henry customer service!

I have decided and ordered a Henry Big Boy in .357 Mag. and I'm hoping to have it in my hands soon.

Good hunting, Bowhunter57

[valvesinmyhead]

Good choice

[retmech]

A friend purchased a Henry in .357 and he let me shoot it a fair amount while we were sighting it in and in general playing with it.  They are very nice rifles, smooth action and his was pretty accurate with the 3 different loads we tried.  I have a Henry .22 carbine that I'm very happy with and Henry has a great reputation.  The down side of the Henry .357 to me was the weight, 8+ lbs and I'm not crazy about the loading in the tube like .22's.  Others may think those are positives.
   I bought a Rossi model 92 round barrel in .357 for $495 which is about $150. less than the Henry.  The Rossi was 2 lbs lighter (a plus to me) and a smaller action.  The negatives to the Rossi are a heavier trigger and an action from the factory not as smooth as the Henry.  If you are handy, a $20. spring kit will smooth up the Rossi to the Henry level.  My Rossi came with decent figured well inletted wood.  That does not happen on all the Rossi's I've seen.  I like loading shells through the loading gate on the 92 opposed to the Henry tube.
   Both rifles have their place, if Henry made a 6 lb. blued receiver .357 I'd probably own one even if I did have to tube load it.

[Bowhunter57]

Well, after a 3 month wait...that was well worth it, my Henry Big Boy in .357 Mag. has arrived. I'm currently in the process of loading some ammo for it and I'll be off to the range. Hopefully, after that I'll be getting some coyote hunting done and I'll be able to post some pics.

Wow! What a beautiful rifle!

Good hunting, Bowhunter57

[Old Grizz]

I bought a Henry Big Boy in .44 mag and wouldn't trade it. Smooth action along with being very accurate makes this rifle a lot of fun too shoot. I do deer hunt with it and have taken a few deer with her. It's a little on the heavy side but it helps for a better grouping at the range. I don't have a lot of experience with Puma or Rossi but understand they are both great rifles.

[dpe.ahoy]

I own 2 of the Henrys in rimfire and love em.  I own 4 Rossi's and really like them.  I went for the Rossi for the center fire due to the weight of the Henry.  Henry is smooth from the get-go, Rossi is handier to tote around.  DP

[Gunrush128]

I bought a Henry Big Boy in .44 mag and wouldn't trade it. Smooth action along with being very accurate makes this rifle a lot of fun too shoot. I do deer hunt with it and have taken a few deer with her. It's a little on the heavy side but it helps for a better grouping at the range. I don't have a lot of experience with Puma or Rossi but understand they are both great rifles.

I know this is an old post, but does anyone know where that sling came from? I just got a Big Boy and that sling looks great!  I refuse to drill into this beautiful rifle...

[trex1310]

I had to make this same decision. I have a Marlin 1894C in .357
and now I wanted a .44 mag. My lgs said that out of 12 Marlins
that were sold all 12 had to be sent back to Marlin for one problem
or another. The Rossi 92 is a great looking gun, but I chose the
Henry. Great customer service and American made too.

[rhernandez914]

Rossi like new Marlin rifles can have their QC issues from time to time in my experience.

I have had two Rossi rifles and if you have no issues they are fine working rifles but not in the same class as a Henry.

Rossi does not compare in the finish or quality department to a Henry rifles but is a much lower priced weapon.

[Old Fart]

I bought one of the SR92's the first year they came out& I love it. Don't think it will ever not belong to me.
 
I've got a couple Henry's and love them also. I bought one of the cheapest 22lr a few years back and can say it is a absolute joy to plink with.

[pricedo]

Was thinking about a Henry H010 in 45-70 but have no interest in a gun without a receiver loading gate.
I also heard of Henry leverguns sporting plastic parts.
Don't know if that's true but it would be a definite turn off.
The Henry rifles are way too expensive.
I'll prefer the Rossi Puma cause I already own 3 of them & while rough out of the box they cleaned & polished up to be really slick & smooth guns.