Henry Big Boy

The Henry Big Boy is Henry’s centerfire lever action rifle family — chambered in .357 Magnum/.38 Special, .44 Magnum/.44 Special, and .45 Colt in the classic American lever action format with American walnut stocks, polished blued receivers, and Henry’s tube magazine that loads from the front rather than a loading gate. Available in the classic Big Boy, the tactical Big Boy X with M-LOK handguard and threaded barrel, and the Big Boy Deadeye with revolver-style adjustable rear sights, the Big Boy family covers every application from traditional hunting and cowboy action shooting to modern tactical lever gun builds.

Read our full Henry Big Boy Buying Guide ↓

Caliber Guide: .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .45 Colt

.357 Magnum is the most practical Big Boy caliber for most buyers — it also fires .38 Special for economical practice, produces manageable recoil from the rifle format, and delivers meaningful terminal performance on deer-size game at distances within the lever action’s practical range. From a 20” rifle barrel, .357 Magnum produces approximately 1,800 fps with 158-grain loads — approaching 5.56 NATO energy at typical hunting distances. .44 Magnum steps up for larger game and buyers who want the maximum energy the Big Boy platform delivers. .45 Colt is the classic cowboy action caliber preferred by Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) competitors for its historical authenticity and relatively light recoil at standard pressures. See our .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum ammo pages.

Big Boy X: The Modern Tactical Configuration

The Henry Big Boy X applies modern rifle furniture to the classic Big Boy action — an M-LOK handguard for accessory mounting, a threaded 17.4” barrel for suppressor or muzzle device compatibility, a large loop lever for gloved operation, and fiber optic sights. The Big Boy X in .357 Magnum with a suppressor is one of the most practical hunting and pest control configurations available: subsonic .38 Special loads through a suppressor produce hearing-safe report from a lever action that handles like a traditional rifle. The X’s M-LOK rail accepts lights, foregrips, and other accessories that the classic Big Boy’s wood handguard does not. Since January 1, 2026, the NFA tax stamp has been eliminated.

Big Boy Deadeye: Revolver Sights on a Rifle

The Henry Big Boy Deadeye adds adjustable revolver-style rear sights and a ramp bead front to the classic Big Boy — providing the precise sight adjustment that hunting and long-range lever gun use requires without the cost of a scope mount and optic. The Deadeye’s adjustable rear allows windage and elevation correction for precise zeroing in .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum, calibers where trajectory variation between loads makes a non-adjustable buckhorn sight a compromise. For buyers who want to shoot iron sights precisely at hunting distances: Deadeye.

Pistol Caliber Compatibility: One Caliber, Two Platforms

One of the Big Boy’s most practical advantages is caliber commonality with revolvers — a .357 Magnum Big Boy shares ammunition with a .357 Magnum revolver, simplifying logistics for hunters and ranchers who carry both. The rifle’s longer barrel extracts significantly more velocity from the same cartridge than the revolver, making the combination effectively two different ballistic profiles from one ammunition supply. For buyers who already own a .357 or .44 Magnum revolver: the matching Big Boy is the natural companion rifle. See our revolvers page for matching handgun options.

Henry Quality: Made in America

Every Henry rifle is made in the United States — the Big Boy in Henry’s Wisconsin and New Jersey facilities with the fit and finish standards that have made Henry the most popular American lever action manufacturer. The polished blued barrel and receiver, American walnut stock, and the smooth Henry action are the product of American craftsmanship that no offshore manufacturer replicates at Henry’s price point. Henry’s lifetime warranty and customer service have contributed to a brand loyalty in the lever action market that rivals any firearms manufacturer. See our full Henry brand page and Henry lever action series.