Site seems to be OK. Load issue should be resolved now.
Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
Hoping to get me a new BBS Carbine. I'm having a hard time deciding on which caliber to get. I already have a scoped 44M BBS with the longer barrel that I hunt deer and plink with & love it. Now I want to get a 16.5" barrel carbine and use it with open sights. Does anyone own and use both of these calibers? Please share your thoughts and give me the pros and cons.
HENRY! Hold it - Point it - Shoot It ; YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE ONE FROM THERE ON!
BBS-44M, BBS-357M, SLA-3030
BBS-44M, BBS-357M, SLA-3030
- Vaquero
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Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
good luck on your choice and purchase, I went with the 41 BBS rifle, but only because I got one the first year, and they didn't offer a carbine.
I do have a 44 but it's the BBB rifle.
I wouldn't mind having a carbine to go with but I'm contemplating another cal. at the moment.
RP
I do have a 44 but it's the BBB rifle.
I wouldn't mind having a carbine to go with but I'm contemplating another cal. at the moment.
RP
Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care".
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
- JEBar
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Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
we own both and we use both .... for a hunter, I'd prefer the 44 .... to punch holes in paper or ring gong a 357 is fine and cheaper to shoot .... if you reload, you already have the equipment to handle a 44 .... if you don't load your own ammo and ever decide to do so, your startup cost will be less with only 1 caliber .... the final factor is, what do you want ..
.. and that's a big factor
Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
Hey JEBar! ........Are you able to see a difference of the barrel thickness between the two? And is the 357 as accurate as the 44M?
HENRY! Hold it - Point it - Shoot It ; YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE ONE FROM THERE ON!
BBS-44M, BBS-357M, SLA-3030
BBS-44M, BBS-357M, SLA-3030
Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
Split the difference, get a .41. 
Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes is rapidly becoming a reality (11/2023). Para Bellum.
- JEBar
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Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
both are locked in a safe in a location that would take me a while to get to so I can't quickly grab them and give them a look .... as I recall the 44 does look larger but not hugely so .... as to accuracy, with our loads, both are very accurate at 100 yards, wouldn't flip you a coin for the difference .... first picture below shows our 8 year old grand son back in 2016 ... 2 rounds fired from a rest at 100 yards .... he routinely breaks skeet laid down flat on top of a board at 100 yards .... the second picture shows 50 rounds I fired from a rest at 50 yards in late August of 2018 .... after first posting that target some folks here and others I shoot with wanted to see what would happen at 100 yards .... got around to doing firing 100 rounds from a rest at 100 yards in early December of 2018 .... shooting conditions on both days were about as good as it gets at our family range .... both rifles are capable of firing tighter groups than I can make them shoot
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- Vaquero
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Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
Nice shootin JEB
RP
RP
Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care".
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
- JEBar
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Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
thank you sir .... that's about as good as I can do now days
Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
I'd not call that 'good' shooting JEBar, I'd call that fantastic. Congratulations to you sir. Those are beautiful targets IMHO.
Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
For hunting deer I’d go with the 44 mag. For smaller game and fun at the range.357 mag.
When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace becomes a circus.
- JEBar
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Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
kind words appreciated .... like everybody here, I enjoy shooting .... I don't exactly how to describe it but that is specially true when firing a rifle that simply feels right .... one that when you pick it up, it feels comfortable .... I'm very lucky to own several like that and our Henry BBS 44 Mag is one of them ....
Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
.
The other forum Enablers aren't living up to our reputation. Just get both! [or all three (adding the .41)]
The other forum Enablers aren't living up to our reputation. Just get both! [or all three (adding the .41)]
PATOKARI wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 7:37 pmHoping to get me a new BBS Carbine. I'm having a hard time deciding on which caliber to get. I already have a scoped 44M BBS with the longer barrel that I hunt deer and plink with & love it. Now I want to get a 16.5" barrel carbine and use it with open sights. Does anyone own and use both of these calibers? Please share your thoughts and give me the pros and cons.
UPDATES: OR passes 114, "one of strictest gun control measures in U.S." https://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic. ... 34#p213234
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Bms
Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
I do have both, but I have both in revolver also, if your a hunter get the .44, if just plinkin, then .357. I have shot
6-8 deer with the .357, not one more than 40 yds, never a pass through, found all but one. .44 didn’t have that problem.
6-8 deer with the .357, not one more than 40 yds, never a pass through, found all but one. .44 didn’t have that problem.
- Vaquero
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Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
Mags, then there's the ah 45 colt.Mags wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2019 12:38 am.
The other forum Enablers aren't living up to our reputation. Just get both! [or all three (adding the .41)]PATOKARI wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 7:37 pmHoping to get me a new BBS Carbine. I'm having a hard time deciding on which caliber to get. I already have a scoped 44M BBS with the longer barrel that I hunt deer and plink with & love it. Now I want to get a 16.5" barrel carbine and use it with open sights. Does anyone own and use both of these calibers? Please share your thoughts and give me the pros and cons.
And yes I have all four, not all Henrys though, and with Ruger revolvers though.
RP
Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care".
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
4 even better.
Vaquero wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2019 7:57 pmMags, then there's the ah 45 colt.Mags wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2019 12:38 am.
The other forum Enablers aren't living up to our reputation. Just get both! [or all three (adding the .41)]PATOKARI wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 7:37 pmHoping to get me a new BBS Carbine. I'm having a hard time deciding on which caliber to get. I already have a scoped 44M BBS with the longer barrel that I hunt deer and plink with & love it. Now I want to get a 16.5" barrel carbine and use it with open sights. Does anyone own and use both of these calibers? Please share your thoughts and give me the pros and cons.![]()
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And yes I have all four, not all Henrys though, and with Ruger revolvers though.![]()
RP
UPDATES: OR passes 114, "one of strictest gun control measures in U.S." https://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic. ... 34#p213234
- Vaquero
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Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
Alright back to subject, if not hunting then the 357 would be my choice.
Plus cheaper to shoot.
RP
Plus cheaper to shoot.
RP
Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care".
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
44 is the better deer rifle, 357 the better plinker and small game rifle but can handle deer in a pinch.
- markiver54
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Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
357 and the right load will drop a Whitetail. Shot placement is key. Less recoil and cheaper factory ammo if you don't re-load...I don't. I love my 357 and it will dispatch anything I care to within expected range, which also applies to the .44.
I'm your Huckleberry
- Vaquero
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Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
I took a nice 8 point with my 357 Rossi, the deer was around 90 yds., and only made a couple steps after being hit.markiver54 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2019 10:31 am357 and the right load will drop a Whitetail. Shot placement is key. Less recoil and cheaper factory ammo if you don't re-load...I don't. I love my 357 and it will dispatch anything I care to within expected range, which also applies to the .44.
Was also the first deer that I ever killed with one of my reloads.
RP
Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care".
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
- Vaquero
- Ranch Boss
- Posts: 12175
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:56 am
- Location: Somewhere between Memphis & Nashville

Re: Which BBS Carbine? 44 or 357
I also saw on Marlin Owners where a guy has taken two bucks this year with a Marlin 1894 in 357.
Don't remember what ammo he is using.
RP
Don't remember what ammo he is using.
RP
Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care".
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
