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Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 11:17 am
by Art Breedlove
New member here. I have purchased a liberty cosmic silencer to go on a 44mag to deer hunt with. I bought a Ruger 77/44 to attach it to but my gunsmith says the barrel is to thin to safely do what I want. He says the outside diameter needs to be around .750 to have enough to thread and have enough collar to screw the suppressor to and not worry about baffle strikes. I orginaly wanted a Henry and did the whole time but thought the Ruger would be easier to thread and load without the hassle of a magazine tube. So now I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction and know the diameter of a big boy steel 44 mag carbine. I seen one in .357 that was done by bullworks I think I read for Dustin Ellerman but I want a 44. My threaded adapter is for 5/8 by 24 tpi and will work fine according to liberty suppressor. Any help would be greatly appreciated as it is almost time to get my stamp from the ATF and I don't have a host gun ready for it. Thanks

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 11:24 am
by PT7
Welcome to the Forums from the Show-Me-State!

Sounds like a great project. I'm not able to help; know very little about suppressors. I have only shot a 9MM AR one time equipped that way. It is a very cool accessory. But hope that there are some other Henry folk who will show up and help out on your suppressor questions.

A Henry carbine is a great rifle choice. Let us know, how it all comes together. Enjoy!

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 12:11 pm
by DWD445
Mine measures at .740" . .010" shouldn't matter ??

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 1:04 pm
by CT_Shooter
Welcome to the forum from CT! I hope you get the info you need.

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 2:14 pm
by Sir Henry
Ditto on the welcome.

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 6:47 pm
by Art Breedlove
Thanks for the welcome and response! Talked to my gunsmith and he said anything down to .710 should be fine so if they measure .740 at the end I will be joining the Henry family as soon as I can get to my dealer. Held one earlier in the summer and wanted one ever since. Even after I had bought my Ruger I still wanted the BB steel nothing like a smooth lever gun, it just feels right in your hand!!

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 11:22 pm
by DWD445
:D Glad to help !! And welcome from Ohio.

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2016 11:15 am
by RanchRoper
Welcome from Alberta.

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2016 1:52 pm
by huntlee
I would get multiple opinions from other gunsmiths! Several Ruger 44's on youtube with suppressors. Check it out!

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2016 2:17 pm
by JEBar
Art Breedlove wrote:I have purchased a liberty cosmic silencer to go on a 44mag to deer hunt with.
thanks for raising this issue .... times most certainly have changed .... not too many years ago owing a silencer without a very hard to get federal permit could get someone in major trouble .... as one who knows very little about silencers, I do have a question .... is the OD of the silencer equal to or less than that of the Henry barrel ? .... if not, how do you propose to keep it from conflicting with the loader tube rod ?

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2016 2:51 pm
by Art Breedlove
That is going to be a issue for sure the outside diameter of the suppressor is a little over a inch. Some have used a quick detach suppressor on some of the other lever guns I've seen but those have been with a 9mm suppressor on a .357. I have not seen anyone do a 44 on a lever gun most buy a integral suppressed bolt gun. I have run into a few issues trying this route already but hope it will be worth it in the end. I will load it single shot around the house and so forth but when I go hunting I will just unthread it and fill it up. I talked with Henry and they said they are coming out with a threaded version but no other details. Maybe it will load like a Marlin then I will buy one of those also. I just don't like the new Marlins and hear they are junk, I looked for a old model Marlin but never found one in good enough shape for me. Also I am going to get a carbine model so I won't have to shorten the magazine tube but the front sight will have to be moved most likely. I went to double check the muzzle diameter yesterday at my dealer but they did not have one in stock so I just went ahead and ordered one going off what a member here measured there barrel at. I hope it all comes together soon it should not be much longer till I get my stamp and I can start loading to find what it likes. I am going to start with some trail boss powder and some 240 and 300gr Hornady xtp, hope to get about 1000fps or so for my subsonic load, should be air gun quiet and hit hard!

