Big boy steel 44 problems

[2guns]

I bought this and a brass framed 45 last year. The 45 is a tack driver at 100 yards. Using a 1-5 Leupold on the 44 and multiple factory loads plus many reloads there is no other words to use than this rifle sucks. At 50 yards best groups are in 5-6 inches. Take that to a hundred and looks like birdshot out of a shotgun. I shoot a lot of long range competition with bolt actions and am a proficient shooter. I know this isn’t a bench gun but off a rest and scoped it should do way better. Best groups I’ve had have been my own cast 245 grain bullets which are gas checked and still in the 4 inch range at 50 yards. Traded scope over to a Ruger 375 h&h and it holds with no issues. Everything is tight and level. Torqued to specs but even then stock and forearm screws have to be tightened after every 20 shots or so. Barrel is spotless. No lead or copper. I keep googling it and finding people shooting 180-200 grain bullets with better luck than I’m having with 240-260 grain bullets. Emailed Henry but no response. Thinking I have a lemon barrel on my hands. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[JEBar]

I recommend calling Henry and speaking directly to a rep ..... give them the side by side facts on both rifles .... I wouldn't push the reload point, speak to the different factor ammo you've tried

[ESquared]

Yep^^^^^^, what JEB advises. More data is better in terms of performance of different factory loads, distances and group sizes. Wouldn't bring up reloads, not pertinent. Comparison to 45 is a major point, as is the relative performance of the same scope on a different rifle.

They'll likely want it back for evaluation. Sounds like a barrel problem, as good as it may look.

[BigAl52]

Agreed call them. I know they will make it right.

[Omegaspeedy]

Sorry to here about your .44, how does the crown look? The best I can do with my .44 at 100m is about 3” and I understand it’s shooting a big slug a long way. You should at least get that.

[2guns]

Crown looks great. Henry has it now. Just waiting for them to test it and see what th verdict is.

[JEBar]

looking forward to hearing what they find

[ESquared]

Yes, please keep us posted. Glad to hear (but not surprised) that they wanted it back to trouble-shoot for you. Look forward to the next chapter in this story!

[2guns]

Well, it’s July 2nd and no response yet. Called on the 28th and they had it in hand but no updates. Maybe try again today. Last gun in was back in a week. Sure would like to have it over the 4th to try it out again.

[JEBar]

I suspect that like most every other business, many of their employees are taking part if not all of this week off .... looking forward to hearing what they say when you get a response

[Mistered]

Yes let's hope they find the problem and its not a case of the problem suddenly going away while 'it's in the shop' so to speak but in this case you have pretty much proved there is a problem and really nothing that could change to make it suddenly shoot well for factory personnel.

[2guns]

Talked to rep today and it will be shipped this afternoon.
They replaced the barrel and outer magazine tube.
Smoothed and polished the bolt bore and adjusted the lockup.
Hope to get it back before Saturday. Looks like it had a few issues. I was pretty much sure barrel wasn’t right with impacts with scope and sights just as bad. Happy to see they went the extra mile to repair verses send a new gun that may have had same issues.

[Vaquero]

Great news, hope it arrives in time for you to do some shootin this weekend.
Can't wait to hear how she now preforms.

RP

[2guns]

Just read tracking label and it says Monday at noon but at least it’s on its way. Sure hoping better than before.

[tarbe]

That's good news so far, 2guns.

Hoping for a happy ending!


Tim