Henry Rifle Forums

Still waiting for a new bolt/solution to the sticky bolt issue the store has ordered another bolt for me, but while waiting I have the rifle and want to use it so I went to the range today it was minus 12degrees celsius so I had to use gloves while shooting a little less feeling on the triggerpull but it worked out great. Tried out some Hardcast 240grain semiwadcutters that are sized to .431 and it worked good atleast at this distance 25meters, the Magnumloads are with gaschecks and loaded with 20,3grains of Vithavouri N110. Grouping and impact was just like the jacketed rounds Ive tried out before, good grouping around 2" is decent with buckhorn and standing with a tripodsupport this time. Also tried out the same bullet without the gascheck with 44spl load with 6,6gr Vithavouri N340. Even though it was SWC bullets they fed nicely in both magnum and special brass.

About that stickybolt I can shoot around 2-3rounds then it feels like the bolt get heated up and get sticky and jams when lowering the lever and the brass are about half an inch out of the chamber and then the bolt get loose after about a sceond so I can eject the brass but still with a gritty feeling. With the specialloads I didnt notice as much sticky bolt but they are not generating the same type of heat. This boltissue really test my temper, when I get home I having a really hardtime getting the bolt out, its close to stuck when ejeting the bolt and I use some ballistol on the bolt the coating are getting thinner and thinner and when wiping the bolt off the patch are black from the coating.

Another annoying part its that the foreend stock gets loose because of the screws on the barrelband get loose pobably due to the heated barrel after the magnumloads. I applied some more blue loctite on the crews and tightening the screws even more now hopefully it will keep togheter next time. Anyway its a great shooter and seems to work with the bullets I use with my handguns, and it was not so much fouling with leadbullets was a surprise since the jacketed bullets left alot of fouling.

thanks for keeping us informed .... the good news is, when the bolt is replaced, she should provide decades of good shooting ....

While the 'sticky' bolt issue is no doubt irritating I highly doubt it is due to heat as two rounds would not generate enough heat to expand the bolt to cause the sticking. I still suspect it has something to do with the coating they apply to the bolt. Regardless when you replace the bolt, and if you know someone with a lathe, I would have it polished to remove the coating and try reinstalling it to see if the problem is gone.

Mistered wrote:when you replace the bolt, and if you know someone with a lathe, I would have it polished to remove the coating and try reinstalling it to see if the problem is gone.

now there is a really good idea ...

now there is a really good idea ...

Yea I have done this with a few round bolts from older rifles that have been brought to me due to rust or other surface damage.

I have found some oils and lubricants can make a bolt stick in cold weather. Froglube is especially bad as it turns to wax when it gets cold.

Some great insight here. I too think this might be a tolerance issue with the plating on these guns.
I too have seen Froglube lock up guns in cold weather.

Ruhler glad you got out to shoot. Just using it might wear thing enough to settle it down. I've had several guns that needed a little Loc-tite here and there on pesky screws that loosen. That's why they make that stuff.

I agree it takes more than 2 or 3 rounds to make much heat in a Henry 44 mag.

Sir Henry wrote:I have found some oils and lubricants can make a bolt stick in cold weather. Froglube is especially bad as it turns to wax when it gets cold.

Yeah I live in a cold winter country and I rather use close to no lube at all on firearms, I use shooters choise FP10 on the bolt. Froglube can make gun sticky but I guess it applies to those who use it as a lubricant, Ive used froglube before on some firearms and always wiped the parts down dry and never had any issues but when seeing the old froglube CLP bottle I see a sticky pastelike cream inside.

About the boltreplacement I suggested a classic bolt if it may be the solution, dont know when I get the replacement been wating for some week now. Trying to be positive, and I was really suprised how well the rifle performed with cast Semiwadcutters with both magnum and specialloads, feeding smoothly through the action (if you disregard from the sticky bolt) and close to no leading in the barrel and good grouping on paper. Had pictured trouble with feeding and severe leading due to the SAAMI spec I was thinking .430-.431 leadbullets would fail.