I am seriously concidering a Henry Riffle. Should I get the factory new .44 mag or go for a Reproduction chambered in .45LC ? The Repro's are about $400 more, is it worth it? All opinions welcome. Thanks

Meierznutz,

Your asking to compare apples and grapfruits. These are two totally different rifles.

The Replica is a exactly that, an almost exact replica of the .44 Rimfire Henery Rifle. Suitable only for low pressure type ammunition. The .45 Colt SAAMI pressure is 14,000psi. Quite low.

The rifle made by the Henery company is totally different, designed to handle the pressures of the .44 Magnum cartridge.
There is a vague resemblence to each other, but that's it.

As for the high prices of the replica's well, the replica is an import and they are probably not conducive to modern manufacturing methods. (I could be wrong on this part.)

Chose what you want to use the rifle for, then you can better choose which one.

Joe

High price......Hmmm, Don't you find it ironic that if you want a reproduction of some of the most famous guns ever conceived in the United States you have to venture over seas? I think the reason would be that $700.00-$800.00 repro would cost thousands if made over here due to the high wages for labor ( I know they don't seem high unless your a little Italian fella working across the pond for Uberti,) and the amount of hand assembly as mentioned in the previous post which is the reason the US Makers stopped production on the originals in the first place(durn that Industrial Revolution!) Like mentioned above also the current "Henry Co. shares little exept the rights to the name and the bulk of their product line cosmeticly bears a resemblence and thats about it.


444fitchy

Good post! I was wondering the same thing Meierznutz. I have been considering purchasing the 1860 Henry or 1873 Rifle in .45LC. Does anyone know the pressure limits of these rifles? The original ballistics are fine for me but I would like to know though.

Good post! I was wondering the same thing Meierznutz. I have been considering purchasing the 1860 Henry or 1873 Rifle in .45LC. Does anyone know the pressure limits of these rifles? The original ballistics are fine for me but I would like to know though.

The metal is better, but it's not magic...don't load warm loads in a repro. Henry. the metal may be stronger, but it's design isn't...stanadard pressure smokeless loads won't spring one, but some of the loads listed in the manuals ae well above that level. Take the bonus of barrel length and let that be enough of a boost in vel.

Really isn't a small amount either...good but not excessive BP loads in the long barrel, even with modern brass that holds less BP, can get that 250gr. bullet up to about 1050-1100fps.

Is "big" with the Civil War folks, and needs to be as close a reproduction as possible to suit them...it is...and in doing so, it costs.

High price......Hmmm, Don't you find it ironic that if you want a reproduction of some of the most famous guns ever conceived in the United States you have to venture over seas? I think the reason would be that $700.00-$800.00 repro would cost thousands if made over here due to the high wages for labor ( I know they don't seem high unless your a little Italian fella working across the pond for Uberti,) and the amount of hand assembly as mentioned in the previous post which is the reason the US Makers stopped production on the originals in the first place(durn that Industrial Revolution!) Like mentioned above also the current "Henry Co. shares little exept the rights to the name and the bulk of their product line cosmeticly bears a resemblence and thats about it.


444fitchy

It probably doesn't have as much to do with labor costs as it does with copy rights. They don't have to have a copy right approval to copy a US product. Yes, it may still cost more, but for example, you can buy a new model94 or a Marlin guide gun for less than those repro guns. My 73 was $800 bucks.

There is alot more that goes into the makings of some of them bolt action rifles like the ADL and the Model 70 or the M77 etc. etc.. and they are less than the repros!;)

Good post! I was wondering the same thing Meierznutz. I have been considering purchasing the 1860 Henry or 1873 Rifle in .45LC. Does anyone know the pressure limits of these rifles? The original ballistics are fine for me but I would like to know though.


I have a 73 in 44/40. I mostly shoot black powder cartridges out of it cause I like the originality of it. But the rifles are well made. You can use any of the loads that are in your reloading manuals with smokeless. These rifles are made of much better steel then what was used back then and the actions are strong enough as well. Remember, the 73 action was made after the design of the 76. The 76 came out after the 73, but it was designed to shoot the 45/75 cartridge. then went on to be the 86 action (almost the same design) to shoot the 45/70 cartridges and more! They can handle a pistol load. No problem.

I use the same loads as I use in my Vaquero 44/40 so I can use the same cartridge in both firearms. But when I use blackpowder, it does not matter because you load by volume, not weight.

My smokeless load is 12gr of Hogden 4227 and a cast 200gr flat nose bullet with standard primers. I cast my bullets at 20:1 Lead/tin

My blackpoweder load is the same bullet, approx. 38 gr (By volume) of FFg and a magnum winchester pistol primer.

I would not suggest laoding anything that your pistol will not shoot. The Rugar can handle slightly higher pressures than other pistols. I am at about 900 FPS. with the smokeless and probably up around 1100 with the Blackpowder. (Out of the rifle, less with the pistol due to barrel length.)

You will not have a pressure issue if you use Black Powder. Have fun;)

It probably doesn't have as much to do with labor costs as it does with copy rights. They don't have to have a copy right approval to copy a US product. Yes, it may still cost more, but for example, you can buy a new model94 or a Marlin guide gun for less than those repro guns. My 73 was $800 bucks.

There is alot more that goes into the makings of some of them bolt action rifles like the ADL and the Model 70 or the M77 etc. etc.. and they are less than the repros!;)


If copyright was an issue, I don't believe that the reproductions could be sold here.... only in countries that did not have copyright treaties with the U.S.

You may be thinking of patents, however patents on 1870s-1890s lever guns have long expired.

Copyrights generally apply to printed materials, trademarks to names / brands. If Winchester had trademarked "1873" or "73" way back when, then they might be able to prevent someone from using the same model number or name.

Not really sure why the Italians are making the rifle, but they are pretty nice. Just not USA. Too bad. Some of the old manufacturers are starting to build old guns, like Ballard.

Winchester doesn't even make there guns now. It is Olen. Go figure. :rolleyes: