Henry Big Boy

Ammunition Selection

If you are unsure of the caliber rifle you have, we suggest that you read the rollmark on the barrel to identify the caliber.

ALWAYS USE THE CORRECT AMMUNITION FOR YOUR PARTICULAR FIREARM.

Henry Repeating Arms Firearms are designed to function with a variety of brands and types of factory manufactured ammunition in the appropriate caliber, but not all ammunition produces the same result. Be sure the only ammunition you carry correctly matches the gauge or caliber you are shooting. Never use non-standard, reloaded, or “hand-loaded” ammunition which has not been subjected to internal ballistic pressure testing. Henry RAC recommends that after you read and understand this manual, you go to the range and fire different ammunition which is appropriate to the caliber of your firearm. Once you find the ammunition which functions best, keep using it.

Transfer Bar Safety

This firearm is designed with an ultra-safe patented Transfer Bar Safety Mechanism. This safety system prevents the gun from being fired under all circumstances, except when the hammer is fully cocked and the trigger is pulled. If the hammer is fully cocked and the trigger is pulled, the gun would fire as normal. However, if the hammer is fully cocked and is accidentally dislodged by some other means other than the trigger being pulled, the gun will not fire. If the hammer is in the process of being cocked and is accidentally released and dropped into the fired down position, before it is fully cocked, the gun will not fire. This rifle can be safely carried fully loaded with the hammer in the fired down resting position. Please note that this rifle does not have a half cock safety position nor a crossbolt safety. If you do not have a full understanding of how the safety system works, please call us immediately at 201-858-4400 and ask for technical assistance.

Maintenance Before Use

Before using your firearm for the first time, it should be cleaned. (See the cleaning instructions.) Your firearm was treated at the factory with either a preservative or oil to protect it against corrosion during shipping and storage. Preservative and oil should be wiped from the bore, chamber and exposed areas using a clean swab or patch before using the firearm.

Purchase cleaning supplies that are specifically designated for your type and caliber of firearm. Many suppliers offer these in kit form for your convenience. Follow the instructions provided. Whenever your firearm has been exposed to sand, dust, extreme humidity, water or other adverse conditions, it should be cleaned and lubricated.

Prior to Loading

Prior to loading your rifle, make certain that it is not already loaded. Point the muzzle in a safe direction, swing the lever down, and pull it back. If a cartridge ejects, proceed with directions on how to unload the magazine tube and empty the chamber. We recommend that you always load a completely unloaded firearm, and clear the firearm of any cartridges prior to loading. Assuming that you are now operating an unloaded firearm, make certain that the barrel, receiver and chamber are free from any obstruction.

Loading/Unloading Cautions

ALWAYS BE SURE BARREL, BORE, CHAMBER, AND ACTION ARE CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS

Clean a fouled firearm immediately so that it will function correctly and safely.

ALWAYS USE ONLY CLEAN, DRY, HIGH-QUALITY, COMMERCIALLY MANUFACTURED AMMUNITION IN GOOD CONDITION AND APPROPRIATE TO THE CALIBER OF YOUR FIREARM.

Gun and ammunition manufacturers design their products within exacting engineering safety limits. Handloads and remanufactured ammunition are sometimes outside those limits and could blow up the chamber, bolt and receiver of any firearm and cause injury, death or damage to property.

How to Load

This rifle is a tubular feed design, using a brass inner magazine tube. Cartridges are loaded into the cutout in the blued outer magazine tube located underneath the barrel. Important – when loading the action must be closed with the hammer in the uncocked position (fired down position). Rotate the inner magazine tube to disengage. Pull the inner magazine tube out until the follower (the black part at the end of the inner magazine tube) clears the loading port in the outer magazine tube. You can either remove the brass inner magazine tube completely or keep it positioned in the outer magazine tube just past the loading port. With the muzzle pointed upward, insert the rimmed end of the cartridges into the loading port in the outer magazine tube and allow them to slide down towards the action. Next, push the inner magazine tube back down into position, and lock it into place. The rifle is now ready for operation.

