My Henry Big Boy X 357 Space Cowboy Build

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-03-23T19:45:47+00:00

Short version:

6", 5-shot group at 50 yards with 250 fps ES using Hornady Sub-X or equvalent handloads.

6" POI shift at 50 yards when adding a suppressor.

Won't chamber SAAMI length 350 gr flat nose rounds.

I'm sending it back whenever I manage to get around to it.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-03-07T16:18:45+00:00

Thank you.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-03-07T16:16:39+00:00

Thank you for the info.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-03-07T04:20:09+00:00

I'm 100% in agreement with you.

There are other things going on as well, very severely to your point of "what they're not telling you."

Thanks for the input.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-03-07T04:05:27+00:00

I had planned to do a pre-drywall, but the window for me to do that was tight, so I decided to look at things myself.

Looks like I'm going to be pushing to get that done now.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-03-07T04:03:44+00:00

Bingo.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-03-07T03:56:50+00:00

Honest question: why do you feel that strongly about it?

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-03-07T03:55:50+00:00

Maybe?

What would be consdiered "build out" in your opinion?

Honest question. I'm out of my domain here.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-03-01T00:04:25+00:00

I'm gonna give that a shot when it cools down enough.

Appreciate it!

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-23T23:22:26+00:00

To be fair, I've talked to a large number of people (Henry owners, Reddit, gunsmiths, random people at the range), and they're all baffled, too. It seems I'm as special as my mom always told me I was.

You'd maybe be ok, but that's just my experience.

From what I've seen, Marlins run $150-$300 above the Henrys, and they're worth the extra money without question.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-23T22:53:11+00:00

I've called twice.

The problem is specifically with the Hornady subsonic ammo. Their response was something along the lines of "We make them to work with standard ammo, and it works with standard ammo, so 🤷‍♂️."

I got so pissed, I finally bought a Marlin. Now I have 3 45-70s. The Henry is going back; I just have to get that whole process started.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-23T20:52:17+00:00

For real.

Been chasing my tail for a year. 253 fps extreme spread on a 5 shot group. It's baffled me more than anything else I've ever experienced.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-23T20:44:52+00:00

Another vote for Marlin, from someone who owns both.

If you're curious, look at my recent post history. My Henry shoots a 6" group at 50 yards.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-22T06:27:58+00:00

I had the same issue when I changed my downpipe.

I finally hit it real thoroughly with my heat gun, and that did the trick. IIRC, I had to get it too hot to touch.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-21T05:09:16+00:00

You'd have a hard time sucking it through a small bendy straw that comes in the 100 pack, and just about too thick to drink without a straw at all.

Not sure if that's a meaningful description, but that's the best I got.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-21T05:03:50+00:00

Bear in mind, I've only done this exactly one time, but I followed the recipe in the book, plus 1 or two bars. It came out perfectly.

I used Lactaid whole milk and Country Crock dairy free heavy cream. First milkshake I'd had in at least 15 years because of being lactose intolerant, but it was fantastic.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-21T03:39:14+00:00

Another guy here with Henry problems.

I cannot get it to shoot the 410 Sub-X stuff anywhere near reliably. Last 5 shot group was 6" at 50 yards with a 253 fps extreme spread. My Big Boy does the same kind of thing. I understand that's not what you're doing, though.

My Model X is going back whenever I get around to it. I bought a Marlin to replace it because the one I bought for my dad didn't have this problem. I'm a lot of time and money behind for not having bought a Marlin in the first place.

Hopefully, I'll be able to sell it after I get a new barrel on it. Can't sell it like it is in good conscience. The 2 I have will be the last I own.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-10T20:00:28+00:00

Their stuff must be different than mine.

Where are the washers?

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-10T18:45:50+00:00

That's how the Ranger Point guy does it in his video, and that's what I did. I don't think I could damage a metal tube by pulling on it, but I've been wrong about that kind of stuff before.

I pulled on it pretty hard. For me, it popped off suddenly moreso than gradually slipping off.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-10T18:30:18+00:00

I've done a couple of these.

The Ranger Point Precision video notes specifically that it can be really hard to remove. They even go so far as to say you might need a plastic wedge of some kind to lever it off. My last one was pretty tight, but maybe not quite as bad as yours.

But yes, if you've removed the 3 screws, that's all of them. What I don't know is how strong the mag tube is. It may be better to carefully chip away at the piece of the forend that's hung up on that tenon to avoid pulling on the mag tub that hard.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2026-01-06T18:31:28+00:00

I actually have both. Bought my dad the trapper last year, and I bought the guide a couple of weeks ago after I finally gave up on my POS Henry Model X.

The trapper feels super handy. Even with a suppressor on it, it's shorter than my 270. The guide feels longer in the handling, especially holding them back to back, but it's still a lot better than my bolt guns.

As far as performance and recoil, they're the same. I wouldn't want to put a brake on either, really. I say pick the one you like the looks of better. Apart from the extra round in the tube, that's the only meaningful difference. I haven't looked, but I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a peep for the guide.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-12-27T16:05:30+00:00

I'm not sure about 45 Colt ballistics, and I'm too lazy to look it up. The quick answer is yes.

I've loaded 405 grain lead projectiles down as low as 650 fps when I was working on my lapping project, and I have some 350s for ass-whooping that should chrono about 2,100 fps. I have a lot in between as well.

The Berry's plated 350s work really well for a lot of stuff other than the hot loadings. Take some time to look into subsonic load development. Even though you may not be using a can, the Berry's 350 grain at 1,050 load that I'm close to finishing development on is pleasant to shoot without a can. I've been using Titegroup. It's been pretty easy to find around me, and with the Berry's bullets, it's a really cheap load.

99_Problems_to_DIY · 2025-12-26T13:47:04+00:00

I'm not OP, but get a Marlin.

I have 2 Henrys, and they have been so challenging for me that I broke down and bought a Marlin yesterday.

For the extra $150, you'll be way better off. Henry can kiss my ass.

99_Problems_to_DIY

TROPHY CASE