Thanks Steve, well presented. Bore snakes are okay for a bore that is pretty clean and doesn't have carbon and copper fouling, but,,,, In my experience, I can run a bore snake through a barrel five times, and when I use a brush and jag afterward remove a whole lot of carbon and other residues. If you have a borescope and you look at the bore after cleaning with a boresnake, you'll probably see a lot of residue that it missed. I use bore snakes as a "field expedient" cleaner, but still give my bores a proper cleaning when I return home
A bore snake with a brass brush fitting helps a lot with the carbon build up. Brass runs through and cracks the cakes while the snake runs it out. Literally on paper and in real life follows the same principles as counterpart brass brush and rod..
If you use a brass cleaning rod and jags then you don't need the guide device. Also, cleaning rods made of aluminum work fine also. The B.S. about brass or aluminum cleaning rods and jags hurting a hardened steel rifle or pistol barrel if you put it through the end of the barrel is just that. B.S. Simply put, soft metals do not hurt hardened steel or iron barrels.
WRONG! I have been working on guns for about 60 years and have witnessed many barrels ruined by improper cleaning (especially the crowns). Actually the bore snake is the worst offender due to the tendency to pull it through the bore on an angle so that it rubs on the side if the barrel. This is especially true for those people who carry the snake in their pocket where it will pick up all sorts of abrasive material which acts like sandpaper.
@@terrykyte1845 I agree with Ranger. I keep hearing about all these soft metals harming hardened steel. I don't get it. People act like they have to treat every gun like it was a stratovarius and only store in a temp controlled room. Please. Use common sense. I remove the bolts and clean from there because I enjoy checking parts for wear, get to clean the bolts and I just enjoy it. I own both the Henry 357mag/38sp big boy golden boy and the Marlin 336 30-30 SS XLR. Do the same for both. I take care of my guns and do what needs to be done with them to keep them tip top. I don't date them
You are debunking (that is a word in vogue these days) a myth...i agree that soft metals don't do much to hard metals, but so many folks insist on being pretty...every firearm we own is subject to abuse, wear and tear, and even a scratch...after every range visit we clean with vigor, because one never knows when the next use might not happen at the range...we try to get the most we can out of every weapon, and if a firearm ever falls apart from too much use we will replace it asap (a s&w probably next to fail in our mini-arsenal)...at the moment every weapon clean, functional, and ready...we do replace parts that we can do ourselves, and have an excellent gunsmith available for repairs we can't handle...
Well that’s a relief! I was super nervous about taking apart my Henry mares leg big boy cause I was afraid of possible not putting it back together properly. Cleaning it without disassemble is my cup of tea. I also have it on 45LC and don’t have much ammo for it so I wound be shooting it very much.
I found an old Sears model 54 at the gun shop last time I was there for powder. I always wanted a 30-30 for hunting here so I put it on layaway. Can't wait to bring it home, need to find dies and bullets and some brass now.
hello Mr. cookie. Another great video of many. I bought my son a used henry 22 Lever action, he loves it we use the Tipton and or gun slick carbon fiber rod
I've always used strong twine/para-cord string longer than my barrel with a tied patch. Then I'll just pull it on home until it's clean enough. Also, using a wooden dowel rod has helped me out in a pinch.
Hello have a couple of questions of the solvents and chemicals you're using to clear your rifle. One is the silicone spray only used in the barrel as a protectant when the rifle is being stored and put away... and two I've heard of the ed's red, do you have a video of how to make the ed's red? Thanks for the informative video and any answers you can provide me, I appreciate it.
Good info, thanks for the video. I just purchased a Henry H001 and was wondering about the cleaning procedure. I'm curious why you use the silicone spray at the end. I usually use a patch with a light coating of butch's gun oil after cleaning. Is there any benefit to using the silicone over regular gun oil? Just curious cause I would consider switching.
It’s almost impossible to run a .22 bore snake through a .22 rifle barrel. I am open to suggestions as what to do. The size smaller is too small so I just run patches down from the barrel down… help!
Today I got one of these beautiful rifles in 357 (and a H001), but once home, discovered it has a grinchy "3 stage"trigger...not at all smooth. In my excitement, the rifle I inspected carefully in the store was the display model, not mine. In your opinion, should I try a strip and clean, or just ship it to Henry? I've heard their customer service is excellent.
Robnord1 - The Henry Big Boys have some of the best triggers ever on lever action rifles. Henry CS is indeed excellent. Since new gun, shipping it to Henry would be the best as if you do strip your gun down and do any buffing or smoothing, might void the warranty (Henry would probably take care of it anyway, but why chance that). My Henry BB extractor fell out and was lost, sent it back and Henry turned it around quick and no charges were made. Best to ya, FC Steve
I would just do a complete internal strip of all the components clean everything including the inside of the receiver with just Hopes #9 cleaning solvent, then blow everything dry with an air compressor and put it back together and shoot it a lot 200 to 300 rounds just clean and re dry it again say every 75 rounds everything will polish up on it's own don't worry guns are extremely hard and won't be damaged, but will smooth right up! once everything is slicked up buy use, add a couple drops of oil to the exterior and barrel to prevent rust.jim
jim maddog Thanks! That is what I do on new handguns, and it almost always results in a reduced/smoother trigger pull. In the case of my new Henry, I shipped it (prepaid by them), got it back in less than 2 weeks, and they did a terrific job.
RapidRobert - A bore snake works very well, but the bolt take out is so easy, cleaning from the breech is simple...just like a Marlin. The split case is actually a cap decoration, but don't wear it on airlines, the gestapos freak out in their ignorance "There's a primer in there...!!" Yes, but it's a fired primer... no matter, you can't take that on the airplane..It was my mistake to expect enlightenment.... .Best to ya, FC
That's hilarious... I was at Cabela's and asked to see the Henry big boy steel... The guy reached for it and said "yeah this one is in 45 Colt... We're out of the 44 and 357s... I was like yeah this is the one I want... He was shocked 😂😂 why? 150 yr old round... If it ain't broke don't fix it lol
Star City FAME - Sorry for the late reply, but whenever Google does not post a comment in my inbox, I won't see it until another comment that is posted leads me here. Thanks for the comment and for the gracious remarks... Best Regards to ya, FC
Good tips, love hearing new things on gun maintenance and cleaning. Thanks for your tips and suggestions. Love the Henry Rifles made in USA. Was told by some cowboy shooters that the Henry is not as reliable in cowboy shooting because of the abuse a rifle will encounter, also the brass starts to get a little thin and wears away. Any thoughts ? I would feel that regular type shooting these rifles would be great. Besides, there too nice looking to bang around in the cowboy world.
