Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
CAS TOPICS => Gun Reviews => Topic started by: BobbyF on December 10, 2013, 08:23:17 PM
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I don't have the experience to write a review for the Pards, but there might be another rookie or two out there considering the Big Boy. I just shot a mixed box and a half of .38 spec lead round nose and .357 semi jacketed hollow points. The rifle performed flawlessly out of the box. I didn't touch any sights. It is heavy and holds steady as a rock. I'm not fast at all on the lever and the rifle kept up with me without a problem. As to its durability I will have to wait and see. Two of my targets are below, both at 20 yds, one resting on a table.
Is there anyone else out there shooting one of these? I hope this post is useful to somebody --BobbyF
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I had, until recently, a bigboy in 45C.
Very accurate and very reliable. It was going to be my backup gun to my 1860, but someone made me an offer I could not turn down. So I bought an 1866. Had to stay with brass.
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Hard to believe people are still buying these. Glad to hear your experience is good................so far.
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Mine is in 45 LC.
I did have problem at first... 1 or 2 rounds in 10 would jamb coming out of the magazine tube.
I called their toll free number. Antonio answered the phone. From what I gather, Antonio almost always is the one that picks up the phone.
No arguments at all, he immediately emailed me a prepaid shipping label, UPS picked it up the next day.
I got it back in 7 days, and now it works 100% flawlessly, a very smooth action.
I shoot BP loads out of it BTW.
Like with most lever guns, a leather lever wrap will take up some slack in there and also make it easier on the back of your hand...
(http://lioby.home.comcast.net/~lioby/im/misc/dscn5234s.jpg)
Rick
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Hard to believe people are still buying these. Glad to hear your experience is good................so far.
I am curious to learn about any problems associated with the Big Boy. I just bought one simply because I liked the looks and the heft. The action is much smoother than the EMF Hartford I had and, after about 60 rounds, it is performing flawlessly. I haven't had it long enough (2 weeks) to see any long term issues so it would be nice to know what to look for.
Thanks,
Ron
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I am curious to learn about any problems associated with the Big Boy. I just bought one simply because I liked the looks and the heft. The action is much smoother than the EMF Hartford I had and, after about 60 rounds, it is performing flawlessly. I haven't had it long enough (2 weeks) to see any long term issues so it would be nice to know what to look for.
Thanks,
Ron
Howdy Green River, you want have to look for it, when you try to run one at speed it will find you. Nothing wrong with the HBB for plinking or target shooting, it should work fine. It's when you try to run one at CAS speed, the action just can't do it and it will jamb. This is not from hearsay or what I've heard it is from what I've seen.......and I've yet to see one finish a match unless you run it very deliberate and slow. We have one shooter at our club that uses one, he doesn't care about speed, he likes to shoot clean and slow.....his rarely if ever jambs. If that's all you ask of it it should do fine. Good Luck :)
Jefro :D Relax-Enjoy
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Thank you for that information!
At this point, that likely is an issue that shouldn't affect me. I have mostly moved over to the Dark Side. When I take my flintlocks to the range, I will take my CAS SAA replicas and the rifle along in case I have some extra time. Most times, I will take a pair of 1851 Navy pistols over the SAAs. So, I guess Green River is my name and black powder plinkin' is my game.
Thanks,
Ron
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After HRA fixed whatever was wrong with mine, it feeds flawlessly for me.
And, Yes Green River, they sure are smooth aren't they?
Rick
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Have to agree with Jefro. If not running fast. They are a great gun. And I like the company.
I have 4 of there Golden Boy .22's.
But most I have seen at the range would not run at any speed. I have tried a few. And out ran
them. Never could get a 10 shot run out of one. CAS is a speed game. And yes. NCOWS is also. If it is
timed. It is a speed game.
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Alright I will add in here. A friend loaned me a Big Boy in 357 but this is what Henry is calling the steel Big Boy. Round barrel and steel receiver. It is a whole lot lighter than the original Big Boy. It ran as fast as I could (granted not any speed demon but no problems either). Henry lists it at 7lbs or about the same as Marlin 94.
