Henry 44 steel rifling

USMC Vet · July 26, 2015, 04:53 PM

I am mulling over the idea of buying a Henry steel in 44 mag, and am looking for some first hand knowledge on the Henry rifling. At my LGS a few weeks ago, I examined a 44 steel model. It looked to me as if it had micro groove rifling. I personally have never had much luck shooting lead out of micro groove barrels, and it is causing me to shy away from it. Anyone know for sure ? Has anyone had good luck with lead in the Henry.
thx for your help.
USMC Vet

mikejonestkd · July 26, 2015, 08:59 PM

The Henry big boy 44 MAG has a 6 groove barrel. I am assuming that the Steel model should be the same. You should be fine with harder lead bullets.

Hope this helps

Dr. A · July 29, 2015, 04:24 PM

Only marlin had microgroove barrels. The current crop of Marlins in 1894 and 1895 all have ballard rifling. I do not know that Henry has Ballard rifling, but I do know for sure it does not have a microgroove barrel. I've heard mostly good things about the Henry.

FrankenMauser · July 29, 2015, 11:43 PM

Standard ("Ballard") specs* for .44 caliber barrels only call for grooves that are nominally 0.0025" to 0.003" deep. MicroGroove specs* call for grooves that are nominally 0.0015-0.002" deep.
It is very difficult, with the naked eye, to tell the difference between 'Ballard' rifling and 'MicroGroove' rifling. ....Because there isn't much.
*(I refer not so much to SAAMI specifications, but what actually gets produced by firearms and barrel manufacturers.)

The problems presented by Marlin's MicroGroove rifling aren't really related to groove depth being "too shallow", either. It's the fact that bore diameter is often within 0.001" of standard bullet diameter, or OVER bullet diameter.

Regardless... Henry does not use MicroGroove barrels. For that matter, neither does Marlin (and hasn't, with any center-fire cartridges, since 1998).

Typical bore and groove diameters, just for reference:
MicroGroove: 0.428" bore / 0.430" groove (or, with Marlin model 444s, 0.429-0.430" bore / 0.4315-0.432" groove).
Ballard: 0.424-0.426" bore / 0.429-0.430" groove.
Cheaper barrels (such as on H&R 1871, Rossi, and Taurus rifles) can be anywhere within either range. I know of at least two .444 Marlin H&R Handi-Rifles that are "Ballard" rifled but slug at 0.430" bore / 0.432" groove. So nearly nothing commercially manufactured will engage the rifling in any useful way. Bullets from those barrels show substantial and clear evidence of "skidding" across the rifling.

So, what I ended up doing there, with my unplanned babbling, was point out that you should forget about 'MicroGroove vs Ballard' and just buy quality. Henry qualifies.

Jim Watson · July 30, 2015, 10:01 AM

Thanks for putting "Ballard" in quotes, what a grammar site calls Scare Quotes, added to indicate doubt or use of a euphemism for a less complimentary term.

I have read and looked and asked around and have not been able to determine what rifling plan real Ballard rifles had.
I conclude that Ballard Rifling is a term of advertising art by Marlin to mean "not Microgroove."

July 26, 2015, 04:53 PM	#1
USMC Vet Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: S.E. New Hampshire Posts: 30	Henry 44 steel rifling I am mulling over the idea of buying a Henry steel in 44 mag, and am looking for some first hand knowledge on the Henry rifling. At my LGS a few weeks ago, I examined a 44 steel model. It looked to me as if it had micro groove rifling. I personally have never had much luck shooting lead out of micro groove barrels, and it is causing me to shy away from it. Anyone know for sure ? Has anyone had good luck with lead in the Henry. thx for your help. USMC Vet

July 26, 2015, 08:59 PM	#2
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,717	The Henry big boy 44 MAG has a 6 groove barrel. I am assuming that the Steel model should be the same. You should be fine with harder lead bullets. Hope this helps __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. Last edited by mikejonestkd; July 26, 2015 at 09:06 PM.

July 29, 2015, 11:43 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Standard ("Ballard") specs* for .44 caliber barrels only call for grooves that are nominally 0.0025" to 0.003" deep. MicroGroove specs* call for grooves that are nominally 0.0015-0.002" deep. It is very difficult, with the naked eye, to tell the difference between 'Ballard' rifling and 'MicroGroove' rifling. ....Because there isn't much. (I refer not so much to SAAMI specifications, but what actually gets produced* by firearms and barrel manufacturers.) The problems presented by Marlin's MicroGroove rifling aren't really related to groove depth being "too shallow", either. It's the fact that bore diameter is often within 0.001" of standard bullet diameter, or OVER bullet diameter. Regardless... Henry does not use MicroGroove barrels. For that matter, neither does Marlin (and hasn't, with any center-fire cartridges, since 1998). Typical bore and groove diameters, just for reference: MicroGroove: 0.428" bore / 0.430" groove (or, with Marlin model 444s, 0.429-0.430" bore / 0.4315-0.432" groove). Ballard: 0.424-0.426" bore / 0.429-0.430" groove. Cheaper barrels (such as on H&R 1871, Rossi, and Taurus rifles) can be anywhere within either range. I know of at least two .444 Marlin H&R Handi-Rifles that are "Ballard" rifled but slug at 0.430" bore / 0.432" groove. So nearly nothing commercially manufactured will engage the rifling in any useful way. Bullets from those barrels show substantial and clear evidence of "skidding" across the rifling. So, what I ended up doing there, with my unplanned babbling, was point out that you should forget about 'MicroGroove vs Ballard' and just buy quality. Henry qualifies. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

July 29, 2015, 04:24 PM	#3
Dr. A Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2007 Location: Salina, KS. Posts: 215	Only marlin had microgroove barrels. The current crop of Marlins in 1894 and 1895 all have ballard rifling. I do not know that Henry has Ballard rifling, but I do know for sure it does not have a microgroove barrel. I've heard mostly good things about the Henry.

July 30, 2015, 10:01 AM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Thanks for putting "Ballard" in quotes, what a grammar site calls Scare Quotes, added to indicate doubt or use of a euphemism for a less complimentary term. I have read and looked and asked around and have not been able to determine what rifling plan real Ballard rifles had. I conclude that Ballard Rifling is a term of advertising art by Marlin to mean "not Microgroove."