DO NOT EXCEED THE CAPACITY OF THE MAGAZINE

How to Operate

The rifle chamber can now be loaded by swinging the lever down completely, and pulling it back into a closed position. The hammer has been moved into the cocked position and the rifle is now ready to fire. If you are not yet ready to fire, then place your thumb on the hammer, and disengage the hammer by pulling the trigger slightly rearward. Immediately release the trigger while still holding the hammer, and bring the hammer into the fired down position. You now have the gun in loaded but safe to carry position. If you want to fire the gun, bring the hammer back to the cocked position, aim in a safe direction at your target, and pull the trigger.

How to Unload

To unload the magazine and chamber, the hammer should be resting in the fired down position. With the rifle pointing upward, withdraw the inner magazine tube. Tip the gun downward, allowing cartridges to slide out into a container. Before replacing the inner magazine tube, always check it to be certain that no cartridges are stuck in the magazine tube. Open the action again, by cycling the lever, to make certain that there are no cartridges in the chamber. Cycle the action multiple times to insure that no live rounds remain in the chamber.

Sights and Sight Adjustments (Sighted Models)

High or Low (Elevation Adjustment)

Your rifle is equipped with a fully adjustable rear sight. Adjust the rear sight to shoot higher or lower, as well as to adjust for windage (left and right). Your rifle can be adjusted to shoot higher by moving the rear sight elevator.

In order to shoot lower, the elevator should be moved away from you.

There is a secondary adjustment in the white diamond insert of the rear sight. Loosen the screw to the right of the white diamond, raise or lower as needed to correct elevation, then re-tighten the screw. To adjust your rifle for windage (left & right), you need to tap the rear sight to the left or right as desired. If you are shooting to the left, you need to move the rear sight to the right and vice versa. A minor adjustment will correct the point of impact.

The base of the rear sight is dove-tailed into a groove on the barrel.

Left or Right (Windage Adjustment)

To make horizontal adjustments, the entire dove-tailed base must be moved right or left in its slot on the barrel. Current models will have a screw on the front of the rear sight assembly. This screw must be loosened, prior to attempting adjustment. To do this, carefully use a brass or nylon punch, slightly pointed but having a blunt tip appropriate in size to properly engage the left or right end of the sight base where it slides in the groove on the barrel. Gently tap the punch with a light hammer and be very careful not to mar or damage the receiver or sight base. To help you determine how far you have moved the sight, right or left, a soft pencil can be used. The front edge of the rear sight base comes to a point where it rests on the barrel. At the point of the sight base, lightly make a small mark with a pencil and carry it straight down to make a small adjoining mark. This will show you how far to the right or left ­­you have moved the sight base.

When your adjustments are completed, the pencil marks can easily be wiped off with a lightly-oiled, soft cloth.

All Big Boy rifles are drilled and tapped for easy scope mounting. The rear sight must be removed to see these mounting holes. You can order the mount for your rifle calling us at Henry Pride at 201-455-5554 or visiting our online store www.henrypride.com.

WARNING: REMOVAL AND FAILURE TO RE-INSTALL THE LOCKING BOLT (PART 35) IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

Malfunction Cautions

Failure to fire: IF THE FIREARM FAILS TO FIRE do not put it down or open the action. always HOLD the firearm, KEEPING IT POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION and WAIT 30 SECONDS. If a hangfire (slow ignition) has occurred, the round will fire within 30 seconds.

If the round does not fire, remove the ammunition, eject the round and examine the cartridge. If the firing pin indent on the primer is light or non-existent, have the firearm examined by a competent gunsmith before firing again. If the firing pin indent on the rim appears normal (in comparison with similar previously fired rounds) assume you have faulty ammunition. Segregate the misfired round from other live firearm ammunition and empty cases, reload, and carry on firing.

NOTE: Dispose of misfired rounds in accordance with ammunition manufacturer’s instructions.

Never use your firearm if it fails to function properly, and never force a jammed action. Forcing the action could make the round explode, causing serious injury, possible death, or severe damage to your firearm or other property.

