Been using a Marlin 336 or Winchester 94 my entire life for deer hunting. This winter I'm doing a Texas ranch hunt for Trophy whitetail. The big ones. So I pulled the trigger on this Henry .308 lever action. I've never owned a Henry before, but wanted to stay with a lever action. Almost went with the Browning BLR, but found out they're made in Japan, however the Henry is American made. $780 on GunBroker.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/794296203
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The 308 is all the power you'll need to hunt in Texas. I'd suggest looking at the Remington 150gr Core-Lok for factory ammo. It might surprise you how good the rifle can shoot. Normally when someone comes to Texas for "trophy" deer you're talking about South Texas. Ranges will be long-300-800 yds vs the Texas Hill Country at 50-200 yds. North of hwy 90 the deer are little. South of hiway 90 the deer will be larger and have different looking horns. So if you are looking for a guide service, South Texas is where you want to be come hunting season. I'd suggest putting as much scope on that lever gun as you can afford due to the ranges you'll be shooting. Hope the rifle is all you want in a rifle. WE had a guy come down about 10 years with an open sighted 94 Winchester 30-30. A couple of the guys asked what he intended to do with that pop gun. He dropped one deer at about 600 yds, one shot. The other was a major trophy at 300 yds, one shot. Seemed to make the old time statement "Beware a man that shoots only one gun", true. He's either mighty good with the old Winchester or has incredible luck shooting. Best of luck with the new shooter.
Looks to be a very nice rifle! 8) I have been toying with the idea of getting a 308 rifle, possibly an AR. All the rage has been with the 6.5's lately. But I have two 30'06 rifles that are good to go.
I'll have to see how the CSP pistol I have on order works out, Chuck is waiting on the cast frames to come in. That has my coins tied up for that procurement... ::)
I own several Henry rifles they are fantastic guns by a top level customer service company.
I do own the Lone Ranger but know two guys who do and those guns really shoot well and have nice wood on them as well.
I think you will be satisfied with that rifle and the cartridge is iconic.
Congratulations! That's one that is on my short list. I have a .44 Mag Henry for a close up woods gun. It shoots sub moa with a couple of factory loads. I hope yours does as well. Looking forward to a review.
I have the Browning BLR 308. It is a great rifle. My dad bought it around 1998 or so. Shot a box of ammo through it and it became a safe queen. I tried to convince him to sell it to me for about 15 years before he finally gave in. So I've had it close to 6 years now. I take it out and shoot it a couple of times a year. The first fall I had I shot a deer with it. But its to pretty for the thick woods of Otter Tail County, MN. I really like the Federal Fusion 150 grain for deer hunting.
If I remember correctly the Henry bolt is near identical to the Browning. If your a reloader, the Browning does not like NATO brass. I don't know about the Henry but something to keep in mind. I had issues with getting the lever all the way closed. It was at that point I started to separate brass. Now the NATO brass gets set aside for the bolt gun.
I doubt you will be disappointed with the Henry. I have been toying with the idea of either a 243 or 270 lever gun. I think this one would be a Henry.
If any of you are hunting in Ohio, or anywhere that requires straight wall cartridges, check out the .350 Legend. 1.71" case, and out grunts a 30-30.
The 150gr Win Deer Season XP rated at 2325 fps and has recoil comparable to a 223. It uses 21 grains of powder. I'm usually a proponent for huge, teeth rattling beasts, but this looks fun. Its aimed at shots under 250 yards, and is targeted to those states with straight wall limits.
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Looks like a slightly lengthened, rimless, .357 Maximum.
Plus one on using remington core lockt. Especially if they make 308 with the roundnose like 270.
That said, an alternative that I have started using almost exclusively is Winchester's newish deer season xp. Only been out a few years but all 5 I have hit with it absolutely anchored right where they stood.
As for the 350 legend I wonder how that compares to 45 raptor?
Just did some poking about ballistic details for beowulf 45 raptor and 350 legend.
Beowulf out did 350 legend @200yds by about 100ft lb with a 25gr lighter round.
45 raptor handily put 350 legend in it's place @ 200yds.
Guess it's normal marketing fluff to claim fastest or strongest straight wall when it's clearly not.
I also didn't lookup the 500 bighorn armory did recently either in 500sw or 500 automax.
Also I think Wilson combat dropped a hybrid ar-10/ar-15 with some round that was supposed to handily out do 458 socom but I can't recall the name.
It's a ballistic twin of the 35 Remington 150 gr load
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Did some more nosing. A 460 SW Magnum out does the 350 legen with only a 8.3" barrel :o
I rebarreled a Savage 10fc to a 45 Raptor and she's a beast in her own. Pet load is a 200gr Barnes a bit over 2900fps with a 3" drop from 100 to 200yds. With a Ross brake shes a absolute pussycat to shoot.
The 350 will have a place, LGS here has Ruger doing a run of RAR's and Hornady suppose to be making the ammo, last timeline I heard was late April.
Quote from: AlinMi on March 02 2019 06:57:54 AM MST
I rebarreled a Savage 10fc to a 45 Raptor and she's a beast in her own. Pet load is a 200gr Barnes a bit over 2900fps with a 3" drop from 100 to 200yds. With a Ross brake shes a absolute pussycat to shoot.
This has been on my list to do, but I cant decide whether to do it on a 700 action or Savage action.