Taking a look at the thing it looks a lot like the 1895 Marlin action just a bit scaled down. I have been told the Unitek hammer spring kit will work to lighten it up. Not sure if the plunger spring will work but perhaps a half coil or so to speed up locking times.
Yes still a tube loader but on the CAS line I don't have to reload under fire. There was one stage that called for 11 rounds rifle, i.e., one reload. Tossed the round through the ejection port and no problem.
I checked out the price from my dealer and about $150 less than the brass job. Puts it between a Rossi 92 and a whole lot less then the ever increasingly scarce 1894s. For an entry level I would say not too bad.
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I hear people Talk Crap all the time about the Big boy .
Its No good its junk blah blah blah .
I would bet 98% of the 5hit talkers never owned one or even shot one.
Are there better suited guns ?
Why hell yes there are better suited guns for Cowboy !
But if you think the Big boy is ugly or a peace of junk ,
Or you are hung up on there past claim to fame. ,
DONT BUY ONE !
I have many Cowboy guns and they all work good .
Some better then others .
73 , 66, three 92's two Marlins a Henry and a Big boy .
I wanted to see for myself how a Big boy would run .
And Yes I just liked the gun also..
I took a brand new Big boy straight out of the box to a Cowboy shoot.
Im a 30 to 40 second shooter depending on the stage .
It ran flawlessly the whole day , And With a Clean Match !
Is it fast ? Why No its not fast !
Can you shoot one ? Why hell yes you can shoot one !
Will you WIN ?
I dont think a new shooter just coming in to the sport or a Old shooter using a Big boy even cares about first place.
Its about playing Cowboy and having fun !
Not everyone comes here to be First or Even in the Top 10 or 20.
Some of use are just Content playing Cowboy !
So all I have to say to the Haters .
Dont Buy One .
And leave the pore guy alone Who likes his !
Its His Game he is playing Not Yours !
Just Sayin .
Rooster .
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I think an HBB in .45 would make a swell little deer and hog rifle as they can shoot the stouter stuff. I am extremely attracted to their reputation for customer service and their American ethic.
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some comments on a few points made in this thread....
A. I find it interesting, people are still bashing HRA , because they used the Henry name ...Well it was an open Name free of and no longer under any copyright or incorporated legal constraints... get over it !
B. NCOWs does NOT recognize the Henry BIG BOY , it is on the unapproved rifle list
that said...if you showed up with one at monthly NCOWS match, I doubt with good experience, any NCOWs posse' would send you away...and you have a year to get an approved rifle. BTW, they do make an 1860 Henry and it is LEGAL !
C. Henry Repeating Arms has a FINE reputation for customer service, In fact call and 8 out 9 time Anthony (CEO) will answer.
see to it your issue is handled and you are 100% satisfied.
D. HRA is a USA company, read some time how, after Hurricane Sandy devastated their New Jersey manufactory.
Paychecks continued for employee's who home were damaged , even though the plant was idle.
OK so the Big Boy is not the " go to rifle " for the gamers of SASS....
Hell a Volkswagen is not for NASCAR !
nor is Betty White , centerfold material ..... :)
Point is the American Arms industry is alive ( in the mist of the Politicos' and Anti's ) and HRA is a player....
not everybody Shoot Western action.... and great many more people though shoot just for fun, hunt, or just want a Lever gun behind the Kitchen door.... and that is why they are still in Business.
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Oh WOW!! Just a little PILING ON here 8)
PLUS ONE to Major 2.
And, just for grins and giggles, go out there, running your "Race Rifle" fast as you can and short stroke it. TRAIN WRECK!! And dit dit dot, CAS is only a "speed" game for the 20% or so of "fastest" shooters. EVERYBODY else is just playin the game for FUN!! If your not reaching for the Brass Ring and you like your Big Boy, by all means PLAY WITH IT!!
Opinionated
Coffinmaker 8)
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...A. I find it interesting, people are still bashing HRA , because they used the Henry name ...Well it was an open Name free of and no longer under any copyright or incorporated legal constraints... get over it !...
I think the main point of objection, at least in the past, was not that they used the Henry name but that they seemed to claim, or infer, a direct lineage from that original company.
