Henry Rifle Forums

If you had to choose between a Henry Big Boy Steel 20" Barrel 44 Magnum versus the Henry Big Boy Steel Carbine 16.5" Barrel 44 Magnum. Which one would you choose and why..??

I'm going to be buying one of these rifles for my father for Christmas this year. I own the Big Boy Steel with the 20" barrel. I did add the large loop lever to mine and he said he rather have that as well on his. He likes mine but said either would be fine with him. He will probably do some target shooting but it's main purpose will be for hunting. The carbine weighs a half pound less and has a 16.5" barrel and it would seem easier on him when he's out hunting. But the 20" barrel would have more velocity for longer distance shooting, which he does allot of.

http://www.henryrifles.com/rifles/henry-big-boy-steel/

you've pretty well defined the difference between the rifle and carbine .... the shorter barrel of that carbine can offer some advantage when moving through thick/brush .... the lighter weight can come in handy if the style of hunting involves walking significant distances .... hunting from a stand the rifle's superior ballistics could come in handy .... I went through much the same mental process when trying to figure out which one to order and ended up with the rifle with a large loop ... in retrospect, I don't think either presents a bad choice .... what it pretty much comes down to is a matter of preference .... if he's happy with yours, I tend to think that is worth consideration

I doubt the half pound difference would matter as much as the increased distance, since you say he does a lot of distance shots. If he is going to use non optical sights, the increased sight radius is important as well.

I puzzled over the same thing before buying the BB classic 20" barrel. Worried the long one might be awkward. Now it seems quite handy and maneuverable so I'm very happy with my choice. Carbine is cool looking too but I wouldn't trade.

If you ever decide to do the cowboy action stuff you need 10 rds in the gun and the 16.5" don't hold that made rounds . Or if you sell it to most people like the 10+ rounds in the gun . So it is a no brainer for me . 18" or 20" guns only with full length mags no 3/4 mags .

I find my classic BB brass to be fine. But nothing wrong with a carbine length for hunting. A little lighter to carry and easier to swing into action. Carbines in general are pretty handy weapons. I've always liked the concept of a scout rifle.

Who says you can't put a longer mag tube on a carbine? There is your 10 rds if you go that route. Might look a little different but should function fine.

Squatch wrote:I find my classic BB brass to be fine. But nothing wrong with a carbine length for hunting. A little lighter to carry and easier to swing into action. Carbines in general are pretty handy weapons. I've always liked the concept of a scout rifle.

Who says you can't put a longer mag tube on a carbine? There is your 10 rds if you go that route. Might look a little different but should function fine.

I think the tube hanger would be in the way if you put the longer rifle tube on the carbine.

JEBar wrote:you've pretty well defined the difference between the rifle and carbine .... the shorter barrel of that carbine can offer some advantage when moving through thick/brush .... the lighter weight can come in handy if the style of hunting involves walking significant distances .... hunting from a stand the rifle's superior ballistics could come in handy .... I went through much the same mental process when trying to figure out which one to order and ended up with the rifle with a large loop ... in retrospect, I don't think either presents a bad choice .... what it pretty much comes down to is a matter of preference .... if he's happy with yours, I tend to think that is worth consideration

I showed him this thread and he agreed with your findings 100%. So, I'm gonna stick with the Henry Big Boy Steel 20" barrel 44 Magnum rifle. He did emit that he'd like the longer barrel over the shorter one.

clovishound wrote:I doubt the half pound difference would matter as much as the increased distance, since you say he does a lot of distance shots. If he is going to use non optical sights, the increased sight radius is important as well.

He said the same thing about the half pound difference. His 54 caliber 32" barreled muzzleloader weighs 12 lbs (present deer rifle that he uses). He laughed at the half pound that I was trying to save him. I told him I was looking further down the road when he's pushing 80 to 90 years old.

tx gunrunner wrote:If you ever decide to do the cowboy action stuff you need 10 rds in the gun and the 16.5" don't hold that made rounds . Or if you sell it to most people like the 10+ rounds in the gun . So it is a no brainer for me . 18" or 20" guns only with full length mags no 3/4 mags .

He said he won't be doing any cowboy shooting, said he's just a man that likes to eat wild meat and this gun will make a perfect deer rifle for him.

Squatch wrote:Who says you can't put a longer mag tube on a carbine? There is your 10 rds if you go that route. Might look a little different but should function fine.

Wow, I'm laughing so hard right now, he said all he need's is one round to kill a deer with, know need for an extended magazine tube.

If he's old school like me, the 20" barrel is old school cool.

Rugerfanboy wrote:Wow, I'm laughing so hard right now, he said all he need's is one round to kill a deer with, know need for an extended magazine tube.

amen brother .... old school to the core ..

RanchRoper wrote:If he's old school like me, the 20" barrel is old school cool.

He has three mules that he calls pets and he wouldn't let my mother get a job until I was a senior in high school. 85% of the food that him and my mother eats, comes from him hunting, them fishing and the rest comes from there garden. He's very old school.

Rugerfanboy wrote:

Squatch wrote:Who says you can't put a longer mag tube on a carbine? There is your 10 rds if you go that route. Might look a little different but should function fine.

Wow, I'm laughing so hard right now, he said all he need's is one round to kill a deer with, know need for an extended magazine tube.

That was in response to needing 10 rds for CAS.

Squatch wrote:

Rugerfanboy wrote:

Squatch wrote:
Wow, I'm laughing so hard right now, he said all he need's is one round to kill a deer with, know need for an extended magazine tube.

That was in response to needing 10 rds for CAS.

When you go to sell the gun you are taking all CASS/ SASS from thinking about buying your gun and they buy most of the lever guns made .
My last deer I got in Tn was with this gun and only 1 shot was needed . and I see no reason for a lever gun either .

sounds like a common theme :

Rugerfanboy wrote:His 54 caliber 32" barreled muzzleloader weighs 12 lbs (present deer rifle that he uses).

tx gunrunner wrote:My last deer I got in Tn was with this gun and only 1 shot was needed . and I see no reason for a lever gun either .

in NC our limit is 2 per day and one never knows how quickly one may need a second shot ..

In Tn where I lived it was 5 deer a day . That is too much cleaning for me .

Squatch wrote:

Rugerfanboy wrote:

Squatch wrote:Who says you can't put a longer mag tube on a carbine? There is your 10 rds if you go that route. Might look a little different but should function fine.

Wow, I'm laughing so hard right now, he said all he need's is one round to kill a deer with, know need for an extended magazine tube.

That was in response to needing 10 rds for CAS.

I know, I was just enjoying my talk with him and out of nowhere, came his comment about needing one round to kill.

Rugerfanboy wrote:

Squatch wrote:

Rugerfanboy wrote:
Wow, I'm laughing so hard right now, he said all he need's is one round to kill a deer with, know need for an extended magazine tube.

That was in response to needing 10 rds for CAS.

I know, I was just enjoying my talk with him and out of nowhere, came his comment about needing one round to kill.

Don't take anything on these forum too serous . It is all BS and just for fun between friends . I'm very opinionated and try not to give my real opinion on different things or no one would like me at all .... . .