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Sim G wrote:

bradaz11 wrote:best thing you can do before you shoot it is sit with it for a night, and just constantly rack it open and closed. this should lighten the action a bit and bed everything in, making it all a bit smoother

/\ This!

We have a club Rossi in stainless. In the last three years it’s done close to 25000 rounds and not one breakage. It really is smother than any 92 action I’ve come across.

Thank you for this advice,

Dahonis wrote:

Sim G wrote:

bradaz11 wrote:best thing you can do before you shoot it is sit with it for a night, and just constantly rack it open and closed. this should lighten the action a bit and bed everything in, making it all a bit smoother

/\ This!

We have a club Rossi in stainless. In the last three years it’s done close to 25000 rounds and not one breakage. It really is smother than any 92 action I’ve come across.

Thank you for this advice,

I did the same with my new Uberti, and I also had some primer/powderless 'dummy' rounds made up so as to load through the gate, and then eject out when racking the lever.

What barrel length is it?

My mate had to take the mag tube spring out of his wife's s/s Rossi 92 and shorten it. His wife's was a 20" barrel, and it seems Rossi only make one length spring (for the 24" barrel rifles) so on the shorter mag tubes, it can get a bit hard getting the last rounds in the gate.

Terrible photo - some daft filter applied by my phone - but Father Christmas brought me a Henry Big Boy Steel in .357

It's as lovely as a lovely thing dipped in lovely...smooth, incredibly well made, great sight picture and feels like a gun that you don't want to get rid of ever.

Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but will do as soon as we're back to normality :)

I think you can't go wrong with a uberti underlever
Very well made and great to shoot

I love Uberti replicas, but the Henry Big Boys are exceptionally well fitted and finished!

Sim G wrote:I love Uberti replicas, but the Henry Big Boys are exceptionally well fitted and finished!

I just can't get round the no load gate, it's the main reason my super short big boy doesn't get much use (the mares leg in 357 with a stock whacked on)

last time I shot it, I was just loading thru the ejection port.

bradaz11 wrote:
I just can't get round the no load gate.

This. If they add a loading gate I'd consider purchasing one, not a chance at the moment.

bradaz11 wrote:

Sim G wrote:I love Uberti replicas, but the Henry Big Boys are exceptionally well fitted and finished!

I just can't get round the no load gate, it's the main reason my super short big boy doesn't get much use (the mares leg in 357 with a stock whacked on)

last time I shot it, I was just loading thru the ejection port.

Yep, I’m in agreement with you and CDM5. I reality, it doesn’t make that much difference. And I obviously hold prejudices as I have a number of .22 Marlins that are tube loaded and an 1894 in .32 H&R which is also tube loaded and no gate!

Is your super short Big Boy “brass” or steel framed?

bradaz11 wrote:I just can't get round the no load gate

It’s horses for courses - if it’s for cowboy action or some form of practical usage where you might need to top up a round under a pressure situation, a loading gate is definitely better.

If it’s for range use where you’re never going to need to reload under time pressure, the tube load is no issue. It’s easier on the thumbs and is at least as quick to load a full tube :)

Luckily there is no right or wrong answer. I played with every available rifle before going for mine and for me it was the best option.

[quote="Sim G"

Yep, I’m in agreement with you and CDM5. I reality, it doesn’t make that much difference. And I obviously hold prejudices as I have a number of .22 Marlins that are tube loaded and an 1894 in .32 H&R which is also tube loaded and no gate!

Is your super short Big Boy “brass” or steel framed?[/quote]

It's brass

Kungfugerbil wrote:

bradaz11 wrote:I just can't get round the no load gate

It’s horses for courses - if it’s for cowboy action or some form of practical usage where you might need to top up a round under a pressure situation, a loading gate is definitely better.

If it’s for range use where you’re never going to need to reload under time pressure, the tube load is no issue. It’s easier on the thumbs and is at least as quick to load a full tube :)

Luckily there is no right or wrong answer. I played with every available rifle before going for mine and for me it was the best option.

I find it ungainly, you have to bring the rifle back in, hold at an awkward angle, drop more rounds in, replace the tube, then get settled again. completely breaks the rhythm. I much prefer being able to just drop the butt down and push in a few more rounds and continue.