Henry rifle twist rates

[North Country Gal]

I know the issue of twist rate for the various Henry centerfires has been mentioned, now and then, in a few posts, but I see nothing on the Henry site. Don't own a Henry centerfire, yet, but hope to change that. Twist rate, though, is an important consideration to me in certain chamberings and it will definitely influence my choice of cartridge.

For instance, love single shots, but no mention of twist rate for the 44 mag or the 223 in their new single shot. Same for their lever actions in 44 mag or 45 Colt. In those revolver cartridge versions, would much prefer getting a rifle with the same twist rate as my single action revolvers, 1-16 on the 45 Colt and 1-20 on the 44 mag. In the 223, much prefer a 1 in 9 or faster.

Have already passed up some good deals on Marlin 44 mags and 45 Colt rifles because Marlin stubbornly insists on staying with slow twist rates in their lever guns.

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks, folks.

[Jdl447]

Try this.
http://publish.colorgraphicpress.com/to ... =zcopfsgdi

[North Country Gal]

Thanks. Exactly the info I needed. Looks like the single shots are a go. Big boy lever guns, iffy.

[Squatch]

Interesting. I'm not sure I'd trust the info on the single shots. They list the same for 44mag and 45/70. Might be a typo. Pretty slow rate on the 44 leverguns. That might explain why mine shoots so differently with 180 gr vs 240gr.

[Les]

After drooling over the new 2017 catalog, I've decided that I need .......... 1 of everything!!

I wish.

[tx gunrunner]

Thanks. Exactly the info I needed. Looks like the single shots are a go. Big boy lever guns, iffy.

I noticed on a few of Henry lever rifles the 45 Colt and 44 mag have the same rate of twist and other models lever gun in 45 Colt and 44 mag they are rate of twist is different . I wonder if that is a type O or is it true rate of twist ???????? Marlin has 2 different in there 44 mag lever guns . One for the micro and another one for ballard rifling in 44 mag . The 444 has 2 different twist too . Early and late models .

[North Country Gal]

Not sure what to think, now. A lot of conflicting info floating, around.

On the subject of twist rate, been around long enough to know that there is nothing automatic about what one twist rate will or won't handle. Always a gun and load combo that is the exception. Still, odds are better of being able to shoot the same ammo with the same relative performance if the twist rates between the revolvers and rifles are in the same ballpark, at least. What I want to avoid are the super slow 1 in 38s. Again, not an absolute deal breaker, but not crazy about slow twists. The rifle will be very much be second fiddle to the handguns, anyway.

[Smoke4320]

I questioned Henry on the 45 colt twist rate and got the following response from Tom and again from Anthony

'Tom Kotz'
Subject: RE: Contact Message - Henry Repeating Arms

Barrel .45C :

TWIST -1 TURN IN 16”, R.H.
BORE DIA .441 +.002”GROOVE DIA .451+ .002”

[JEBar]

I do know the designers at Henry pay close attention to industry standards and norms as does Marlin and most other manufactures I'm aware of

[Squatch]

After reading this thread earlier today I did some reading. It seems the 1:38 of the Henry Big Boy 44 mag is pretty common for lever guns. The 1:20 seems to be a common pistol twist rate.

As always the best source is just to call or E mail Henry. While you are at it ask if the single shots break down like a shotgun.

[Sir Henry]

Joanie if you contact Henry Repeating Arms you will get the correct answer and I bet a hat.

https://www.henryrifles.com/contact-henry-repeating/

[DAVIDF]

Not sure what to think, now. A lot of conflicting info floating, around.

On the subject of twist rate, been around long enough to know that there is nothing automatic about what one twist rate will or won't handle. Always a gun and load combo that is the exception. Still, odds are better of being able to shoot the same ammo with the same relative performance if the twist rates between the revolvers and rifles are in the same ballpark, at least. What I want to avoid are the super slow 1 in 38s. Again, not an absolute deal breaker, but not crazy about slow twists. The rifle will be very much be second fiddle to the handguns, anyway.

I was looking for .44's with the same twist rate as my Super Blackhawks. I think the Chiappa/Taylors company 1892's in .44 & .45 have a 1/20 twist rate. I was just on their site and did not see the twist rates. Can't remember where I found them.

I think the bigger issue with getting the same accuracy from both revolvers and rifles will be groove diameter. Henry says the groove diameter in the .44 Big Boy is .431" which matches with what I measured on my own rifle. To get the best accuracy with cast bullets, I would have to use .432 which from what others have reported, will work well in the Super Blackhawks as well. You may find the same with the .45 having to go with a bigger diameter bullet if shooting cast. Sometimes, that makes it hard to find, more expensive, or impossible with factory ammo.

A number of people have reported great results with Hornady XTP loads (240gr and 300gr), both their hand loads and factory loads. They seem to work very well in both revolvers and rifles. This may be due to their sizing which tends to be .01 bigger than other factory jacketed/plated bullets in .44 and I think it also applies to their .45 bullets.

I haven't had success with .431 sized 240gr cast in my Big Boy with heavy to medium powder charges/velocities. I seem to get decent accuracy with light fast burning powder charges with velocities somewhere between 1000 to 1100fps. Plated bullets measuring .429 work excellent with the same powder charges in both rifle and revolvers.