HENRY BIG BOY 44 mag vs MARLIN 1894 44 mag

[firemannw]

Hey guys I need some opinions on HENRY BIG BOY 44 mag($685) vs MARLIN 1894 Cowboy 44 mag($680) both have octagon barrels. I can also get a Marlin 1894 with the standard barrel instead of the octagon barrel for $500. I'm going to purchase one of them and I need your opinions on them, Pros and cons. I really like the Henry, I would like to get a Winchester 1894 44 mag. but know nothing about picking a good condition lever action. The rifle is going to be used for a brush gun deer and just shooting. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Noah

[Hawg Haggen]

For hunting I'd go with the Marlin. The Big Boy with it's brass receiver is heavy as hell not to mention shiny and flashy in the sun. The Winchester 94 was designed for a rifle cartridge from the get go and with the long action many of them do not function well with pistol calibers. JMHO.

[Fingers McGee]

Marlin for all the reasons Hawg mentioned, plus, the Marlin is easier to load additional rounds in through the loading gate; whereas, you have to remove the mag tube from the Big Boy to reload/add rounds.

[firemannw]

Thanks guys for the info I am going with the Marlin. What your opinion on the Marlin 1895 in 45-70 new for $660.
Thanks,
Noah

[CraigC]

The Big Boy is over two pounds heavier than a comparable Marlin. The Marlin, or comparable Winchester `92 reproduction or replica makes for a fast-handling carbine that's easy to carry and shoot. The Henry just feels like a stick of railroad between my hands.

[sundance44s]

For an easy to carry brush gun for deer ...nothin beats a pre 64 Winchester model 94 chambered in 30/30 ...it`s taken more deer in this country than any other lever gun ....and a nice one can be had for under 600.00

[firemannw]

The reason I'm buying my first lever gun in 44 magnum is because I own ruger super black in 44 mag. and though it would be fun to own a lever gun in the same caliber.

[Dingoboyx]

I love my '94 23" cowboy (octagonal barrel) I use mine for CAS. I started with a '94 Win Little Big Horn :barf:.... Win was too clunky & slow & the rounds come up from the mag at about 45 degree angle & jam or stand straight up when you try to go fast & the top eject would often land an empty back in the breach (or on your hat)

The '94 Marlin, the rounds come up flat & almost stacks the empties in a little neat pile next to your right foot :D (almost:D I should try putting an empty open range box down there, it would almost put them back in the box for me)

Love my Marlin ;)

[sundance44s]

No doubt haveing a lever gun in the same cal. as your pistol is a nice plus ..
Take a look at the Puma model 92 winchesters ... they can be had in 44 mag ......good light to carry easy pointing rifle too .
I`ve hunted with a 336 Marlin carbine and a pre 64 Winchester Carbine both chambered in 30/30 ...the Winchester is easyer to carry for me ..
The Marlin has a plus because of side ejection to add a scope on top if you desire .
Here`s a Puma model 92 in 44mag ...worth a look ...these are light weight easy and quick pointing ....http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=135294819

[firemannw]

I am very interested in the puma, the one with the 12" barrel in 44 mag. looks very slick, I just don't know a lot of people who have owned them. I'm limited on what the gun store has (which is a lot) that I'm trading with(my CMMG AR 15 Gas Piston Quad Rail). Sportsman's Paradise is who I'm trading with and I can't say enough good things about the guy who runs it. They sell a lot of firearms on Gunbroker for really good prices and do decent trades as well. From all I'm hearing it sounds like the Marlin rifles are the best shooting levers for the money. I was really interested in getting a new Henry or good a used Winchester but everyone is saying Marlin so I think I will go with the Marlin. I will also be trading for a lever in 45-70. I will be heading over there this afternoon and will let you guys know what I get.:D
Thanks,
Noah

[Fingers McGee]

IINM - a 12 inch barreled Puma would be illegal. 16" is the minumum legal length for a rifle barrel.

FM

[firemannw]

I believe you would have to get a SBR permit for the Puma 12" barrel, which I heard was like $200 and only good for that rifle:(. But they look really sweet.

[Ralph Allen]

firemannw,
I have a Marlin 1894CB in 45 Colt as well as a Marlin 1895CB in 45-70. Both are extremely fun to shoot. The 1895 just says to me, WOW, 10 rounds of 45-70 downrange without reloading! Awesome!! Word of caution/advice though, leverguns are addictive. Kinda like Lays potato chips, nobody can eat (own) just one.
Ralph

[CraigC]

IINM - a 12 inch barreled Puma would be illegal. 16" is the minumum legal length for a rifle barrel.
I think he might be looking at the Mare's Leg. It's legally a pistol.

[firemannw]

Well I traded my cmmg gas piston AR 15 for the marlin 1894 44 mag., marlin 1895 guide gun 45 70, and a henry arms 22LR. All the rifles are new and I hope to have time to shoot them today. I'm very excited about shooting the 45 70, the only problem is I spent $36 for just 20 rounds of 45 70 and that was the only place in town that sold it:eek:.

[Hawg Haggen]

I spent $36 for just 20 rounds of 45 70 and that was the only place in town that sold it.

That wasn't bad. Last 30-378 Weatherby's I bought was 8 or 9 years ago for 89.00 for 20 rounds.:eek::eek:

[Fingers McGee]

I think he might be looking at the Mare's Leg. It's legally a pistol.

Probably is - in retrospect - but he was asking about rifles, not pistols, so the synapses didn't go down that road.

FM

[CraigC]

so the synapses didn't go down that road.
Understandable, nor did mine....at first.

[hickstick_10]

i got the henry big boy in 44 and its a joy to shoot, mine really likes cast lead bullets, if your gonna use yours for hunting more go with the marlin but the henry is sure a pleasure to shoot at the range due to that extra 2 pounds weight.

Couple things to note, i have 3 henrys and for some reason all 3 broke the firing pins, replaced the pins and its been fine since.
The barrel finish on the big boy is mighty delicate, it wont stand up to any humidity at all, so if you want a gun to hurl in the back of the pickup and leave it there for a few days go with the marlin.
The marlin has a better magazine tube by far, i wish henry would get rid of that cheap rolled tube.
I'd still take a henry over a marlin any day but i hunt more soup cans than deer.

[firemannw]

I went with the marlin in the end, the henry was a beatiful rifle but I wanted something rugged. A rifle that I could go in the timber with and not worry about babying it. Another thing was the weight of the henry, I did end up getting a henry 22 for my boy which is a very fun rifle to shoot.

[durko58]

I purchased a Henry Big Boy in .44 mag and man is it a joy to shoot and the action is as smooth as silk. The barrel is somewhat heavy though but I plan on buying a scabbard and attaching to the back of my electric wheelchair to haul it through the woods for deer hunting. The heavy barrel does absorb a lot of the recoil which makes this gun a pussycat (to shoot), especially using my recipe of 240gr JSP and 19.5gr 2400. Here's a link to a guy who also swears by the Henry (scroll down the link for some video) but good luck with the Marlin nevertheless and happy shooting:)

http://44magjournal.blogspot.com/

[rickyjames]

Thanks guys for the info I am going with the Marlin. What your opinion on the Marlin 1895 in 45-70 new for $660.
Thanks,
Noah

i have the 1895 cowboy in 45/70 and it is a great gun, well balanced and accurate and smooth. i got mine a few years ago for $600 and it was very hard to find one at that time. if they are still hard to find i would grab that one.

[rdhat]

I own a henry bigboy chambered in 44 magnum. I have shot the marlin 44 magnums, at 100 yards, the henry will shoot a tighter group than the marlin 44 magnum will. They both are good guns, but for acturaicy, I prefer the henry over the marlin. I shoot hornadys ftx 225 grain.

[Edward429451]

I paid 550 for an 1895G and it was worth it. I've never had a problem with it. I put peep sights on it and a Happy Trigger for it from Wild West Guns, and a big loop lever for hunting with gloves.

The Happy Trigger for it is self explanatory, it's almost too good for a LA lol.

It's easy to load for gives me acceptable accuracy with handloads and a wide selection of bullets I've tried. It accounted for a nice Mule Deer Oct 08 so what else can I say about the Marlin? The new Marlins have Ballard rifling so they shoot well with cast bullets. My experiance has shown that my Marlin likes fat bullets (.460)

New ones are 660 now? hm. Sounds kinda expensive. But these guns might make the DD list so maybe get it while you can ;)

I got mine.

[Eagleks]

Sounds like you made a good deal ...... that would be a good combination to have.... Marlin .44 , Marline 45-70, and Henry .22 .

Ironically, that's the combination I"ve been thinking about that I may want to get at some point, but I'm not ready to trade my AR for them yet.

[Rifleman1776]

I wouldn't have a Marlin if given as a gift.
No way, no how have I ever gotten one to shoot worth a (expletive deleted) with handloads. They want factory ammo only.
BTW, my 30-06 loads give sub-MOA groups at 100 yards from an ordinary sporting rifle. I know how to load.

[Hawg Haggen]

You were prolly hand loading cast bullets and using them in a rifle with micro groove rifling.

[Nite Ryder]

I have severalMarlins and have not had a problem with any of them. I shoot reloads in all of them except the 30-30. I Have the 1894 in the Competition model ( 38 Special, octogon barrel) and also the standard model 357. Both work well, but the competition model was over $700 and I paid $369 for the standard model. I have these guns in 44 Mag and 45 Colt also. For almost all plinking I would recommend the Marlin. For Cowboy Action shooting I recommend either a Win 66 or 73 clone, but there again a Marlin works well. I do have several '94 Winchester's, yes, they shoot ok but don't handle pistol caliber cartridges well, and are more difficult to smooth up.