Long Range Henry ?

[mr phil]

   So does anybody use those Henry sights for any long range shooting . Like old Gus did in Lonesome Dove against Blue Ducks men.   

[w44wcf]

I don't have a Henry, but have succesfully shot my .44-40 '73 at 500 meters (547 yards). Took several shots to get the right elevation. After seeing what it would do, I would not want anyone shooting at me from that distance with a .44-40!

Here's a target fired at 600 paces in the tests of the .44 Henry back in the 1860's. The majority of the shots are within a 3'x3' area.  One would definitely be in trouble on the receiving end.   



w44wcf

[mr phil]

As soon as I get my tax money I'll be gettin a 44-40 1860 from a friend and am looking forward to playing at the range with it . I'd like to try some long shots with her.

[Montana Slim]

I have done some plinkin' on large (about 4' diam) steel targets using my improved Henry (1866) rifle in 44-40, black powder loads.  I took a guess at the range and slide the sight bar up to 400 yds and let a few slugs fly.....a spotter told me I was low a couple feet so I aimed at the top of the plate & I had 5-6 hits in a row. Was shooting from X-sticks, sitting position.

A friend joined in while I reloaded. When I shot again, it took a few shots to get my head back in the same spot. Note here is that repeatable cheekweld gets tough as the sight gets higher up.

Was a lot of fun, tho.

The distance was later revealed (laser range finder) to be 425 yds.

Regards,
Slim

[Coffinmaker]

My Henrys are all .45s.  I have regularly shot them at a steel "man" silhouette at 300 yards.  Consistent hits.  The .45 or the .44-40 has the trajectory of a rainbow at anything over 150 yards, but, a man size target or deer, would be dead meat (or meat on the table) out to about 300.  Hope for little or no cross wind though.

Coffinmaker

[Fox Creek Kid]

In the past I shot at a large steel plate at 400 yds. using a ´66, BUT I was using 28 gr. FFFg and a 200 gr. .44 cal. MAV bullet, i.e., essentially duplicating the original .44 Rimfire load. I could consistenly hit the 3´ x 3´ plate with a lot less holdover than one would think.  

[Flint]

I found my 60 Henry more accurate at long range than my 66 or 73.  Could be that heavy stiff barrel.