Henry Rifle Forums

I have a 44 mag single shot Henry. I've had acceptable accuracy from it but understand the SAAMI bore spec is a thou or so larger in a 44 magnum rifle than a revolver. So I tried some Zero brand 240 jsp's. They are .431" vs .429-.430 for most other jacketed bullets. I loaded some with 296 and AA#9 for some magnum shooting at 50 yards with a 4x scope. They shot into 1 to 1 1/2" groups. Good enough for a pistol caliber carbine. Then I re-sighted for some plinkers loaded in magnum cases with the same Zero bullets. Some had 9.0 grains of Unique and some had 9.0 grains of BE 86. Both of these plinker loads shot to the same POI and easily grouped 3/8 to 3/4", again at 50 yards. I have some .432" Montana 265gr gas checked to try as soon as I can get an expander for them. This Henry single shot is getting interesting now.

Are you using the regular COL dimension or seating the bullets further out? You should be able to get them closer to the rifling for better accuracy. I have never used this for a straight wall cartridge but it is excellent for bottleneck ones like .223 target ammo, and there is no reason it would not help your Single Shot perform better.

https://www.hornady.com/reloading/prec ... d-cases#!/

https://press.hornady.com/assets/pcthu ... Gauges.pdf

John Davies
Spokane WA

What's the barrel length on your single shot? Would the Henry Carbine shoot about the same?

I think the barrel length on SS Forty is 22"

I might get down to my place today to sight in my 44 BBS with new sight insert. Will try a group test with the 240 MB.

John E Davies wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:50 am

Are you using the regular COL dimension or seating the bullets further out? You should be able to get them closer to the rifling for better accuracy. I have never used this for a straight wall cartridge but it is excellent for bottleneck ones like .223 target ammo, and there is no reason it would not help your Single Shot perform better.

https://www.hornady.com/reloading/prec ... d-cases#!/

https://press.hornady.com/assets/pcthu ... Gauges.pdf

John Davies
Spokane WA

I seated these bullets to the crimping groove. I have both go those Hornady tools but not the modified case needed to use with them. Your question got me interested, though. Using a fired case with a slight friction fit on the bullet, I found the Zero bullet can be seated longer by .045". Definitely something to play with!

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 04, 2020 10:29 am

What's the barrel length on your single shot? Would the Henry Carbine shoot about the same?

Barrel length is 22", measuring from the breech. Whether the carbine shoots the same would likely be a matter of the individual rifles. The Henry carbine has a shorter and thinner barrel but I don't think that would make that much difference at pistol caliber velocities and pressures.