Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

[Growlers]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this board, and currently don't own any Henry rifles. However, I plan on correcting that soon!

I'm really interested in a Henry 357 side-loading model. My question, specifically, is this: does this model have problems feeding 38 special ammunition? I'm mostly looking for personal experience with this by Forum participants.

I expect to almost entirely shoot 38 special ammunition through this rifle, since I currently reload this caliber.

[Cofisher]

If you load 38's, it's no big deal to use 357 cases. They seem to function better. I have shot both, and prefer the 357. Just don't load to heavy. Shoots easy.

Welcome to the site.

[leverjc]

I have only shot a few 38's through mine and it doesn't like to feed them.

[Rifletom]

If you load 158gr rnfp, you should be fine, even with .38spl cases. As mentioned, even better in .357 cases. I don't seem to have issues with regular .38 spl loads; just be a bit aggressive when working the lever. You should be fine.

[JVogler]

No problems with 38special in either Big Boy Brass or Big Boy steel. However 148 grain flush wadcutter would not cycle in Brass but would cycle in Big Boy steel.

[BigAl52]

Welcome to the forum. Id load 38 special loads in 357 cases and shoot it that way. It will be easier to clean the gun doing it that way

[fortyshooter]

Welcome to the Henry forum Growlers! You say you load for 38 Special so yes you could just transfer that load into 357 Mag brass.
Myself I like 158 gr. RNFP coated cast lead like the Missouri Bullets with 5.7 Power Pistol in .38 Special and bump it to 6.0 gr when loading in .357 Mag brass. Shoots in my Henry really well. What loads do you use?

[Growlers]

Thanks for the great advice, everyone!

As far as what i currently load for 38 special: 125 gr RNFP (Exteme plated bullets) over 4.6 gr of Bullseye. My brass currently is all 38 special cases. So far I have just been reloading this caliber for hand guns.

Sounds like I might want to tweak this load a bit for best results in the Henry long gun.

[Ceapea]

Not often talked about by most, but another solution is to load (heavier is better) bullets long, to 357 lengths, in 38 cases. I do this with several bullets. All feed well in any lever gun I have ever tried them in. John Taffin talks about this technique fairly often.

[Leftofcenter67]

I have a Henry BBS .357. Even the manual states if you shoot .38 special. You need to use 158 grain bullets. I've shot .357 LeveRevolution rounds in 140 grain, and it struggles but still works. I've tried 38 Special 158 grain and they work they just don't cycle as smoothly.
I'd just stick to 158 grain .357 magnum rounds if you can.

[Bake]

[quote=Ceapea post_id=195132 time=1648308551 user_id=3958]
Not often talked about by most, but another solution is to load (heavier is better) bullets long, to 357 lengths, in 38 cases. I do this with several bullets. All feed well in any lever gun I have ever tried them in. John Taffin talks about this technique fairly often.
[/quote

A long time ago, I shot a lot of Center Fire Silollett (NRA Field Pistol). I started with 130 gr. 9mm. cast ( no recoil, but no knockdowns past the pigs) and quickly tried 158 gr. cast ( more recoil,& about50% on the turkeys, and sucked on the rams) and went up to 180gr & 200gr ( both cast )in 38spe cases. The recoil was heavier, but those 200gr'er just killed those 100yd rams [hard]. I got my first "40" using a TC Contender load with 200gr'ser, in 38spe. cases . . .

[clovishound]

Yep, stick to .357. I don't like shooting .38s in my BBS. It feels like I'm shooting a .22. My .357 target loads make it feel like you are shooting a "real" rifle. They cycle easier as well. The only fly in the ointment is it's harder to find .357 cases.

OK, I enjoy shooting .22 as well, but the .357s are more fun in my book.

[Rifletom]

Growlers, if you cannot get any .357 mag brass, you can get some 158gr RNFP, coated preferably, and you should be fine. Just work that lever.
What powders do you have on hand? Missouri Bullets make great bullets.

[Vaquero]

Not often talked about by most, but another solution is to load (heavier is better) bullets long, to 357 lengths, in 38 cases. I do this with several bullets. All feed well in any lever gun I have ever tried them in. John Taffin talks about this technique fairly often.

There are several guys here that load 180 gr cast in 357 with no issues cycling or shooting them in their Henry rifles as do I in my Rossi.

RP

[Uncle Goose]

Hi all, first post on this forum. Just thinking that by using 357 cases you will have less bullet jump to the rifling , which should aid in accuracy and also in cleaning the chamber.

[iceman-cometh]

The only proper ammo I have at the moment is factory loaded PMC Bronze .38 Special 132 grain FMJ's, and they feed fine through my new .358 Mag BB X and suppressor.

[BigAl52]

Hi all, first post on this forum. Just thinking that by using 357 cases you will have less bullet jump to the rifling , which should aid in accuracy and also in cleaning the chamber.

I agree. If Im going to shoot 38 special type loads I just load them in 357 cases. Welcome to the forum.

[iceman-cometh]

I don't have any "suitable" .357 MAG factory loads at the moment, but I do have lots of factory load PMC Bronze .38 Special rounds l32 grain FMJs and they load, cycle and shoot just fine. I have my suppressor mounted to my Big Boy X and I enjoy the muffled sounds with the .38s.

[Bruce545]

Relatively new Henry 357 owner here- but 30 year 38/357 reloader.

I understand that there have been problems when using 38's in 357 lever rifles- especially with some of the other brands. I currently have 400+ rounds through my Henry- probably 75% of them being 38 spc., and have yet to have noticed any issues with feed of the rifle, or with cleaning. My handloads have predominately been 158 grain JSP and JSP loaded to the high end of 38 spc. and finished with a light crimp. I have not used any factory 38's yet this year (2022) as this continues to be an elusive unicorn in my area, however I sent a box of factory FMJ 158 g. 357 mag downrange onto paper targets yesterday. One thing I've not used yet has been any cast bullets- most of what I reload for target and practice with my revolvers.

At the end of the day, I can't say enough good things about my Henry rifles.

[kent5]

Hello all… new to the forum!

So, the owners manual for the non-side gate 357 has the warning about shooting only 158 grain 38 special, but the owners manual for the 357 BBX has no such warning on the use of 38 special ammo.

Does that mean that the 357 BBX has no issues with any standard 38 special load, but the old style non-side gate has issues?

I’d like to pick up another (!) Henry to plink 38 special, but if I can’t use the cheap bulk 130 grain commercial stuff, it kind of defeats the purpose. I was all excited to pull the trigger (ha!) on a 357 Mares Leg until I read about this issue

Thanks all!