+Nick J -- Here's something that you won't hear or see much in explanations... I don't think I've seen it just this way in any other articles I've read. John Browning feed systems in his lever action and 1911 pistol designs are not perfectly in line - the cartridges are brought up by a carrier in the levers and the magazine in the 1911 are not perfectly angled to the barrel - The cartridges need to hit their nose under the chamber and the back ends bounced up in line with the chamber to feed. Marlins and Henry Big Boys have the same bounce idea. JMB designs also include up lugs that engage the bolts offering strength previously no available in lever guns. In addition, the 1894 deign has a compound linkage allowing for a shorter receiver to handle longer rounds. None of these factors allow the fast cycling and smoothness for cowboy action shooting today - shooters using 1892s, 1894s and Marlins can compete in CAS, but are very scarce winners. What wins in CAS are the lifter designs that control the in line feed of cartridges - 1860, 1866, 1873s - mated with the so called toggle link designs can be made glass smooth, short stroke and quick smooth feeding - top shooters can have four empties in the air at once. The knock on these was that more powerful cartridges to deal with the bigger beasties on the Western frontier could not be handled by the weak toggle link - enter JMB. JMB was not trying to design CAS guns - what he gave us were very strong lever designs like the very popular 94 Winchester. But try running that in a CAS event - even the best CAS shooters cannot use that design and compete. Marlins and Henry Big Boys, though smooth, are not as smooth and quick as the 1873s. Don't know how Uberti did it, but they have strengthened the 1873 action enough to chamber in 44 magnum...and JMB wasn't involved with that...!! Best Regards, FC
I use the fiberglass style cleaning rod to avoid the bore damage....but bought some bore snakes to try out on my different lever guns...Sure do like my new Henry 38/357 Carbine, Large loop lever!
+niteriderwm -- Good point... With the Henry, would have to turn rifle on its side, but a small rag jammed under the back end of the barrel also works for that... Have a great day, FC
About $1.75/round now. If you can fine it. I bought the BB Carbine with dual gate in .357. I always start at the breach and I always remove my lever, extractor and bolt. I have never scratched my muzzle.
I have a Big Boy in .45LC. Currently using standard 45LC ammo. Will it handle handloaded ammo at the same velocity as that for TC contender, or Ruger single shot pistols?
Fine looking rifle. That is "craftsmanship," which can't be said for many gun makers today, sadly. We should all thank John Moses Browning for his genius with lever action rifles, and so many other innovative designs.
Could You Advise Me FC 45 Of any Load Data For The .303 Savage I’ve Been Saving My Brass Just Have Little Info On It The R&P Ammo I’ve Got Have the Jacketed Silvertip Projectiles Round Nose Id Like To Try Spitzer Projectiles Thanks in Advance 😎😀 FC 45
Isn't it supposed to be better to clean the barrel from the direction that the bullet travels? So you put the rod from the breach end of the rifle? I know you said that the brass bore guide protects the crown but I don't mean to protect the crown but I just mean because it's better to clean from the breach end because it will miss up the barrel if you go against the direction of the bullet? Thanks. Thanks.
Hello FC 45 ,a false muzzle ,a piece of nylon thats fits tight on the barrel with a hole tru it will protect the crown, and will guide the cleaning tool in and out. yours peter, silicion oil its not good in the barrel or moving parts . bullet,lubricants wil not get any hold again, (but metal will )on the metal. before the silicon is compleet removed ,and thats not easy.
I found for a very good price bore guides from J Dewey co. on the 22 caliber they advise to not use a coated rod as it will strip the coating. they suggest aluminum or brass rods and even mention stainless steel rod which I would be wary of. I'll stick with brass I think. the guide for my Henry 357 Big boy is not cone shaped like the ones for 22 caliber. I have heard that using a 20 size of rod for when there is a very tight fit is helpful. what rod do you use? on big bore it seems to be ok with a coated rod.
I Love My Model 1899 Savage Lever Action Takedown Model In 303Savage Caliber It’s So Easy To Clean And The Rotary Magazine With Counter is The Best Just My Opinion 😎👍🏼 Great Tips I Too Like The Bore Snake Method For the Above Mentioned Reasons 🤕 Crown Damage
you always see guys stripping lever guns down fully to clean them and i always tell them you dont half to do that ill just tell them to watch this in future
I only will use a steel rod (sectioned) in an emergency. I use Brass with Bore Guides. Love the Snakes also, but sometimes it is hard to get the double Brush part into a Lever Gun.
Great vid FC...... Unfortunately I'm a stripper. Only got one LA atm, a Henry Golden Boy (22LR) and it is stripped for cleaning, from the receiver. If one is careful enough cleaning from the muzzle is fine, but from years past, if we ever cleaned from the muzzle we were punished, because we were kids and adults ruled. Even today I try to entrench into new shooters to always clean from the breach and advise as to the reasons, as you have explained. And a bore snake is an essential item from each and every cleaning kit, a shooter should never leave home without one. I've got 2 X 22 bore snakes, lol. My mate (my gun dealer) wouldn't sell me a 3rd one, lol, sold me ammo instead..... (I got 3 22's, 22/250, LA101, Golden Boy)..... AND still waiting for my Marlin CB (45/70) to turn up, should be here July/August..... Geez. And you think 45 Colt is expensive, a box of 20 45/70 cost well over $70.00, and over $100 for 50 unprimed cartridges, got 200 on order and the rifle isn't here yet, lmao. No wonder I'm in the doghouse..... Geez, lol. Cheers from Down under mate, keep up the great work :)
+Pilot McBride -- Thanks again for such fine information in a comment...great for other shooters to read... Sorry to hear about the ammo costs for 45/70 - that is mighty expensive indeed. However, sounds like you are going to be casting for that, so you are in business... Best to ya, FC
Hey Steve, the 45 Colt rifle is a great gun. I have the Marlin version. I actually clean both ways depending on how much time I have. Question, the silicon is a great idea, does that need to be swabbed out before you shoot ? Yes, reloading our brass makes shooting a lot cheaper !