Otherwise, they are doing well (other than CAS), and probably raking in a boatload of money by selling their rifles in so many stores.
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It's not exactly unprecedented.....
and I suppose only persons offended are CAS type historians.
Ask the average Joe on the street ...who Tyler Henry , Eugene Stoner or Christopher Miner Spencer was and see their blank stare. ( Stoner & Spencer are not copyrighted presently )
Doing well ? Yes, I believe they are "as you say" (other than CAS ) Number 7 in the list of USA Manufactures ...not to mention they only manufacture rifles ...
Here is the list form 2013
MANUFACTURER
1 .Ruger - Pistols , Revolvers & Rifles
2. Smith & Wesson Corp. - Pistols ,Revolvers & Rifles
3. Remington Arms Co. - Rifles & Shotguns
4. SIG SAUER Inc.- Pistols & Rifles
5. O.F. Mossberg/Maverick Arm - Shotguns & Pistols
6. Savage Arms Inc. Rifle & Shotguns
7. Henry RAC Holding Corp. Rifles Only
Here is the site https://www.shootingindustry.com/u-s-firearms-industry-today-2015/
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It's not exactly unprecedented.....
and I suppose only persons offended are CAS type historians.
Ask the average Joe on the street ...who Tyler Henry , Eugene Stoner or Christopher Miner Spencer was and see their blank stare. ( Stoner & Spencer are not copyrighted presently )
True, but the average joe on the street also thinks cowboys wear Wrangler jeans, shirts with pearl buttons, pointy-toed cowboy boots, an oilskin duster, and a Stetson Cattleman.
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Just exactly what is being inferred here?? Do you mean there is something wrong with Wrangler Jeans, My woozier shirts with Pearly buttons, Pointy boots and huge Stetson?? Something wrong with that?? I skipped the Oilskin Duster (I have one) 'cause I don't shoot inna rain ::)
Actually, the point is well taken. The impressions most folks have are The Marlboro Man or a Drugstore Cowboy. Actual, as we well know is much plainer (makes thin boards) and utilitarian. Like lugg Sole Waffle Stompers :o. Ah wait a minute here .........
THREAD DRIFT ALARM THREAD DRIFT ALARM THREAD DRIFT ALARM
Back to our "Previously" scheduled program. If you take a peek inside the Big Boy, what you find is basically an updated Marlin action. Enclosed round bolt, but basically Marlin. There has been, contrary to popular belief, continuing product improvement over at HRA and the new build Big Boys are much better these days. No, there not particularly fast, but neither are bogged stock Marlins. EVERYTHING we play with takes a certain amount of work to be user friendly and or "fast." Even if all you do is change out the "truck springs."
Coffinmaker
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Just exactly what is being inferred here?? Do you mean there is something wrong with Wrangler Jeans, My woozier shirts with Pearly buttons, Pointy boots and huge Stetson?? Something wrong with that??
No they look fine on you pard.
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Wrangler jeans, shirts with pearl buttons, pointy-toed cowboy boots, an oilskin duster, and a Stetson Cattleman.
Well ...the Urban cowboys do.... Travolta worshipers and maybe the cocaine types.
in fact most real cowhunters here, wear Stetson's Ocala straw or Stetson Stallion Maximo Straw , Stetson's Michell or San Miguel straws.
Jeans , chambray & work boots ...but these guys also have yellow slickers on their saddles...
Enough Thread drift ....
Back to Henry BIG BOY Bashing ::)
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I had a Henry Big Boy in .44 mag. It was actually a really nice gun, very well put together, smooth as silk action. True, it I tried to race run it I had issues, but that was running it faster than I should have. I ultimately just got rid of it because it was so darned heavy. Got myself a Rossi 92 carbine instead.
