Hello the camp- 16 shooter ordered

[matt45]

Any idea of muzzle velocity w/ that load?-  My aim is to get a 212- 218 gr bullet (changing w/ alloy) to 1200fps.

[Trailrider]

One thing you MUST be aware of with the Henry Repeating Rifle and centerfire ammo:  When loading the magazine hold the rifle with the muzzle just above HORIZONTAL, NOT VERTICAL!  When you release the follower, grasp the thumb piece FIRMLY and hold your other hand around the magazine tube slot and the barrel positioned FORWARD of the top round in the magazine so in case your hold on the thumbpiece slips, the thumbpiece will hit your other hand, NOT the nose of the top cartridge.  Once the follower is against your hand wrapped around the barrel/magazine tube, ease the follower the rest of the way against the top cartridge.  Also, BE SURE when you prime your cartridge cases that the primers are seated BELOW the surface of the cartridge head! There is a gage you can buy to check this, but I generally just run my thumb over the case head.

The other thing you will have to get used to, which is NOT a safety issue, is repositioning your hand as the follower thumbpiece comes back when you have about three or four rounds left in the magazine.  With practice it will become second nature.

So far as loads are concerned, you can probably get 1200 ft/sec with a 200-220 grain bullet, but I wouldn't go over that. Use a medium-burning rate pistol powder, such as Unique or Hodgdon's Universal (NOT plain Clays).  That should get you up there, but you may want to back off a bit for your pistols.  I won't list actual loadings since my Henry is a .44-40, not .45 LC. But, there are plenty of safe recommended loads on the Hodgdon's website or manuals.


Have fun with your new Henry.

[PJ Hardtack]

Matt45

You're going to enjoy your Henry - a lot! It's a rifle with a cachet about it, lacking in a lot of others.

Shooting BP in .45 cases might make it worth while to anneal your brass for a better seal. If nothing else, it'll lessen the case smudging that occurs even with smokeless .45 Colt loads.

You've been given good advice about lowering the follower gently on loaded rds! I've been present twice when it was dropped - once on top of 5 rds, another on 10 rds. In both cases, three rds detonated, splaying the slotted mag tube like a banana. In the case of the 10 rd incident, the shooter got his wrist shot full of fragments. In the 5 rd incident, only the rifle suffered.

Ammo was checked for high primers - nil. No pointed bullets. It was attributed to sensitive primers. I've read that it happened historically with RF ammo as well.

[matt45]

Thanks for all the advice-
went out this morning w/ my chronograph- a PACT w/ the infra red screens- first 12 read just like they should- low was 1330, high was 1362, avg 1348, sd 12.2- I unplugged the chrono from the skyscreens and then remembered this newer model shuts off when one does that.  The next 9 wouldn't read.  It was -5 so it could be the battery, could be I wasn't close enough to the screens (any of you folks have that problem?).  This load is 26 grs. 777 (I use it in my spencer), lightly compressed in a 45 Schofield case.
     So far I am not shooting very well with it- having a hard time w a consistent sight picture, and that trigger pull is atrocious.  I have shot two decent groups, and have blown some coffee cans full of water to hell and gone.  Seems to shoot low and slightly to the right.
     Should I pull the side plates or at least one to clean behind the carrier- I'm kind of scared to, as the fit and finish of this particular weapon is really something?

[matt45]

...and I just realized my question mark is in the wrong spot- what I mean is should I pull the plate(s) as I am scared of messing up the rifle (she is a looker)

[Pettifogger]

...and I just realized my question mark is in the wrong spot- what I mean is should I pull the plate(s) as I am scared of messing up the rifle (she is a looker)

With the charge of 777 you are using you will get minimal blow-by.  Remember, the action internals are behind the carrier so any blow-by would have to travel almost 2 inches to get into the mechanism.  I fire thousands of BP rounds per year and when the side plates are removed there is some fouling, but it is minimal and if you keep the gun lubed it remains soft.  If you have never removed the side plates of a Henry you will almost certainly put some marks on the plates when you remove them.  You will also almost certainly cut yourself as those plates are literally razor sharp.  When you do remove the plates, make sure you push them upwards and use a padded driver to get them moving.