Henry Big Boy X

What Makes the Big Boy X Different

The standard Henry Big Boy is a traditional lever-action with a brass or blued receiver, walnut furniture, and tube-loading from the front. The Big Boy X replaces all of that with a matte black receiver, synthetic stock with a rubber buttpad, a free-float M-LOK forend for accessory mounting (lights, lasers, bipods), a side loading gate for individual-round loading, and a threaded barrel (5/8x24 on .44 Mag and .45 Colt, 5/8x24 or 1/2x28 depending on caliber). It’s the Big Boy designed for practical use rather than display.

Suppressed Lever-Action Shooting

The Big Boy X’s factory threaded barrel makes it one of the best suppressor hosts in the lever-action market. A lever-action produces zero gas blowback to the shooter (unlike suppressed semi-autos), and .38 Special subsonic through a .357 Mag Big Boy X or .44 Special subsonic through a .44 Mag Big Boy X with a quality pistol-caliber suppressor is genuinely hearing-safe. This is one of the quietest and most enjoyable suppressed centerfire setups you can build.

Caliber Options: .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt

The .357 Magnum Big Boy X fires both .357 Magnum and .38 Special — the most versatile and most popular configuration. The .44 Magnum fires both .44 Magnum and .44 Special for more power on larger game. The .45 Colt is the cowboy-caliber option that also works in the Taurus Judge ecosystem. All three also fire their milder parent cartridge (.38 Special, .44 Special, .45 Colt standard loads) for cheaper range practice.

M-LOK Forend and Accessory Mounting

The synthetic M-LOK forend accepts standard M-LOK accessories: weapon lights, laser modules, hand stops, and bipod mounts. This turns the lever-action into a practical home-defense or night-hunting tool with illumination capability — something traditional wood-furniture lever guns don’t offer without aftermarket modifications.

Side Loading Gate

The Big Boy X includes Henry’s side loading gate (in addition to the traditional front tube loading), allowing you to top off the magazine one round at a time through the receiver — the same loading method used on Winchester and Marlin lever-actions. This is a significant practical advantage for tactical and defensive use where reloading under stress needs to be intuitive.

Big Boy X vs. Big Boy Steel vs. Big Boy Side Gate

The Big Boy Steel is the blued-steel traditional version (no threaded barrel, no M-LOK). The Big Boy Side Gate adds the loading gate to the traditional platform. The Big Boy X adds the threaded barrel, M-LOK forend, and synthetic furniture on top of the side gate. If you want a suppressor host or a modern tactical lever-action, the X is the right model. If you want traditional aesthetics with the side gate convenience, the Side Gate is the choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What barrel thread is the Big Boy X?
5/8x24 on .44 Magnum and .45 Colt models. Check the specific model listing for .357 Magnum threading, which may vary.

Can I suppress the Big Boy X?
Yes — the factory threaded barrel is specifically designed for suppressor use. Pair with a pistol-caliber suppressor and subsonic loads for the best experience.

Does the Big Boy X have a side loading gate?
Yes — both side gate and traditional front tube loading.

What capacity does the Big Boy X hold?
Varies by caliber — typically 7 rounds of .357 Magnum, 5 rounds of .44 Magnum, or 5 rounds of .45 Colt in the tubular magazine.

See Also: Henry • Henry Big Boy • .357 Lever-Action Rifles • .44 Mag Lever-Action Rifles • Lever-Action Rifles • Suppressors