Henry Rifle Forums

I have the Bigboy Steel 357/38 carbin with-out the side gate. I like the side loading of my Marlin 3030. I have been thinking of getting the a new Bigboy Steel side gate. What are your thoughts? Now with the side gate being the new face of Henry are our Henrys with out the side gate worth less? Are they going to be less desirable?

No telling which way they'll go, could bring more than the newer ones down the road as they won't be made any longer.
Then as you purpose they may be less desirable, it doesn't particularly bother me whichever it turns out.
I have one each a BBB & a BBS, and neither have the side loader, and I won't be parting with either, just to upgrade.
Besides I'm not even sure the 41 mag even comes with the sidegate.

RP

Its all about what YOU want. I have a sidegate in 38-55. I also have a Marlin in the same caliber. I dont use the sidegate on my Henry 38-55 I load thru the tube. I sure wouldnt sell my steel in 357 to get a sidegate if it was me. I like Vaquero have a 41 mag in a steel model. That caliber is my favorite and the most discriminated against by gun manufacturers so Im keeping my tube feeders

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:31 pm

Besides I'm not even sure the 41 mag even comes with the sidegate.

RP

It doesn't. Only 4 choices of models. 2 brass, 2 steel. I think they'll probably drop the caliber entirely in a few years. No money in them.

GunnyGene wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:48 pm

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:31 pm

Besides I'm not even sure the 41 mag even comes with the sidegate.

RP

It doesn't. Only 4 choices of models. 2 brass, 2 steel. I think they'll probably drop the caliber entirely in a few years. No money in them.

I'd be curious to know about how many they produced.

RP

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:18 pm

GunnyGene wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:48 pm

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:31 pm

Besides I'm not even sure the 41 mag even comes with the sidegate.

RP

It doesn't. Only 4 choices of models. 2 brass, 2 steel. I think they'll probably drop the caliber entirely in a few years. No money in them.

I'd be curious to know about how many they produced.

RP

Email the new boss, maybe he'll tell you.

I know of one. Every time I shoot it I smile from ear to ear.

GunnyGene wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:36 pm

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:18 pm

GunnyGene wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:48 pm

It doesn't. Only 4 choices of models. 2 brass, 2 steel. I think they'll probably drop the caliber entirely in a few years. No money in them.

I'd be curious to know about how many they produced.

RP

Email the new boss, maybe he'll tell you.

New Boss

RP

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 11:27 pm

GunnyGene wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:36 pm

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:18 pm

I'd be curious to know about how many they produced.

RP

Email the new boss, maybe he'll tell you.

New Boss

RP

Andy Wickstrom. Not really new, but official since July.

https://www.henryusa.com/news/henry-ann ... president/

Tom wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:21 pm

I have the Bigboy Steel 357/38 carbin with-out the side gate. I like the side loading of my Marlin 3030. I have been thinking of getting the a new Bigboy Steel side gate. What are your thoughts? Now with the side gate being the new face of Henry are our Henrys with out the side gate worth less? Are they going to be less desirable?

It’s probably just me but when I owned Marlin 1894 handgun caliber rifles I struggled with the side gate loading. I was always chewing up my thumb when loading the shorter cartridges. This did not happen when I loaded my rifle caliber guns, I found the longer cartridges were much easier to load. I’m sure that the issue was me but the tube loading is the number one feature of the Henry in my opinion. Fortunately Henry has left the tube loading in place on the new sidegates.

Tom wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:21 pm

I have the Bigboy Steel 357/38 carbin with-out the side gate. I like the side loading of my Marlin 3030. I have been thinking of getting the a new Bigboy Steel side gate. What are your thoughts? Now with the side gate being the new face of Henry are our Henrys with out the side gate worth less? Are they going to be less desirable?

I also have the non-side gate BBS Carbine in 357 mag. I would love for it to have the side gate but I have put Skinner sights peep and tall front blade on it as well as a leather wrap on the loop. I love the rifle and can't justify spending more money (the prices have gone up) and going through
the hassle of changing sights again just to get the side gate. Just my 2 cents worth.

I own a Marling 1894 in 45 Colt and a Rossi R92 in 357 Mag. which are side loaders. I also own a Henry BBS non-side gate in 357 Mag. I prefer the Henry over either side gate gun. Much easier loading and no tearing up fingers. I'm now looking for one of the BBS 16" in 45 Colt and I will probably never use the side gate.

Paul

I own new Henry 357/38 and 45 Colt guns both with side gates. Neither one is difficult to load with the side gate and I have no discomfort with my fingers. I find it easy to use the side gates and I hope both will become even easier with time and use.

I also have a Henry Steel .357 without the side gate. I am fine without the side gate. Back in March I purchased my 2nd Henry .44 mag rifle. My first one was the brass model and my recent purchase was the Henry Steel .44 carbine. This carbine has the side gate and large loop. The side gate is okay but I still load thru the tube most of the time. It is nice to have both options but the lack of a side gate never kept me from purchasing a Henry lever action rifle.

Back a few years ago when I became interested in handgun caliber lever rifles, Marlins had a bad rap, Winchesters were/are expensive and Henry had plenty of optoins at the time. I bought two, a 357 and then a .45 Colt. No side gate on either. I was and still perfectly fine with tube fed.

The side eject is the greatest thing Marlin and Henry did. Side gate is the gravy. I have a brass BB .357 tube only and a 45-70 side gate.
Doesn't really matter either way to me as long as there's SOMEWHERE to put the bullets lol

In todays world the non side gate will hold value well as do most firearms in good condition. I have the 357 classic all weather (no side gate) with skinner peep and love it. Friend of mine has a Henry 45lc side gate but still loads with the tube because the gate pinches his thumb (sissy)

Loading the 44mag side gate is very easy on my thumb. Much smoother than Marlin.

Henry was successful and popular selling every rifle they made without the loading gates. They put them there in response to internet reviewers saying they wouldn't buy one without it. Hickok 45 was enjoying a Henry in a long review but kept returning to how he missed the loading gate. He was using a cartridge to ram cartridges into his Marlin, his big old fingers were tired, but he had to keep remarking how sad it was not being a clone of Marlins or Winchesters. I think that was the last straw and Henry made the change. Since making different models of the same rifle with only one significant difference is not good business they will eventually make them all side gate loaders.
I like the robust, stark appearance of the receiver without that gate in it, and I have had Marlins with gates and they tended to scratch the brass a little and the last few rounds going in were a pain.
I prefer the tube loading. It works for me and my style of casual shooting.
When they all have gates my "old" BBS will be worth more, especially to me.

we own 3 Henry rifles .... 44 & 37 BBS and a 45- 70 CCH .... none have a side loading gate and I wouldn't trade a single one of them for a brand-new one that does .... I have nothing against a side loading gate and do own another brand that does .... I simply prefer using the loading tube