Nick J - It's a good idea to run a patch through our barrels before the first shot. However, I always look down the bore to determine no obstructions and if I have fouling rounds with me... I just shoot a couple of fouling rounds first to clear out oils and solvents before going at it. Best to ya, FC Steve
FortuneCookie although Williams advertises on their site that they have sights for the Henry, they never got them into production. they don't exist. I have a Henry big boy in 357 magnum and have I installed the " Black and Gold " reciever mounted Skinner aperture sight. it looks great and I got a few different apertures and the thumb screw for quick and easy adjustable elevation. the bore guide seems like a great idea. where does one get one? thanks for the videos. they are very helpful.
tjmooremusic - Best advice is to use Bore Snakes for most of lever gun cleaning, and then do the disassembly / clean from the breech thing every now and then...the brass muzzle guide comes with some cleaning rods - I just bought a Hoppe's carbon fiber rod that had that included. Good shootin' to ya, FC
+xXRambodianXx thanks. I've also seen the pull through coated cable types that one can attach ( screw on ) the bronze / brass cleaning brush to feed through the breach end. I see them used on semi autos with closed receivers like say a ruger 10 -22.
+haupper -- That's the best way to clean - some shooters have gone to putting a piece of masking tape on the rod so they don't do the big push through and drag back. Best to ya, FC
Otis Cleaning Kit, and all your problems are solved. Even with a brass bore guide you are still putting wear on the muzzle. Unless you use a plastic or soft rubber guide. Even then a slip can nick the muzzle. Otis with the pull through rubber protected cable is the best. Bore snakes are only good for a final pass through
Bungalo Bill - We really like our Marlins, though - as we can clean from the breech end easily...Have heard good things about the Otis - gotta go check those out...!! Best Regards, FC
Yeah. They have shorter brushes that will fit most weapons. You can also cut down a regular brush, modify it to fit. And with the Otis you don't have to go really slow and overly careful with it. Just make sure the brush is tight on the cable so you don't lose it in the barrel. I use the Otis on my Winchester 94/22 with a shortened brush. Works great. There is also an extra short brush you can buy separately for 22cal
Dewy makes a nice brass bore guide. Fine with a coated rod but not so cleaning a 22 . The coating is too thick so a steel rod is recommended in that case. Actualy I have had no problems cleaning from the bore end with just my hands. Just have to get a good technique keeping my fingers very close to the bore. I'm interested in using a bore snake on my big boy . No problem there. But again with the 22 I have yet to find the bore snake with a metal rod short enough to fit through the reciever and into the breach end. Especially with the Henry Youth model. Thanks for another great video. Peace.
tjmooremusic - Always great to get comments from ya, tjmooremusic...just as it also is with comments from ideamachineim..!! Sometimes we just have to clean from the muzzle, like when we clean our revolvers...if we can clean them without damage, we sure can clean our lever guns that way. Sure, the breech end is best whenever we can. I think that as responsible gun owners, we do the best for our firearms. Good shooting' to ya, FC
FortuneCookie45LC It crossed my mind, why we don't see , say, polymer bore guides? Just a thought since in my limited experience I find that the Dewey bore guide for 22 caliber has a rather sharp edge on the tip of the cone. That can do some scratching up of the blued steel. Again. Just a thought. Thanks.
worst 22 rifle I ever owned was a Henry. jammed and had tight chamber that wouldn't chamber some types of ammo. it was very accurate when it worked though. plus it has an easily scratched zamak receiver and rough action compared to Winchester. I would rather have use some zip gun made in a Brazilian getto
Brasstard 7.62 respectfully I am not sure that you somehow got a rifle with some flaw in its production. we have a couple Henry 22 rifles. one of them is the Henry lever action youth model. I think it is true that some guns just don't like some brands of ammo. my daughters had a couple of jams with CCI but eats up Remington golden 22lr flawlessly. hundreds of rounds, maybe 1000 or more I can't remember without any problems. I own a few Henry rifles and think they are fine American guns. sorry you had a negative experience.
tjmooremusic it was an older pump action with the round barrel made in Brooklyn. I already had a dim view of them from 90s when I saw advertising that insinuated they go back to Henry rifle of civil war when the designs come from Germany and the Erma company. I'm glad you have had good experiences and it seems most do but compared to my Winchester pump actions and some other older marlins I have it's fit and finish was not on par. internal parts had machine marks and the action bar made of thin sheet metal and the tight chamber would cause lots of malfunctioning also the action very stiff compared to Winchester. I mean if it was a 200$ gun I wouldn't mind as much
Brasstard 7.62 I can appreciate what you say. the ones I own are not that old at all. perhaps their quality control got better. I dunno. I like the fact that they are USA made but honestly don't think much of the historical pitch they use in their advertising. they are not the same company that Henry was back in the 1800s. to tell you the truth we have alot of fun with them but for the money a Rossi would fulfill any shooting needs we have. as I see it, they are kind of a novelty product in a way. good company to do business with. their customer service is exellent. wishing you well. and keep yer powder dry. :)
Brasstard 7.62 - Thanks for posting. Yes, sorry to hear that you got a glitchy gun from Henry. My 45 Colt Big Boy has been a dream to own, handle and shoot...and have done a fair amount of the latter...shot it so much, the extractor fell out. I sent it to Henry and they fixed it post haste and back to me in less than a month... Have a great day, FC
FortuneCookie45LC they have obviously done good marketing their guns and taking a fair share of the lever gun market and another American gun company is a good thing but I still don't like their insinuating heritage to Benjamin Henry because I still run into people that think they're historical guns. love your channel and I recently subscribed
+Doug Mottert -- The conventional thought on those rods is that they can get imbedded particles into the plastic or aluminum and that will be abrasive to the barrel. But really, with care keeping the rod centered in the bore with the brass guide, there shouldn't be any problem. If you clean from the breech with one of those plastic or Al rods though, the rod drag at the 6 o'clock position may be problematic with those imbedded particles. Good shootin' to ya, FC
The potential problem with soft surface cleaning rods is not the surface but rather dirt particles getting embedded in the surface. Turns a helpful tool into a damaging abrasive rod.
FortuneCookie thanks for your quick response. I would like to request a tutorial on removal and plugging buckhorn sights from an octagon barrel if you can. thanks!
tjmooremusic - Sorry for the late reply, but whenever Google does not post a comment in my inbox, I won't see it until another comment that is posted leads me here. I've got a video on removal of those sights already, but not on the plugging of the barrel since I just leave it unplugged, hasn't been a bother since. Best to ya, FC
FortuneCookie45LC I thank you for the tutorial on sight removal. I did though it was not nessisary put the plug that I received from Skinner Sights with the peep sights and a few different apertures of different sizes. It was a real bear getting it in the dovetail. Had to do alot of filing on the plug. It looks ok but in retrospect would have been happy not plugging it. On a different subject I would appreciate a lesson on rifle twist differences. The Big boy has if can remember has a 1:38 R twist. This seems odd to me. Very different from other rifles that has , say an 11 or 6 rate of twist. I've heard of up to 24. Perhaps you could bring some clarity to this subject. Thanks very much.
tjmooremusic - With bullet stability in rifled barrels, we increase the stabilization by increase twist rate and / or increased velocity. Smaller calibers need more stabilization than bigger calibers. But we have problems trying to get higher velocity with heavier bullets no matter the caliber. Light bullets are easier to drive faster and slower rifling twists can be used (like 223 with 52 grain bullets). The longer and heavier the bullet, the more rifling twist we need to stabilize especially in the smaller calibers. Our 45 Colts and 44 magnums have relatively short bullets in relation to the bore sizes so less rifling twist is needed. Note that our 357 bores normally have twist rates like 1 in 16 or so. Good shootin' to ya, FC
I once had a Marlin 1894 in 44 magnum and currently have a Marlin 1895 in 45-70. I currently have a Henry in 45 Colt. The Henry action is much smoother than a Marlin. Much smoother. I had a lot of feeding issues with my .44 Magnum Marlin. I shoot .45 Colt full wadcutter bullets (obtained from Matt's Bullet's) in my Henry that are crimped at the grease grove (not seated flush with the case mouth) and they feed without a problem. The brass frame on the Henry rifles is easily scratched which is a negative. I can't say if the steel frame Henry rifles feed as smooth as they brass frame rifles. They may not.
Thompson Jerry - Oh yes, Skinners are fine sights - apertures are much superior to the blade or semi-buckhorn open sights. I've used the Williams, but not the Skinners - some day I'll be giving those a try. Seeing is everything to hitting. Good seeing to ya, FC
40belowful - Amazing, this comment came through just fine.when you previous one did not..Great question and yes, gunsmiths re-crown guns all the time. Plus a lot of our milsurps got the re-arsenal treatment including re-crowning. Have a great day, FC
Where did you get that bore guide?? I've looked everywhere I know to look and can't find it. I recently asked Santa for one and he didn't have it either.
tdmakr - That brass bore guide comes included with each of the mid - priced to top end cleaning rods. One thing is that when cleaning from the breech, we often take those brass guides off the rod and they can be misplaced easily. Best to ya for a fine 2017..!! FC
I use a plastic-like flexible cable, with a plastic needle eye, and pull the patch out the breach only one way. No steel rod, no scratches. also a bore snake every once in a while... Remember to wet the brass brush with oil!!
Thanks Steve, well presented. Bore snakes are okay for a bore that is pretty clean and doesn't have carbon and copper fouling, but,,,, In my experience, I can run a bore snake through a barrel five times, and when I use a brush and jag afterward remove a whole lot of carbon and other residues. If you have a borescope and you look at the bore after cleaning with a boresnake, you'll probably see a lot of residue that it missed. I use bore snakes as a "field expedient" cleaner, but still give my bores a proper cleaning when I return home
A bore snake with a brass brush fitting helps a lot with the carbon build up. Brass runs through and cracks the cakes while the snake runs it out. Literally on paper and in real life follows the same principles as counterpart brass brush and rod..
This video was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks, FortunCookie!
If you use a brass cleaning rod and jags then you don't need the guide device. Also, cleaning rods made of aluminum work fine also. The B.S. about brass or aluminum cleaning rods and jags hurting a hardened steel rifle or pistol barrel if you put it through the end of the barrel is just that. B.S. Simply put, soft metals do not hurt hardened steel or iron barrels.
WRONG! I have been working on guns for about 60 years and have witnessed many barrels ruined by improper cleaning (especially the crowns). Actually the bore snake is the worst offender due to the tendency to pull it through the bore on an angle so that it rubs on the side if the barrel. This is especially true for those people who carry the snake in their pocket where it will pick up all sorts of abrasive material which acts like sandpaper.
@@terrykyte1845 I agree with Ranger. I keep hearing about all these soft metals harming hardened steel. I don't get it. People act like they have to treat every gun like it was a stratovarius and only store in a temp controlled room. Please.
Use common sense. I remove the bolts and clean from there because I enjoy checking parts for wear, get to clean the bolts and I just enjoy it. I own both the Henry 357mag/38sp big boy golden boy and the Marlin 336 30-30 SS XLR. Do the same for both.
I take care of my guns and do what needs to be done with them to keep them tip top. I don't date them
You are debunking (that is a word in vogue these days) a myth...i agree that soft metals don't do much to hard metals, but so many folks insist on being pretty...every firearm we own is subject to abuse, wear and tear, and even a scratch...after every range visit we clean with vigor, because one never knows when the next use might not happen at the range...we try to get the most we can out of every weapon, and if a firearm ever falls apart from too much use we will replace it asap (a s&w probably next to fail in our mini-arsenal)...at the moment every weapon clean, functional, and ready...we do replace parts that we can do ourselves, and have an excellent gunsmith available for repairs we can't handle...
Well that’s a relief! I was super nervous about taking apart my Henry mares leg big boy cause I was afraid of possible not putting it back together properly. Cleaning it without disassemble is my cup of tea. I also have it on 45LC and don’t have much ammo for it so I wound be shooting it very much.
I found an old Sears model 54 at the gun shop last time I was there for powder. I always wanted a 30-30 for hunting here so I put it on layaway. Can't wait to bring it home, need to find dies and bullets and some brass now.
hello Mr. cookie. Another great video of many. I bought my son a used henry 22 Lever action, he loves it we use the Tipton and or gun slick carbon fiber rod
I've always used strong twine/para-cord string longer than my barrel with a tied patch. Then I'll just pull it on home until it's clean enough. Also, using a wooden dowel rod has helped me out in a pinch.
+Kaiji Itou -- Great para-cord idea - might try that since I have some para-cord lying around... Best to ya, FC
Having a small soft lead weight helps as well to ease it on down the barrel.
+Kaiji Itou -- I'm thinking those little pinch on fishing weights might be good...FC
Hello have a couple of questions of the solvents and chemicals you're using to clear your rifle. One is the silicone spray only used in the barrel as a protectant when the rifle is being stored and put away... and two I've heard of the ed's red, do you have a video of how to make the ed's red? Thanks for the informative video and any answers you can provide me, I appreciate it.
Good info, thanks for the video. I just purchased a Henry H001 and was wondering about the cleaning procedure. I'm curious why you use the silicone spray at the end. I usually use a patch with a light coating of butch's gun oil after cleaning. Is there any benefit to using the silicone over regular gun oil? Just curious cause I would consider switching.
Good thoughts on cleaning a lever action...Good vid...
+Scott F. -- Works well because of that rifle rest - better than a vise... Have a great day, FC
It’s almost impossible to run a .22 bore snake through a .22 rifle barrel. I am open to suggestions as what to do. The size smaller is too small so I just run patches down from the barrel down… help!
17 HMR bore snake instead?
Today I got one of these beautiful rifles in 357 (and a H001), but once home, discovered it has a grinchy "3 stage"trigger...not at all smooth. In my excitement, the rifle I inspected carefully in the store was the display model, not mine. In your opinion, should I try a strip and clean, or just ship it to Henry? I've heard their customer service is excellent.
Robnord1 - The Henry Big Boys have some of the best triggers ever on lever action rifles. Henry CS is indeed excellent. Since new gun, shipping it to Henry would be the best as if you do strip your gun down and do any buffing or smoothing, might void the warranty (Henry would probably take care of it anyway, but why chance that). My Henry BB extractor fell out and was lost, sent it back and Henry turned it around quick and no charges were made. Best to ya, FC Steve
I would just do a complete internal strip of all the components clean everything including the inside of the receiver with just Hopes #9 cleaning solvent, then blow everything dry with an air compressor and put it back together and shoot it a lot 200 to 300 rounds just clean and re dry it again say every 75 rounds everything will polish up on it's own don't worry guns are extremely hard and won't be damaged, but will smooth right up! once everything is slicked up buy use, add a couple drops of oil to the exterior and barrel to prevent rust.jim
jim maddog Thanks! That is what I do on new handguns, and it almost always results in a reduced/smoother trigger pull. In the case of my new Henry, I shipped it (prepaid by them), got it back in less than 2 weeks, and they did a terrific job.
Dude a little wipe isn't going to damage your gun cleaning from the muzzle end lol
Put the rod down the bore, then put the patch on and pull it out! PS, I have an 1873 in .357.
+RapidRrobert ... By the way, I use a brass rod. What's with the split case I saw?
RapidRobert - A bore snake works very well, but the bolt take out is so easy, cleaning from the breech is simple...just like a Marlin. The split case is actually a cap decoration, but don't wear it on airlines, the gestapos freak out in their ignorance "There's a primer in there...!!" Yes, but it's a fired primer... no matter, you can't take that on the airplane..It was my mistake to expect enlightenment.... .Best to ya, FC
Bore Snake.
FC,
What do you think of Bore Snakes for cleaning the barrel?
JT
That's why we use coated rods.
That's hilarious... I was at Cabela's and asked to see the Henry big boy steel... The guy reached for it and said "yeah this one is in 45 Colt... We're out of the 44 and 357s... I was like yeah this is the one I want... He was shocked 😂😂 why? 150 yr old round... If it ain't broke don't fix it lol
$1.00 a shot I remember those days. 45-70 is $3 a shot now and 45 colt is around 2.50
That's a Beautiful Henry You got there Fortune Cookie! Thank You for Sharing My Friend!
They should make a plastic rod
Fiberglass rods are available at bass pro and cabelas
I am so paranoid about cleaning my blr and their are 0 videos on it .
Finally, someone who actually demonstrates using a brass muzzle guard correctly. Thank you! Love your videos!
Star City FAME - Sorry for the late reply, but whenever Google does not post a comment in my inbox, I won't see it until another comment that is posted leads me here. Thanks for the comment and for the gracious remarks... Best Regards to ya, FC
Just bought a Frontier model by Henry great gun.. Now thinking about the 357 mag model
Good tips, love hearing new things on gun maintenance and cleaning. Thanks for your tips and suggestions.
Love the Henry Rifles made in USA. Was told by some cowboy shooters that the Henry is not as reliable in cowboy shooting because of the abuse a rifle will encounter, also the brass starts to get a little thin and wears away. Any thoughts ? I would feel that regular type shooting these rifles would be great. Besides, there too nice looking to bang around in the cowboy world.
+Nick J -- Here's something that you won't hear or see much in explanations... I don't think I've seen it just this way in any other articles I've read. John Browning feed systems in his lever action and 1911 pistol designs are not perfectly in line - the cartridges are brought up by a carrier in the levers and the magazine in the 1911 are not perfectly angled to the barrel - The cartridges need to hit their nose under the chamber and the back ends bounced up in line with the chamber to feed. Marlins and Henry Big Boys have the same bounce idea. JMB designs also include up lugs that engage the bolts offering strength previously no available in lever guns. In addition, the 1894 deign has a compound linkage allowing for a shorter receiver to handle longer rounds. None of these factors allow the fast cycling and smoothness for cowboy action shooting today - shooters using 1892s, 1894s and Marlins can compete in CAS, but are very scarce winners. What wins in CAS are the lifter designs that control the in line feed of cartridges - 1860, 1866, 1873s - mated with the so called toggle link designs can be made glass smooth, short stroke and quick smooth feeding - top shooters can have four empties in the air at once. The knock on these was that more powerful cartridges to deal with the bigger beasties on the Western frontier could not be handled by the weak toggle link - enter JMB. JMB was not trying to design CAS guns - what he gave us were very strong lever designs like the very popular 94 Winchester. But try running that in a CAS event - even the best CAS shooters cannot use that design and compete. Marlins and Henry Big Boys, though smooth, are not as smooth and quick as the 1873s. Don't know how Uberti did it, but they have strengthened the 1873 action enough to chamber in 44 magnum...and JMB wasn't involved with that...!! Best Regards, FC
Lovely looking rifle, I love the Henry's.
1$ Her shot LOL that’s cheap mate
I use the fiberglass style cleaning rod to avoid the bore damage....but bought some bore snakes to try out on my different lever guns...Sure do like my new Henry 38/357 Carbine, Large loop lever!
+gman77gas -- I might even get one of those levers for my own BB...and your carbine version sounds great!! Good shootin' to ya, FC Steve
Turn the rifle upside down , let the debris fall out onto the table rather then the loading chamber
+niteriderwm -- Good point... With the Henry, would have to turn rifle on its side, but a small rag jammed under the back end of the barrel also works for that... Have a great day, FC
What do you use to keep your brass shiny and protected?
About $1.75/round now. If you can fine it. I bought the BB Carbine with dual gate in .357. I always start at the breach and I always remove my lever, extractor and bolt. I have never scratched my muzzle.
I meant Bore guide
I have a Big Boy in .45LC. Currently using standard 45LC ammo. Will it handle handloaded ammo at the same velocity as that for TC contender, or Ruger single shot pistols?
Fine looking rifle. That is "craftsmanship," which can't be said for many gun makers today, sadly. We should all thank John Moses Browning for his genius with lever action rifles, and so many other innovative designs.
Could You Advise Me FC 45 Of any Load Data For The .303 Savage I’ve Been Saving My Brass Just Have Little Info On It The R&P Ammo I’ve Got Have the Jacketed Silvertip Projectiles Round Nose Id Like To Try Spitzer Projectiles Thanks in Advance 😎😀 FC 45
Isn't it supposed to be better to clean the barrel from the direction that the bullet travels? So you put the rod from the breach end of the rifle? I know you said that the brass bore guide protects the crown but I don't mean to protect the crown but I just mean because it's better to clean from the breach end because it will miss up the barrel if you go against the direction of the bullet? Thanks.
Thanks.
Hello FC 45 ,a false muzzle ,a piece of nylon thats fits tight on the barrel with a hole tru it will protect the crown, and will guide the cleaning tool in and out. yours peter, silicion oil its not good in the barrel or moving parts . bullet,lubricants wil not get any hold again, (but metal will )on the metal. before the silicon is compleet removed ,and thats not easy.
I found for a very good price bore guides from J Dewey co.
on the 22 caliber they advise to not use a coated rod as it will strip the coating. they suggest aluminum or brass rods and even mention stainless steel rod which I would be wary of. I'll stick with brass I think. the guide for my Henry 357 Big boy is not cone shaped like the ones for 22 caliber. I have heard that using a 20 size of rod for when there is a very tight fit is helpful.
what rod do you use?
on big bore it seems to be ok with a coated rod.
Where do you find the barrel guide I’ve been looking all over but can’t find one
I Love My Model 1899 Savage Lever Action Takedown Model In 303Savage Caliber It’s So Easy To Clean And The Rotary Magazine With Counter is The Best Just My Opinion 😎👍🏼 Great Tips I Too Like The Bore Snake Method For the Above Mentioned Reasons 🤕 Crown Damage
you always see guys stripping lever guns down fully to clean them and i always tell them you dont half to do that ill just tell them to watch this in future
Good tips , you can use a cut bottle neck case to fit in your muzzle and use it for a guide .
Thank you! Bore snack on ebay/Muzzle guard amazon.
FC, question: Your recommendations on screw drivers ? Nylon tipped better ? We don’t want to “burr” the screws or mar the blueing if possible.
I only will use a steel rod (sectioned) in an emergency. I use Brass with Bore Guides. Love the Snakes also, but sometimes it is hard to get the double Brush part into a Lever Gun.
archersfriend h
Great vid FC...... Unfortunately I'm a stripper. Only got one LA atm, a Henry Golden Boy (22LR) and it is stripped for cleaning, from the receiver. If one is careful enough cleaning from the muzzle is fine, but from years past, if we ever cleaned from the muzzle we were punished, because we were kids and adults ruled. Even today I try to entrench into new shooters to always clean from the breach and advise as to the reasons, as you have explained.
And a bore snake is an essential item from each and every cleaning kit, a shooter should never leave home without one. I've got 2 X 22 bore snakes, lol. My mate (my gun dealer) wouldn't sell me a 3rd one, lol, sold me ammo instead..... (I got 3 22's, 22/250, LA101, Golden Boy)..... AND still waiting for my Marlin CB (45/70) to turn up, should be here July/August..... Geez. And you think 45 Colt is expensive, a box of 20 45/70 cost well over $70.00, and over $100 for 50 unprimed cartridges, got 200 on order and the rifle isn't here yet, lmao. No wonder I'm in the doghouse..... Geez, lol.
Cheers from Down under mate, keep up the great work :)
+Pilot McBride -- Thanks again for such fine information in a comment...great for other shooters to read... Sorry to hear about the ammo costs for 45/70 - that is mighty expensive indeed. However, sounds like you are going to be casting for that, so you are in business... Best to ya, FC
Nice video
That is one beautiful rifle! What are the merits of silicone over regular gun oil?
Beautiful rifle. Great video.
Hey Steve, the 45 Colt rifle is a great gun. I have the Marlin version. I actually clean both ways depending on how much time I have. Question, the silicon is a great idea, does that need to be swabbed out before you shoot ? Yes, reloading our brass makes shooting a lot cheaper !
Nick J - It's a good idea to run a patch through our barrels before the first shot. However, I always look down the bore to determine no obstructions and if I have fouling rounds with me... I just shoot a couple of fouling rounds first to clear out oils and solvents before going at it. Best to ya, FC Steve
FortuneCookie
although Williams advertises on their site that they have sights for the Henry, they never got them into production.
they don't exist.
I have a Henry big boy in 357 magnum and have I installed the " Black and Gold " reciever mounted Skinner aperture sight. it looks great and I got a few different apertures and the thumb screw for quick and easy adjustable elevation.
the bore guide seems like a great idea. where does one get one?
thanks for the videos.
they are very helpful.
tjmooremusic - Best advice is to use Bore Snakes for most of lever gun cleaning, and then do the disassembly / clean from the breech thing every now and then...the brass muzzle guide comes with some cleaning rods - I just bought a Hoppe's carbon fiber rod that had that included. Good shootin' to ya, FC
+xXRambodianXx
thanks. I've also seen the pull through coated cable types that one can attach ( screw on ) the bronze / brass cleaning brush to feed through the breach end.
I see them used on semi autos with closed receivers like say a ruger 10 -22.
I clean from the breech but anticipate where the jag emerges to slow down and avoid damaging the crown.
+haupper -- That's the best way to clean - some shooters have gone to putting a piece of masking tape on the rod so they don't do the big push through and drag back. Best to ya, FC
Otis Cleaning Kit, and all your problems are solved.
Even with a brass bore guide you are still putting wear on the muzzle. Unless you use a plastic or soft rubber guide. Even then a slip can nick the muzzle. Otis with the pull through rubber protected cable is the best. Bore snakes are only good for a final pass through
Bungalo Bill - We really like our Marlins, though - as we can clean from the breech end easily...Have heard good things about the Otis - gotta go check those out...!! Best Regards, FC
Yeah. They have shorter brushes that will fit most weapons. You can also cut down a regular brush, modify it to fit. And with the Otis you don't have to go really slow and overly careful with it. Just make sure the brush is tight on the cable so you don't lose it in the barrel.
I use the Otis on my Winchester 94/22 with a shortened brush. Works great. There is also an extra short brush you can buy separately for 22cal
Dewy makes a nice brass bore guide. Fine with a coated rod but not so cleaning a 22 . The coating is too thick so a steel rod is recommended in that case.
Actualy I have had no problems cleaning from the bore end with just my hands. Just have to get a good technique keeping my fingers very close to the bore.
I'm interested in using a bore snake on my big boy . No problem there. But again with the 22 I have yet to find the bore snake with a metal rod short enough to fit through the reciever and into the breach end. Especially with the Henry Youth model.
Thanks for another great video.
Peace.
tjmooremusic - Always great to get comments from ya, tjmooremusic...just as it also is with comments from ideamachineim..!! Sometimes we just have to clean from the muzzle, like when we clean our revolvers...if we can clean them without damage, we sure can clean our lever guns that way. Sure, the breech end is best whenever we can. I think that as responsible gun owners, we do the best for our firearms. Good shooting' to ya, FC
FortuneCookie45LC
It crossed my mind, why we don't see , say, polymer bore guides?
Just a thought since in my limited experience I find that the Dewey bore guide for 22 caliber has a rather sharp edge on the tip of the cone. That can do some scratching up of the blued steel.
Again. Just a thought.
Thanks.
worst 22 rifle I ever owned was a Henry. jammed and had tight chamber that wouldn't chamber some types of ammo. it was very accurate when it worked though. plus it has an easily scratched zamak receiver and rough action compared to Winchester. I would rather have use some zip gun made in a Brazilian getto
Brasstard 7.62
respectfully I am not sure that you somehow got a rifle with some flaw in its production.
we have a couple Henry 22 rifles.
one of them is the Henry lever action youth model.
I think it is true that some guns just don't like some brands of ammo. my daughters had a couple of jams with CCI but eats up Remington golden 22lr flawlessly.
hundreds of rounds, maybe 1000 or more I can't remember without any problems.
I own a few Henry rifles and think they are fine American guns.
sorry you had a negative experience.
tjmooremusic it was an older pump action with the round barrel made in Brooklyn. I already had a dim view of them from 90s when I saw advertising that insinuated they go back to Henry rifle of civil war when the designs come from Germany and the Erma company. I'm glad you have had good experiences and it seems most do but compared to my Winchester pump actions and some other older marlins I have it's fit and finish was not on par. internal parts had machine marks and the action bar made of thin sheet metal and the tight chamber would cause lots of malfunctioning also the action very stiff compared to Winchester. I mean if it was a 200$ gun I wouldn't mind as much
Brasstard 7.62
I can appreciate what you say.
the ones I own are not that old at all. perhaps their quality control got better. I dunno.
I like the fact that they are USA made but honestly don't think much of the historical pitch they use in their advertising.
they are not the same company that Henry was back in the 1800s.
to tell you the truth we have alot of fun with them but for the money a Rossi would fulfill any shooting needs we have.
as I see it, they are kind of a novelty product in a way.
good company to do business with.
their customer service is exellent.
wishing you well.
and keep yer powder dry.
