NRA Gun Of The Week: Henry Big Boy Color Case Hardened Side Gate

by
posted on February 4, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

For this video preview, your NRA’s American Rifleman staff is at the range with a Big Boy from Henry Repeating Arms. Watch the NRA Gun of the Week video above to see this color case-hardened lever-action repeater in use.

man wearing black shirt ballcap and earmuffs shooting lever-action rifle wood metal steel

 

The Big Boy Color Case Hardened Side Gate rifle, available from Henry Repeating Arms, is a pistol-caliber lever-action. Chambering options for this series Big Boy include: .44 Mag/.44 Spl., .45 Colt and .357 Mag/.38 Spl. Henry offers two types of its Big Boy Color Case Hardened Side Gate, either in rifle or carbine lengths, which translates to 20" or 16.5" barrel lengths, respectively. Topping both iterations comes Henry’s take on the semi-buckhorn sighting system with a brass bead front.

hands loading rifle ammunition brass rod steel barrel

Henry built its centerfire rifle reputation off its Big Boy series of lever-actions, and this latest Color Case Hardened Side Gate edition features a steel frame with an exotic-looking finish that is achieved from through a surface-hardening process. The look is classic. In addition, American walnut complements the barreled action, with wraparound checkering on the stock’s wrist and fore-end. Henry supplies a rubber recoil pad, though recoil was found by our testers to be mild, even with the big-bore magnums that were sampled.  

Notable features of this Henry Big Boy are its side loading gate and tubular magazine with removable inner tube. The side gate-loading access allows for a quick top-off of cartridges into the magazine tube. Removing the inner brass tube provides access for loading through the underside cutout. The sample sent for review came chambered for .44 Mag. with standard loop. For those looking for large-loop lever variants will need to look at carbine models.

hands arm ammunition loading rifle gun shooting

 

Henry Repeating Arms Big Boy Color Case Hardened Side Gate Specifications
Manufacturer: Henry Repeating Arms
Action Type: lever-action, centerfire repeating rifle
Chambering: .44 Mag./.44 Spl.
Receiver: color-case-hardened steel
Barrel: 20”, octagonal
Sights: fully adjustable semi-buckhorn rear, brass bead front; drilled-and-tapped
Stock: American walnut
Overall Length: 37.5”
Weight: 7 lbs., 6.6 ozs., unloaded
MSRP: $1,198

Latest

smith & wesson performance center model 19 carry comp moss
smith & wesson performance center model 19 carry comp moss

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 6, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

FEMA Notes Decline In Disaster Preparedness

A recent report from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) noted a decline in local government preparedness for natural disasters, putting increased pressure on individuals to prepare themselves for emergencies.

Army Announces Type Classification Of New Infantry Rifle, Machine Gun

In May 2025, the U.S. Army’s Soldier Lethality Project at the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey announced the official type classification of SIG Sauer’s M7 rifle and M250 automatic rifle, previously known as the XM7 and the XM250, respectively.

RXR22: Savage Arms Redefines The Budget Rimfire Rifle

Savage Arms has a long history of producing affordable and accurate rimfire rifles, but with its RXR22, the company is bringing a new level of affordability and modularity to rimfire rifle fans.

SARCO: A Lifetime Covered Up With Surplus Firearm Parts

When it comes to selling gun parts and gun-related military surplus, Charles “Cholly” Steen has been at it for longer than almost anyone. It all started when, as a 5-year-old, he began stashing odds and ends in the drawers of his clothes dresser.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.