If I was going to judge a person it wouldn't be by the guns they use so much as how they use them, but in the end I don't really judge them for either, because I'm not equipped to do so! ;)
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Here is a thought (woe it hurtz to think) :D Some Lustrum ago, the fish (Marlin) was Poo Poo'd cause it wasn't as "fast" as the '73,
the '66 or even the Henry. Then came the dreaded (still a problem) Marlin Jam (now, that .. is a Train Wreck) and back then, as now, those in the know (Know-It-Alls) would tell you in a heartbeat if you did't have a Toggle Link rifle, smithed to the nines, you simply couldn't play. Hoo boy, and for you if you were stuck with a '92. Where waz I. Oh yea.
Now just go pull a brandy knew Uberti reproduction Toggle Link Rifle, or new Moruko (spell??) out of the box and try and go fast with it. I get to peddle the Peanuts and Popcorn. After you spring (pun) for a new Toggle Link Gun you gonna be looking for some after-market springs. First, to make it more user friendly and second to keep it from wearing itself out. Then .... then .... Along came Jones ........ those in the know will tell ya you gotta short stroke it. I use to make a pretty good living doing that (I retired). So whatz my POINT!!
It matters not one bit what new iron you pull out of the box, it WILL need some work. The first thing that is necessary is to get rid of those horrible truck springs. That alone will amaze. I always lit my customers know, the biggest bang for yer buck was a real good action job. Proper rubbin-n-buffin and changing out the springs. It is amazing ho fast a Toggle Rifle can run with a stock lever throw after the action is cleaned up. Same Same with the '92. At one time the Go-To rifle for CAS was a clean'd up '92. Lots of EOT and Winter Range were won with '92s.
Now .. I honestly don't know what can be done with a Big Boy. Be interesting to take one apart and piddle with it. Just hasn't ben any interest in doing that. Doesn't mean you can't bring it out to play and have fun with one. Just think for a second (I know, .... it hurts), but the faster you run a stage, the less time you get to play. I kind of like having gotten more "seasoned" and some slower. I get to play longer!! Think about it.
Coffinmaker
Soap Box Mode OFF >>>> Regular Programming ON
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True, but the average joe on the street also thinks cowboys wear Wrangler jeans, shirts with pearl buttons, pointy-toed cowboy boots, an oilskin duster, and a Stetson Cattleman.
Where and when (late 50's early 60's) I grew up at any Saturday nite dance if you were not wearing those things you were considered to be either a sheep herder or worse a "towny". And the cowboys outnumbered the rest by at least 2-1.
wM1
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I shoot a 66 in 44 special with BP most of the time now.
I always have been and always will be a 92 Man .
But BP clean up in a 92 is a pain in the Ars .
I have a Henry 1860 a Winchester 1866 a Winchester 1873 Three 1892's Two 1894's Two Marlins 19894's and a Henry Big Boy .
Everyone needed spring work out of the box to run with any speed at all .
I say play your game anyway you want to play it .
With what ever tickles your fancy .
I have Rugers , Colt 1873's Colt 1860,s Colt Open Tops Sheriff model guns and 8" guns with any combo in between .
Play with what you brung !
Just sayin
Rooster
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I picked up an HRA Big Boy in 357/38 and it is fun to shoot no doubt about it. I am sure I will eventually get a 66, a 73 and a 94 but I am in no way unhappy with my choice.
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... I am sure I will eventually get a 66, a 73 and a 94 but I am in no way unhappy with my choice.
Maybe you typo'd when you said "94" and meant '92, or perhaps you meant Marlin '94. The Winchester '94 is about the worst choice for CAS. I don't care for the Big Boy, but would prefer one of those over a '94 :)
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Maybe you typo'd when you said "94" and meant '92, or perhaps you meant Marlin '94. The Winchester '94 is about the worst choice for CAS. I don't care for the Big Boy, but would prefer one of those over a '94 :)
Ha! Yes I do want a JM stamped Marlin 94. If Rossi ever kicks out more of their 92s in the longer barrel I would happily get one of those too. The 66 and 73 I want are both Uberti. I am not hot on the Winchester name, just the design :)
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I have a HBB in .357/.38. I used it as a CAS gun and it worked flawlessly. I now use a Uberti 73 in .357/.38 but, I still have the HBB as a backup and plinker.
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My brother had one that was actually a fine shooting gun for plinking and things like that. You just can't hot rod it.