:)
Brasstard 7.62 - Thanks for posting. Yes, sorry to hear that you got a glitchy gun from Henry. My 45 Colt Big Boy has been a dream to own, handle and shoot...and have done a fair amount of the latter...shot it so much, the extractor fell out. I sent it to Henry and they fixed it post haste and back to me in less than a month... Have a great day, FC
FortuneCookie45LC they have obviously done good marketing their guns and taking a fair share of the lever gun market and another American gun company is a good thing but I still don't like their insinuating heritage to Benjamin Henry because I still run into people that think they're historical guns. love your channel and I recently subscribed
What about the plastic coated rods or aluminum rods they should not hurt the muzzle of the gun? let me know what you think ,Thanks Doug M
+Doug Mottert -- The conventional thought on those rods is that they can get imbedded particles into the plastic or aluminum and that will be abrasive to the barrel. But really, with care keeping the rod centered in the bore with the brass guide, there shouldn't be any problem. If you clean from the breech with one of those plastic or Al rods though, the rod drag at the 6 o'clock position may be problematic with those imbedded particles. Good shootin' to ya, FC
The potential problem with soft surface cleaning rods is not the surface but rather dirt particles getting embedded in the surface. Turns a helpful tool
into a damaging abrasive rod.
Yeah I do not risk using cleaning rods on any of my rifles as not to fish scratching the bore! Snakes are no risk!
Certainly would be hard to remove copper with a bore snake
Arc Mas - Won't have to do too much of that with shooting a lot of cast bullets...Good shootin' to ya, FC Steve
Yet another great video FC45LC. I clean my lever guns the same way. Thanks for sharing
JamieMG - And continued good shootin' to ya...!! FC
A bore Snake will not harm the Crown cleaning the barrel etc.
myREDTAIL - Agreed...bore snakes are mighty fine - and for shotguns also.... Best to ya, FC Steve
FortuneCookie
thanks for your quick response.
I would like to request a tutorial on removal and plugging buckhorn sights from an octagon barrel if you can. thanks!
tjmooremusic - Sorry for the late reply, but whenever Google does not post a comment in my inbox, I won't see it until another comment that is posted leads me here. I've got a video on removal of those sights already, but not on the plugging of the barrel since I just leave it unplugged, hasn't been a bother since. Best to ya, FC
FortuneCookie45LC
I thank you for the tutorial on sight removal.
I did though it was not nessisary put the plug that I received from Skinner Sights with the peep sights and a few different apertures of different sizes.
It was a real bear getting it in the dovetail. Had to do alot of filing on the plug. It looks ok but in retrospect would have been happy not plugging it.
On a different subject I would appreciate a lesson on rifle twist differences.
The Big boy has if can remember has a 1:38 R twist. This seems odd to me. Very different from other rifles that has , say an 11 or 6 rate of twist. I've heard of up to 24.
Perhaps you could bring some clarity to this subject.
Thanks very much.
tjmooremusic - With bullet stability in rifled barrels, we increase the stabilization by increase twist rate and / or increased velocity. Smaller calibers need more stabilization than bigger calibers. But we have problems trying to get higher velocity with heavier bullets no matter the caliber. Light bullets are easier to drive faster and slower rifling twists can be used (like 223 with 52 grain bullets). The longer and heavier the bullet, the more rifling twist we need to stabilize especially in the smaller calibers. Our 45 Colts and 44 magnums have relatively short bullets in relation to the bore sizes so less rifling twist is needed. Note that our 357 bores normally have twist rates like 1 in 16 or so. Good shootin' to ya, FC
Great video
Fantastic videos!
Never fired a Henry do you like them as well as old marlins?
I once had a Marlin 1894 in 44 magnum and currently have a Marlin 1895 in 45-70. I currently have a Henry in 45 Colt. The Henry action is much smoother than a Marlin. Much smoother. I had a lot of feeding issues with my .44 Magnum Marlin. I shoot .45 Colt full wadcutter bullets (obtained from Matt's Bullet's) in my Henry that are crimped at the grease grove (not seated flush with the case mouth) and they feed without a problem. The brass frame on the Henry rifles is easily scratched which is a negative. I can't say if the steel frame Henry rifles feed as smooth as they brass frame rifles. They may not.
Have you tried Skinner Sights, they are fantastic. I have his sights on my 357 Big Boy, within a 100 yards the shot is a given.
Thompson Jerry - Oh yes, Skinners are fine sights - apertures are much superior to the blade or semi-buckhorn open sights. I've used the Williams, but not the Skinners - some day I'll be giving those a try. Seeing is everything to hitting. Good seeing to ya, FC
Skinner sights are awesome sights. I have peep sights from Wild West guns on my Marlin LTD IV and love them. Give them a try on your next gun.
Did you have to replace the front sight when you put the Skinner sight on your gun?
larry munninghoff no, the gold bead sight is the perfect size.
Thanks for all of your fine, informative videos. They are invaluable.
+Brook Yoder -- Thanks for taking the time to post comment...Have a great day, FC
What is Ed's Red?
+ideamachineim ;) :) ;) can't get too much of those LD tears... FC
can guns be re-crowned?
40belowful - Amazing, this comment came through just fine.when you previous one did not..Great question and yes, gunsmiths re-crown guns all the time. Plus a lot of our milsurps got the re-arsenal treatment including re-crowning. Have a great day, FC
Where did you get that bore guide?? I've looked everywhere I know to look and can't find it. I recently asked Santa for one and he didn't have it either.
tdmakr - That brass bore guide comes included with each of the mid - priced to top end cleaning rods. One thing is that when cleaning from the breech, we often take those brass guides off the rod and they can be misplaced easily. Best to ya for a fine 2017..!! FC
Willyou please get a camera tripod!! Lol
I use a plastic-like flexible cable, with a plastic needle eye, and pull the patch out the breach only one way. No steel rod, no scratches. also a bore snake every once in a while... Remember to wet the brass brush with oil!!
Webchez - Thank you for the comment - good stuff... Have a great day, FC Steve
Where did you get the leather butt guard??