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2016 4:12 pm
by JEBar
info appreciated .... looking forward to following your progress .... a full load of 44's should be more than sufficient for most hunting situations .... with the ease of installing and removing the silencer you should be able to work things out nicely

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2016 7:38 pm
by Art Breedlove
huntlee wrote:I would get multiple opinions from other gunsmiths! Several Ruger 44's on youtube with suppressors. Check it out!
I looked a lot before I bought and most Rugers are integral suppressed not many with a thread on can. My silencer is a .45 acp can that can handle mutiple calibers is what I liked about it so I can use it on some more of my toys. My gunsmith said it had enough to thread but he was worried it would be thin and weak with full power loads. I put a lot of faith in what he says he is really good at custom stuff mainly precision rifle and 3 gun stuff. Check at some of his stuff on Facebook and web, Robbie Wheaton of Wheaton arms in upper SC. Also has some YouTube listings

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 12:03 am
by Rugerfanboy
Art Breedlove wrote:That is going to be a issue for sure the outside diameter of the suppressor is a little over a inch. Some have used a quick detach suppressor on some of the other lever guns I've seen but those have been with a 9mm suppressor on a .357. I have not seen anyone do a 44 on a lever gun most buy a integral suppressed bolt gun. I have run into a few issues trying this route already but hope it will be worth it in the end. I will load it single shot around the house and so forth but when I go hunting I will just unthread it and fill it up. I talked with Henry and they said they are coming out with a threaded version but no other details. Maybe it will load like a Marlin then I will buy one of those also. I just don't like the new Marlins and hear they are junk, I looked for a old model Marlin but never found one in good enough shape for me. Also I am going to get a carbine model so I won't have to shorten the magazine tube but the front sight will have to be moved most likely. I went to double check the muzzle diameter yesterday at my dealer but they did not have one in stock so I just went ahead and ordered one going off what a member here measured there barrel at. I hope it all comes together soon it should not be much longer till I get my stamp and I can start loading to find what it likes. I am going to start with some trail boss powder and some 240 and 300gr Hornady xtp, hope to get about 1000fps or so for my subsonic load, should be air gun quiet and hit hard!
Here is a youTube video were Chad from Iraqveteran8888 talk's about his Henry .44 Mag mares leg that he converted over to a short barrel rifle and installed a butt stock on his Henry mares leg rifle. In the video, he talks about installing a suppressor on his mares leg SBR later on. Maybe you can get some info from this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6zzKPEyHhE

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 12:52 am
by Rugerfanboy
Art Breedlove wrote:I am going to start with some trail boss powder and some 240 and 300gr Hornady xtp, hope to get about 1000fps or so for my subsonic load, should be air gun quiet and hit hard!

I forgot to mention in my last post, your going to pay a pretty penny for those Hornady XTP bullets. There accuracy is pretty good but not at what Hornady is charging. You can get 240gr JSP from Rozedist...which is a Zero bullet....allot cheaper. They are almost as accurate as the Hornady bullet...but they are allot cheaper. Rozedist has free shipping when you order a 1000 count.

You want accuracy...give Nosler 240gr JHP a try. There cheaper than Hornady XTP and there more accurate than the Hornady XTP bullet. I know cause I've hand loaded all three of these bullets. The Nosler came up on top, the Zero bullets was neck tie with the Hornady bullet. Just some food for thought.


Nosler 44 Mag 240 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point 250 Count ($0.23 cents per bullet)
1000 Count = $232.72 (Shipping...No Clue)
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... -250-count

Zero 44 Mag 240 Grain JSP 1000 Count Free Shipping ($0.14 cents per bullet)
1000 Count = $137.20 Free Shipping
http://www.rozedist.com/mm5/merchant.mv ... =ZBJ-44MAG

Hornady 44 Mag 240 Grain XTP Bullets JHP 100 Count ($0.26 cents per bullet)
1000 Count = $264.90 (Shipping...No Clue)
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/224132 ... box-of-100

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:31 am
by Art Breedlove
Thanks for all the info I've not loaded 44 mag before and everything is new to me on this project and I'm sure I've got a lot of trial and error ahead but it will all be fun! My rifle came in yesterday and I can't wait to go after work today and pick it up who knows I may shoot her a little and hunt this afternoon with it before I take it to have it threaded.

Re: Barrel diameter of big boy steel 44 mag

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:35 am
by JEBar
good to hear you will be able to pickup your Henry today .... really looking forward to your impressions and hopefully pictures