[PhoenixJosh]

Hi all, im a newbie to this site so go easy on me...my question concerns the rifles used in the old west, the Winchester, (seen in pretty much every cowboy movie) and the henry rifle. my question is...which one is better, in terms of accuracy at range and power.

 

[Jeremy]

The Winchester as they say is " the rifle that won the west". The Henry came firstin the early 1860's, chambered in a 44 rimfire round that wasn't the most reliable in damp conditions. Also the lack of a fore stock left the magazine tube open to dents that could cause loading failure. In 1866 winchester came out with a similar rifle as repeating rifles got more popular. The big turning came with the winchester 1873 with that rifle the shot centerfire rounds, a guy could shoot the same round in his rifle and sidearm. They are both about even shooting the same ammo but the name WInchester was most sought after.

 

[Janq]

Jeremy +1

I'm no rifle expert but I do know that the above is dead on accurate/correct.
The Henry was the first repeater rifle to hit the market in a commercial success kind of way. Meanwhile the '73 Winchester is to repeater rifles as the 1911 is to SA pistols.

I've always wanted both and would take either even as a repro.
There is an Italian company that I forget the name of off hand that makes Henry rifles and short barreled carbines availabile in IIRC 45 Long Colt, which will also chamber in a period revolver for Cowboy Action shooters.

- Janq

 

[Janq]

Jeremy +1

I'm no rifle expert but I do know that the above is dead on accurate/correct.
The Henry was the first repeater rifle to hit the market in a commercial success kind of way. Meanwhile the '73 Winchester is to repeater rifles as the 1911 is to SA pistols.

I've always wanted both and would take either even as a repro.
There is an Italian company that I forget the name of off hand that makes Henry rifles and short barreled carbines availabile in IIRC 45 Long Colt, which will also chamber in a period revolver for Cowboy Action shooters.

- Janq

 

[Jeremy]

There are quite a few Italian companies that make the replicas. I think Clint Eastwood gets credit for that since all his westerns made in the 60's and 70's were filmed in Italy. there's got to be close to a dozen manufactures there, with Pietta, Uberti(owned by beretta) EMF, and Cimarron being the biggest names. They all make replica 6 guns in a variety of era cakubers along with 1860 Henry's, 1866 Win Yellowboy and 1873 Win. along with many other rifles from the late 1800's

 

[Adler]

Personally I have always liked the Marlin lever guns better. Sure they came later but I always felt they were a bit stronger and a better value.

The Winchester and Henry are related since Oliver Winchester bought out the company producing henry guns and renamed it after himself. Afterall Oliver Winchester was a clothes maker before and didnt know how to make a gun so he just bought and marketed the company.

 

[Jeremy]

I very much agree that the marlin's felt stronger, they are. The first Marlin rifles were chambered in big calibers like 40-60, 45-70, and even bigger calibers in later years. It took Win. until many years later to do this and even then the guns were week. Marlin's name meant large caliber and realiability. Most people over look Marlin but the Marlin 1893/336 is the oldest cenetrfire rifle design still in production.