Quote from: Bruno747 on March 02 2019 02:37:38 AM MST
Did some more nosing. A 460 SW Magnum out does the 350 legen with only a 8.3" barrel :o
While I love love love the 460 , the 350 Legend is being talked up as a soft shooter. They directly compare recoil to a 223.
Quote from: Overkill338 on March 04 2019 09:00:12 AM MST
Quote from: Bruno747 on March 02 2019 02:37:38 AM MST
Did some more nosing. A 460 SW Magnum out does the 350 legen with only a 8.3" barrel :o
While I love love love the 460 , the 350 Legend is being talked up as a soft shooter. They directly compare recoil to a 223.
It wont be anything like a 460, which can be nearly 4 times that of 223, the 350 Legend will be 28% more recoil in the 150 grain, 2325fps deer load than typical 55 grain ball ammo in 223/5.56.
Quote from: Overkill338 on March 04 2019 09:00:12 AM MST
Quote from: Bruno747 on March 02 2019 02:37:38 AM MST
Did some more nosing. A 460 SW Magnum out does the 350 legen with only a 8.3" barrel :o
While I love love love the 460 , the 350 Legend is being talked up as a soft shooter. They directly compare recoil to a 223.
I haven't seen them compare recoil to a 223. I have seen penetration compared with 223. I have seen them state its less recoil than 450 bushmaster and then if you open the graphic it also shows 30-30. Both a different world from 223.
Winchester also directly states its the "fastest straight-walled hunting cartridge" From their FAQ
If 350 Legend really the "fastest straight-walled hunting cartridge"?
Yes, the 350 Legend is the fastest SAAMI-approved straight-walled hunting cartridge for use in states that have specific regulations for deer hunting with straight-walled centerfire cartridges. Those states include, but may not be limited to: Michigan, Ohio, Iowa and Indiana.
This statement is patently false. They are trying to hide behind "SAAMI approved" and "Hunting Cartridge" to keep that statement. Yes they also have a typo on the Winchester site. It really starts If 305 legend.
Quote from: Bruno747 on March 08 2019 07:05:02 PM MST
Quote from: Overkill338 on March 04 2019 09:00:12 AM MST
Quote from: Bruno747 on March 02 2019 02:37:38 AM MST
Did some more nosing. A 460 SW Magnum out does the 350 legen with only a 8.3" barrel :o
While I love love love the 460 , the 350 Legend is being talked up as a soft shooter. They directly compare recoil to a 223.
I haven't seen them compare recoil to a 223. I have seen penetration compared with 223. I have seen them state its less recoil than 450 bushmaster and then if you open the graphic it also shows 30-30. Both a different world from 223.
Winchester also directly states its the "fastest straight-walled hunting cartridge" From their FAQ
If 350 Legend really the "fastest straight-walled hunting cartridge"?
Yes, the 350 Legend is the fastest SAAMI-approved straight-walled hunting cartridge for use in states that have specific regulations for deer hunting with straight-walled centerfire cartridges. Those states include, but may not be limited to: Michigan, Ohio, Iowa and Indiana.
This statement is patently false. They are trying to hide behind "SAAMI approved" and "Hunting Cartridge" to keep that statement. Yes they also have a typo on the Winchester site. It really starts If 305 legend.
Well it's at least false to list Indiana here, it's been a LONG time since there was a straightwall requirement, and the length requirement went out the door a number of years ago...we can shoot real rifle rounds here now...
That is interesting to learn about Indiana. I grew up there and at that time rifles were not allowed. Shotgun and muzzle loader were your gunpowder driven options.
Quote from: Bruno747 on March 08 2019 07:05:02 PM MST
Quote from: Overkill338 on March 04 2019 09:00:12 AM MST
Quote from: Bruno747 on March 02 2019 02:37:38 AM MST
Did some more nosing. A 460 SW Magnum out does the 350 legen with only a 8.3" barrel :o
While I love love love the 460 , the 350 Legend is being talked up as a soft shooter. They directly compare recoil to a 223.
I haven't seen them compare recoil to a 223. I have seen penetration compared with 223. I have seen them state its less recoil than 450 bushmaster and then if you open the graphic it also shows 30-30. Both a different world from 223.
Winchester also directly states its the "fastest straight-walled hunting cartridge" From their FAQ
If 350 Legend really the "fastest straight-walled hunting cartridge"?
Yes, the 350 Legend is the fastest SAAMI-approved straight-walled hunting cartridge for use in states that have specific regulations for deer hunting with straight-walled centerfire cartridges. Those states include, but may not be limited to: Michigan, Ohio, Iowa and Indiana.
This statement is patently false. They are trying to hide behind "SAAMI approved" and "Hunting Cartridge" to keep that statement. Yes they also have a typo on the Winchester site. It really starts If 305 legend.
Here is where I seen it https://www.range365.com/winchester-350-legend-birth-legend "recoil only slightly more than a 223".
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Sorta flugly but Ruger beat Winnie to market with their own round.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/810729736
I just loaded 200 rounds of 460 360 Grain WFN GC over a good dose of H4227. Wow that is some Hp right there. In the light weight Encore rifle it about wants to jar your teeth loose. Not so bad in my 7.5" Smith because of brake. Still gets your attention.
I looked the Henry 308 the other day nice wood just not sure about forend grip shape. But the reports are coming back positive on the accuracy. Reloading the Browning always took small base dies I wonder if this will too?