I am looking to buy a lever action in 45 colt and I have narrowed down to the Marlin 1894 or the Henry Big Bore Classic or the Henry Big Boy in steel. I would appreciate any information anyone has on these 3 rifles.

I can’t comment on the specific rifles. But my BIL had a Henry, and it was OLD. He had some problems with it, called customer service. They took his information. Got back with him, and sent him a new rifle!
You can’t beat that kind of customer service.

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Reg. Magnum wants/Rossi wallet

Unless they have changed, I have on objection to the way the Henry loads through a port in the bottom of the magazine tube. OK for rimfire, but not center fire.

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Can my S&W Mdl 10 shoot +P

Marlin 1894 in 45LC with 20/24" octagon barrel.

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S&W Accumulator

I currently have the Marlin Cowboy Special with the 24" Octagon barrel I have had 3 or 4 of the regular 1894's both with Micro-rifling and the Ballard rifling. Lead bullets at normal pistol loadings do just fine in either type of rifling. If you want to shoot jacketed ammo use a regular 1894 (the action will handle anything you stuff in it!) The Cowboy is made for LEAD BULLITS! Mine has never seen a copper jacket.

All later models have the push button safety as well as the original hammer half cock safety. JM knew that some idiots would have trouble figuring it out so (From the factory) there is a set screw to lock the button in the FIRE position. (You could lock it in the safe position, but why?) To access the set screw, you remove the two tang screws (They hold on the butt stock) and you use a small Allen wrench to tighten the set screw in the rear of the frame. This also keeps somebody from messing with your safety button during a competition.

The regular model comes drilled and tapped for scope mounting or Williams receiver sights. There are tang sights available for either model. (I have always just used the standard mid-barrel sight for Cowboy Action Shooting, but have a 32-20 with a tang sight and a 45-70 GG with a red dot scope, both work very well also!)

Marlins cost a little more than Henrys but it is around 2 or 3 percent and well worth it! I'm down to 4 Marlins from a high of 9.I have been buying new and used Marlins since 1980 and had around 30 total, I have been sorry that I sold every one I did! (and made money on all but one that got severely water damaged!)

Ivan

I really,liked my.357 Henry Big Boy. It was nice with a smooth action, drilled and tapped for a scope.But it was not allowed for some competitions I shoot so I got a Uberti 150th anniversary 1866 model in .45 Colt and sold the Big Boy.

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View from down under

Lifelong Marlin fan here. I would look for a nice older 1894, if I were doing the shopping.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I vote Marlin.

I've had 1894's in the past and just like them.

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Henry,

They’ve been making em since 1860.

They know what they’re doing!!

Not quite....................nice thought though

Randy

Neither? I have a new Winchester Model 1892 in .45 Colt, 20 inch octagon barrel. I love it.

Because the Henry uses a tube magazine, you'll want to use only ammo that has a flat or hollow point bullet to avoid having a point hit the primer on the next round.

The threads on this always seem to settle to side gate vs. tube loading.

I bought a .38 /.357 Henry, and am disappointed in the limits on .38 that it will actually handle well. The promotion displays and materials did not disclose those limits.

I've not sold it off yet, but will at some point.

I have the golden boy, the big boys on 38.357, 45colt and 44spl/44mag. I don't mind the tube reloading, I have had onw problem with the tube missing a o ring which Henry send to me. the action is smooth. I like them and recommend them. I have found several different loads for the 38 spl. and the 44 mag can be a thumper.

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Carpriver.

Both are fine rifles.I have never had an issue with either

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I really like Marlins. I bought my first 1894 (.44 Magnum) new back in ‘77 (as a companion to my new S&W Model 29-2). Since then I’ve bought several more (to include an 1894 Cowboy .45 Colt) and I won’t part with any of them. I haven’t purchased any Remlins so I can’t tell you about them, I just really enjoy my JM Marlins.

Marlin 357's and 44 Mag 1894's are advertised as shooting 38 and 44 Specials is the guns also. 45 Colt models are not advertised to shoot any other round, but I have used 45 S&W (Schofield) in several of mine. (that will allow you one extra shot in a 10 round magazine and sometimes 2 rounds in a 14 round Magazine). None of these guns will allow the shooting of full wad cutter target ammo (Minimum length problem!) I have tried 38 S&W and 38 Short Colt, but they just jamb the action up. But 38 Long Colt ammo worked in my 357.


Ivan

Sorta depends on what or how you wish to use it.

