Sean,
Excellent read about a very historic firearm!
Thank you for the link.
A few of my own observations. With regards to
"It is interesting to note that some of the early advertisements claimed that fact, certain death at 1000 yards. The fact is that a 216 grain bullet in front of 26-28 grains of black powder would doubtfully even travel close to that distance." The fact is that it will for sure reach beyond 1,000 yards.
1.) A 22LR will travel at least 1,700 yards and since the sectional density and velocity is very similar to the .44 Henry, it will very likely travel the same distance.
2.) I have fired my 44-40 at "Homer" the 1,000 yard buffalo at the Ridgway Rifle Club in Ridgway, PA and the bullets impacted with enough force to see the displacement of earth and to hit the steel hard enough that it was audable at 1,000 yard distance.
Interestingly, the 44-40 at 1,300 f.p.s. only has a 70 yard advantage over the .44 Henry at 1,125 f.p.s. That's about the distance that the bullet from the 44-40 has slowed to 1,125 f.p.s.
3.) The Swiss Trials of 1866 with the 44 Henry cartridge in the 1866 Winchester Rifle were conducted as far out as 1,000 paces which would be a bit short of 1,000 yards and targets were printed.
In evidence of the above and A.A.Vanwormer's statement below, I would humbly suggest that consideration be given to remove the "The fact is that a 216 grain bullet in front of 26-28 grains of black powder would doubtfully even travel close to that distance." from the text.
ACCURACY
"A.A. Vanwormer was impressed with the Henry that he purchased. He writes this in a letter dated June 3, 1863. “The New Haven Arms Company: Gentlemen: I bought the first one of the Henry Rifles sold here, of my old friends, Albright & Co. I have fully tested it, having shot over 500 shots. It is certain death at 800 yards, and probably at 1,000 yards."
"But then there is the Henry test conducted by Lieutenant, W. Mitchell U.S.N. that gives a different story. In a letter dated May 20, 1862 he states; “fifteen shots were fired for accuracy, at a target 18 inches square at 348 feet distance. Fourteen hit direct.”
I could not on an average put three shots out of five into a circle of two feet in diameter, at 100 yards, and at 200 yards they varied four or five feet, wandering in every direction
"So was the Henry Repeating rifle an accurate, long range weapon? The test show one thing but the written accounts by men in the field seem to suggest a different story. Since ammunition has not been made since the 1920’s for the .44 rim fire Henry cartridge and an original Henry is very pricey, it is not likely to find out the answer as to the Henry’s accuracy."
As far as accuracy goes, each rifle is a law unto itself and no doubt, some lemons might have been produced. Also what was the individua'ls capapbility and how well was the rifle(s) maintained?
For documented evidence of the accuracy of the 44 Henry cartridge, witness the Swiss Trials of 1866 where targets were fired at 300, 600, 800, and 1,000 paces under controlled conditions for a historic record of the accuracy of what the .44 Henry cartridge was capable of.
At 300 paces 28 of the 30 shots fired landed in a 1 foot group. Certainly man sized accuracy at that distance. Even at 600 paces a high percentage of the shots would be on a man sized target. Of course getting the right elevation would be important.
Please see
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,36799.0.htmlYou have my permission to add the information to your excellent write up on the Henry in the Civil War.
w44wcf