BIG BOY AFTER ONE WEEK. THOUGHTS?

[GRAMPS 94]

Ok so Ive had my 357 for a week now and have put around 300 rounds through it. Some times it doesnt work quite right but its getting better. I want your thoughts. It seems to lightly jam most often on the first one out of the tube. I have to play with the lever and the bolt and wiggle the shell around some. It was jamming more often in the middle of a tube of ten but now feeds better. Ive used 38sp 130gr JRN, 38sp 158gr JFN, 38sp 158 LRN  357mag 158gr JFN and 357mag 258gr JHP. Doesnt seem to be much difference which one you use, they have all jammed a little. Hopefully it will get better and if not i will contact Henry. For now i want to use it some more to see what happens. I have noticed that the 38sp all have soot on the caseing where the 357mags do not. All the loads shoot about the same so far with the exception of the 357's which I think group a little tighter.  Im still playing with the Skinner peep sight so I havent done much past 25 yards. Hey! theres 12" of snow to walk through to get to 50yd line and its cold out there. OH, when I say "lightly jammed" I mean there isnt two shells jammed up in there, just one that doesnt seem to be able to make it into the chamber. Ya, and it mostly jams when Im looking at it to see if it will jam. Is it still breaking in? Should I expect perfect feeding every time? Your thoughts are appreciated. thanks, dave

[Graybeard]

Have you called Henry and discussed it with them? They provide service as good as any in the industry and aim to please. Ya likely can even speak with the boss man Anthony himself. He often is the one who answers the phone.

[GRAMPS 94]

thank you., I corresponded with him before my purchase and during the decision to go with a big loop. I know they help if there is a problem but I want to make sure there is a problem first and that its not just from the gun being new. This weekend my brother will be over who knows much more about these issues then me and we will see which way to go. Besides I still have a few boxes of ammo to use up before it gets shipped away. dave

[Swampman]

Many pistol caliber lever actions are picky about the bullets they like.  I'd suggest something with a rounder nose.

Some .357 Magnum lever actions, won't function with .38 Specials at all.

[GRAMPS 94]

I have been using several round noses, Some were Full Mettle Jacket Round Nose and some were Lead Round nose, the last were 357mag 158gr Lacketed Hollow Point.
They really seem to be about equal in how often the jam. I think its something to do with how they come out of the tube. If I load the tube up to max. when i push in and turn lock the tube in it seems to unlatch the loop. Like maybe what ever holds them in the tube isnt quite holding them in. Its only once been two shells jammed in to geather. it will definatly jam more if the action is cycled slowly. This weekend will be the real test and I will post how the Henry functioned. I hate part with it for a week cause Im having so much fun with it. My favorite is 38sp 158 gr. Just enough kick without wreaking my old sore back. dave

[Swampman]

Are you keeping it vertical or trying to watch it feed and eject?

[GRAMPS 94]

I hold it horizontal like in shooting.Sometimes I might tip it to the side a little when watching the action move. But never on its side so the gate is pointed up.

[hillbill]

Are you keeping it vertical or trying to watch it feed and eject?

just curious, will a quality lever gun like say a marlin or winnie feed shells in almost any position?ive never tried it but i may.if i remember right my marlin 39a will but im not sure about my 30-30.would be interesting to know.in movies in combat situations yu see people huddled behind a dead horse or a log holding a lever gun almost upside down when they work the action. i can see that happening in the same situation.would it work?

[wreckhog]

Soot is a low pressure/long chamber issue, very common when firing a 38 in a 357 chamber of any rifle. Just shoot 357's loaded down to Cowboy levels. That is why they exist.

[GRAMPS 94]

OK, thanks, I plan to start reloading next spring. I am finding round nose 357mag a bit hard to find around here. Does the sooting of firing 38sp cause any damage to the barrel?

[iflyfish]

Took mine out for the first time today. Put 200 rounds through it (50 357 and 150 38 spl). I did have a several jams when cycling the lever. I guess I finally "broke it in". I quit watching the action and just cycled it. At the end I was popping a soda can at 75 yards. This gun is going to add to my fun at the range where I normally fire 22s.

[GRAMPS 94]

Good to hear it cycle better after your 200 round shoot. I bet there wasent much left of that soda can after 200 shoots. What shape bullets were you using? thanks

[iflyfish]

Good to hear it cycle better after your 200 round shoot. I bet there wasent much left of that soda can after 200 shoots. What shape bullets were you using? thanks

It took most of the 200 rounds to get sighted in and comfortable so the can is still recognizable.  The rounds were all flat faced. The 357s had a soft lead face while the 38s were solid copper skin.

Just got back from watching True Grit (go see it!). I'm getting the urge to head to the range on a horse (if I had a horse).

[iflyfish]

Burned off 50 rounds of Federal "American Eagle" 38spl 158grn RN (all lead) today without a hitch.

[ironglow]

  Gramps;
  Sounds like possibly a break-in or bullet shape issue.  In any case, I'm confident Henry will work with you.  I expect wreckhog is right with the 38s being a low pressure,long chamber issue.
   I still think you made a good choice for a woodlands deer rifle.

[mechanic]

The soot doesn't really hurt anything to speak of.  Long term shooting 38's might erode the chamber a bit, but I imagine we won't be around to see it happen, unless you're a lot younger than your handle suggests. 

I'm with Graybeard.  I would give them a call at Henry on this, as it should feed right out of the box, and in just about any position.  I base this on the fact that a good friend has a 44, and a 22 and we've shot up a lot of rounds in these without a hitch.  As a matter of fact, it's the smoothest lever I've ever shot....

Ben

[Leupold]

Good to hear it cycle better after your 200 round shoot. I bet there wasent much left of that soda can after 200 shoots. What shape bullets were you using? thanks

Gramps, when you cycle your Bigboy, how fast do you do it? I ask because with my Marlin 39A, if I try to cycle it slowly it will jamb, but if I do it quickly it never does.

[GRAMPS 94]

Yes, I does work much better cycled fast. At the start it did jam more cyclying slower when I was trying to be carefull. It seems to have the most problem on the first cycle of a tube. If it still isnt great after this coming weekend i will contact Henry.

[Bigeasy]

I would return it.  After 300 rounds of break in, no quality rifle should be jamming, especially with the variety of loads you have tried.  38 Spl's will not harm your gun.  Just like shooting 38's in a 357 revolver - clean your barrel / chamber afterwords to prevent a "crud ring" from building up in the chamber that over a period of time might make chambering of 357's more difficult.

Larry