You will find many more Marlins in the SASS game than Henry Big Bores...Uberti clones of '66 and '73 Winchesters and Marlins dominate that game.

For recreational/occasional use the Henry would be a fine choice. Henry does have a fabulous Customer Service Team in place.

Randy

I don't own either, so take this for what it's worth.

If I were going to get a lever action rifle in .45LC, (which I'd like to someday) then I would sooner opt for the Henry, simply because Henry seems to have a better track record than Marlin in recent years.
However, I'm saying this as someone with no immediate need for such a rifle, ergo I can afford to wait for Henry to introduce a new model chambered in .45LC with a loading gate on the receiver. If for whatever reason I needed on immediately, then I'd probably go for a Marlin, but I would buy one in person and go over it with a fine-tooth comb before buying it to ensure that there were no visible manufacturing defects and that the action could at least cycle dummy rounds without issue.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Either an older Marlin or a new Henry, my 2 cents worth..

With my limited knowledge, I think I'd prefer the Winchester or Browning or perhaps Uberti in a 92 model. Between the 2 you mentioned, probably Marlin. I'm sure Henry's are nice but their loading method turns me off. And from what I've heard/read, Rossi needs work to make them reliable.
Lots of my opinion comes from taking my oldest g-kid to CAS events.

Thanks Randy........Made me chuckle.

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S&W Accumulator

My close friend lives along Filetown Road, Nazareth, PA, within a mile of the original Henry manufacturing site. Most of the Henry workers lived close to the facility and would take parts of the rifles home after work for filing; hence the name of the road became Filetown Road.

I think that Henry is now making a side loading carbine:

The Side Gate Lever Action – a First for Henry | Henry Repeating Arms

But it is only chambered in rifle calibers for now....

I have Japanese made Winchester in .45 Colt, which is beautifully made:


Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

The Henrys are good guns from what I hear but I just don't care for their looks or loading the tube. Marlins are the way to go if you are going to install a scope but I love my Rossi .357. It's lighter and trimmer and reminds me of the old Western movies and its been very reliable and accurate with a nice trigger. Everyone who shoots it seems to come away with a big grin on their face.

I don't have any problem with the "tube" loading method of the Henry rifles. Marlin also has a tube loading method. Same kinds of bullets fit and work well in both. I've had several older Marlins in different calibers, including .357 Mag. I own a Henry Big Boy Steel rifle today in that same caliber, and I really do like it. I preferred the older Marlins without the "safety", but I've had a few with it and it never was any kind of problem for me. I could use it or not, and I could've locked it down but never chose to do so. All I ask for in any firearm is that it works well and shoots well. My Henry does both of those things very well. Since I don't see iron sights anymore, I require a scope or some other kind of sighting device, which I personally don't like to have to put on any kind of lever action rifle. However, I have been toying with the idea of installing a red dot sight on my Henry so that I can use it for longer range shooting than just across the room in my home.

Bottom line is that I'd rather have my Henry rifle than a Marlin made in the past several years! They are well made and the company stands behind their products, and it looks as if the Henry Rifle company is gonna stick around for a long time. My Henry is owned for a specific purpose and I no longer use it for hunting. The red dot would let me take it to the range for just the pleasure of shooting it. Gonna think more seriously about that!

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So long ... Ken

My thoughts exactly. Marlin is owned by Remington now, and I know the rules on bashing, so I will simply say that for personal reasons, I have chosen not to support Remington.

If you cannot find the Marlin you want, I would opt for a new Henry

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

...I bought a new Marlin 1894 a couple of years ago...

...I really like it...

...mine's in 44 Magnum though...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

i have A JM Marlin 44 mag in stainless with crossbolt safety . it is very accurate and seems to shoot any specials or mags i have tried in it though the safety nearly cost me a little 4 point whitetail as he stopped and was looking hard for the sound of the hammer dropping on that darn safety . an experianced ,older , buck probably would not have hung around for recocked shot. i really like the rifle though . a real keeper that i got for a steal.

Marlin for sure.
Just make sure it was built after 2016, ( that's when they really started to get the new ones dialed back in and quality really came back to the product) and as with any new gun, check it out before you buy.
I waited a long time, and looked at all the other brands while waiting for Marlin to get production and quality back, and I am glad I did. It's just a better feeling and pointing rifle over the Henry, feels more balanced. And I just wouldn't want to do without side loading gate or deal with top ejection.
Some will knock me for putting a scout scope on it, but damn if it isnt a handy little carbine set up like this.

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