Cleaning Safety Precautions

WARNING: BEFORE PERFORMING CLEANING PROCEDURES, MAKE SURE THE HAMMER IS IN THE FIRED-DOWN POSITION, WHICH ALLOWS YOUR SAFETY TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. OPEN THE ACTION AND MAKE CERTAIN YOUR FIREARM IS COMPLETELY UNLOADED. KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE WARNINGS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

KEEP ALL AMMUNITION AWAY FROM THE CLEANING AREA. NEVER TEST THE MECHANICAL FUNCTION OF YOUR RIFLE WITH LIVE AMMUNITION. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE WARNINGS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

NOTICE! It is very important that the bore of your rifle be cleaned thoroughly and promptly after shooting. Do not leave discharged (empty) cases in the chambers for any length of time, as the chemical composition of many cartridges contain moisture which can “sweat” out of the shell and onto the chambers’ surfaces, and possibly cause corrosion and rust.

How to Clean

WE SUGGEST THAT YOU USE A MILD SOLVENT from a well-known brand. For convenience, compatible cleaning solvents are available on www.henrypride.com.

Regular cleaning is important in order for your gun to operate efficiently and safely. Taking proper care of it will also maintain its value and extend its life.

NOTICE! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TAKE YOUR FIREARM APART FURTHER THAN EXPLAINED IN THIS MANUAL. Your firearm is a specialized, finely fitted mechanism. You may permanently damage it by attempting to disassemble the inner mechanisms. If further disassembly for service or cleaning is required, take your firearm to a qualified gunsmith.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO TAKE YOUR HENRY LEVER ACTION APART TO KEEP IT CLEAN.

IMPORTANT – DO NOT USE AGGRESSIVE SOLVENTS.

Your gun should be cleaned every time it is used. A minimum cleaning includes wiping down the action and oiling key parts. Regular maintenance will also include cleaning the barrel.

For cleaning, we suggest that you first open the action by cycling the lever forward. Inspect the chamber and bore for brass, copper and powder fouling. A normal amount of powder residue can be expected and is not serious. It can usually be removed by the following procedure.

WHENEVER POSSIBLE, CLEAN THE BORE IN THE DIRECTION OF BULLET TRAVEL. When you fire your gun, powder residue is deposited into the barrel bore. Improperly cleaning from muzzle to breech will cause this powder residue to be carried from the bore into the chamber and action, causing fouling of intricate parts and warranting more thorough cleaning by a qualified gunsmith. To properly clean from breech to muzzle, use a pull-though cleaning kit, such as those available on www.henrypride.com.

NOTE: USE A CLEAN PATCH EACH TIME YOU GO DOWN THE BARREL.

NEVER GO BACK AND FORTH REVERSING THE BRUSH. This will bend the bristles on the brush. This is the equivalent of bending a wire back and forth until it breaks.

USE ONLY A FEW DROPS OF SOLVENT/LUBRICANT OIL. Use only the amount of solvent that the patch will absorb. If you use too much, the solvent or oil will drip down into the trigger mechanism; this will cause a gummy trigger. If you use too much oil, it will drain back toward the stock and could cause premature failure of the wood.

NEVER RUN A BRUSH IN THE BARREL FIRST. This will damage the firearm. The brush will pick up dirt, moisture or powder residue and deposit it into the chamber or receiver. Never dip a brush in solvent. The solvent at the brush core will collect dirt and drop it into the receiver and chamber. Remember – Rust is neglect. Make sure all exposed metal surfaces are coated with a film of oil. After being subjected to damp weather, thoroughly wipe the bore and metal surfaces. Then apply a new film of oil. If exposed to a soaking rain, snow or salt spray, a more thorough cleaning and oiling may be necessary.
Wipe the bolt clean of any debris with solvent and a patch or small rag. Lightly oil bolt.

A gun brought out of prolonged storage should also be cleaned before shooting. Accumulated moisture and dirt, or solidified grease and oil, can prevent the gun from operating properly. We recommend the use of pull through cleaning kits or cleaning with a rod type kit. Overtime, depending on the amount of use and how it is stored, we do recommend that you take your Henry to a gunsmith to have it inspected at which time it can also be cleaned more thoroughly.

Maintenance Before Storage

When storing your firearm, do not encase it in anything that will attract or hold moisture, for example, leather or heavy cloth. Also, do not store firearms with a plug inserted in the barrel because this can be a contributing factor to moisture accumulation.

If your firearm is to be stored for an extended period, the bore, chamber and internal surfaces should be oiled with a high-quality lubricating oil or preservative intended for firearms. The external parts; receiver, bolt and barrel should be coated with an anti-rust oil.

Before using your firearm again, be sure to clean it. Every time you clean your firearm, check it for signs of wear. If wear is noted, do not use the firearm, have it checked by a qualified gunsmith.

Make sure your firearm is in good mechanical condition before firing it. Periodically have your firearm checked for signs of erosion, cracking, or wear by the factory or a factory certified gunsmith.

Storage Safety and Precautions

NEVER LOCK A LOADED FIREARM AND NEVER LOAD A LOCKED FIREARM!

ALWAYS CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOUR FIREARM IS NOT LOADED BEFORE CLEANING, STORING, TRANSPORTING IT, LAYING IT DOWN, OR HANDING IT TO ANOTHER PERSON so that it cannot be fired when it is unsafe to do so.

ALWAYS KEEP AND STORE YOUR FIREARM AND AMMUNITION IN SEPARATE, LOCKED LOCATIONS, OUT OF REACH AND SIGHT OF CHILDREN AND UNTRAINED PERSONS. Safe and secure storage of your firearm and ammunition are your responsibility.

NEVER LEAVE THE KEY TO THE LOCK FOR YOUR FIREARM WITH THE STORED FIREARM!

NEVER ASSUME THAT A “HIDING” PLACE IS A SECURE STORAGE METHOD.  Others may be aware of your storage location or come upon it by chance. It is your personal responsibility to use common sense when storing your firearm and ammunition and to always make sure they are not accessible to children or other unauthorized persons.

NOTE: Do not store your firearm in an air-tight container, and do not seal or attempt to seal the barrel to exclude dust, as the internal steel surface is more likely to rust or corrode by doing this.

BEWARE OF BARREL OBSTRUCTIONS. Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before shooting. Mud, water, snow or other objects may inadvertently lodge in the barrel bore. A small obstruction can cause a dangerous increase in pressure and may damage your firearm and cause injury to yourself and others.

BEFORE CHECKING FOR A BARREL OBSTRUCTION, BE CERTAIN YOUR FIREARM IS COMPLETELY UNLOADED. After assuring yourself that the firearm is completely unloaded, open the action and look through the barrel to be sure it is clear of obstructions. If an obstruction is seen, no matter how small it may be, clean the bore with a cleaning cord or a patch as described in the CLEANING section of this owner’s manual.

BE SURE ALL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS SLINGS, SCOPES AND OTHER ACCESSORIES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR PARTICULAR FIREARM AND THAT THE ACCESSORIES DO NOT INTERFERE WITH ITS SAFE OPERATION.

It is your responsibility to understand and follow all of the instructions in the safety manual that accompanied your firearm, as well as those which may be supplied with your ammunition and any accessory.

NEVER DISASSEMBLE YOUR FIREARM BEYOND THE FIELD STRIPPING PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THIS MANUAL. Improper disassembly or reassembly of your firearm may be dangerous and can lead to serious injury or death.

NEVER MANIPULATE, ADJUST OR CHANGE ANY OF THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF YOUR FIREARM UNLESS SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED TO DO SO IN THIS MANUAL.  Improper manipulation of any other internal component may affect the safety and reliability of your firearm and may cause serious injury or death.

NEVER ALLOW ANY ALTERATION OR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS IN YOUR FIREARM UNLESS PERFORMED BY A QUALIFIED GUNSMITH USING AUTHORIZED PARTS. If you do otherwise, improper functioning of your firearm may occur and serious injury or death and damage to property may result.

List of Parts (H006)

List of Parts (H012)