Welcome to TheOhioOutdoors
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Login or sign up today!
Login / Join

Heritage 44 Mag Lever-Action

Didn’t you have a lever 44 before?
Yes, it was a Henry steel frame. I sold it with a couple of other rifles for a down payment on a motorcycle. :rolleyes:
Henry doe.jpg


I enjoyed hunting with it, as it was extremely light weight and very accurate with my reloads. (y)
It was somewhat of a "lightweight" as far as the loads it would handle. I tried using the "beast loads" that I was shooting out of my Ruger Super Redhawk and the cases would jam in the chamber. :cautious: I had to load an entirely different and much lighter load for the Henry, then what the Super Redhawk would easily handle.
B1.jpg
 

CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,782
215
NE Ohio
@CJD3
I would prefer a Marlin over a Henry, myself. I think Marlin is a tougher built lever-action rifle.
I was looking at the 24" barrel length on the Heritage, but a 20" barrel would work.

How do you like the 16" barrel for accuracy?
Im sure a longer barrel would help somewhat but because im sending a fat ol 44 down range, I’ve always kept my shots to 60-70 yards. It’s good enough to hit a heart sized target every time. Most shots are 30 yards an less. They never fall to far…
 

Ohiosam

*Supporting Member*
11,967
205
Mahoning Co.
straight wall cartridges use fast burning powders so there are diminishing returns on long barrel lengths when it comes to velocity. There are shooting advantages to long barrels with iron sights and with increased muzzle weight.
 
I believe there’s a Rossi connection to the Heritage lever guns but I don’t know details
Heritage and Rossi are both owned by Taurus. (y)

I've seen enough videos and reviews of Rossi lever-actions to know that their quality isn't as good as Marlin, which is owned by Ruger. That being said, I was shopping on Buds Gun Shop and the Heritage in 44 Mag. in a 24" barrel, runs just under $700, while the Marlin in a 20" barrel is close to $950. Quite a bit of a price difference, which could be matched by the quality difference. :unsure:

This is a "want" not a "need" gun. I have plenty of deer killing guns, but this one could double for groundhogs, coyotes and other varmints. :sneaky:
 
Last edited:
@CJD3
To be entirely truthful, I'm not set on a lever-action rifle. :unsure: I'd be just as happy with another 44 Mag. revolver.
I've been looking at the Taurus Raging Hunter in the 8" barrel too. It's priced at $763, from Bud's Gun Shop. I know a guy in my area that has one and I may give him a call to ask a few questions. I know he's killed a few deer with it. :cool:
 

Ohiosam

*Supporting Member*
11,967
205
Mahoning Co.
Actually straight walled cartridge like the .357 and .44 mag use slow burning power. Hodgden H110 and Winchester 296 for example.
I don’t consider those slow burning powders. The powders most commonly used in straight walls are burnt well before 24”. I doubt you’d see much, if any, increased velocity in a .44 mag past 16 inches.
 
Last edited:

CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,782
215
NE Ohio
@CJD3
To be entirely truthful, I'm not set on a lever-action rifle. :unsure: I'd be just as happy with another 44 Mag. revolver.
I've been looking at the Taurus Raging Hunter in the 8" barrel too. It's priced at $763, from Bud's Gun Shop. I know a guy in my area that has one and I may give him a call to ask a few questions. I know he's killed a few deer with it. :cool:
Your Super Redhawk is about as good as it gets. Most anything else would be a step down in quality and frame strength. ( but I think you know that)

How about going down the Thompson Contender rabbit hole… ( Before anything Taurus) 😈
 
Your Super Redhawk is about as good as it gets. Most anything else would be a step down in quality and frame strength. ( but I think you know that)

How about going down the Thompson Contender rabbit hole… ( Before anything Taurus) 😈
Hind sight is 20/20....:rolleyes: I sold the Super Redhawk several years ago and therefore my consideration of the Taurus Raging Hunter.
I have yet to kill anything with my Ruger GP-100, but it's considerably less power than any 44 Mag. :cautious:

My Ruger American in 450 BM has been a proven deer killer and the same can be said for my CVA LR 50 cal. in-line. (y)
I guess you could say I have a hankerin' for a new weapon of some sort. :sneaky:
 
  • Like
Reactions: CJD3

ThatBuckeyeGuy

Active Member
1,313
63
Ohio
To be honest with the difference in price choose the one with the best resale value just in case . That's often the one with the best reliability and we know which one that is
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bowhunter57

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
40,272
288
Ohio
Let me know if you want to unload the 450. I haven't been shopping but that will likely be my next purchase.
 
Let me know if you want to unload the 450. I haven't been shopping but that will likely be my next purchase.
Will do, but it's highly unlikely. (n) It's sat in the safe for a couple of years and I've always bought Savage, but this Ruger American has been very impressive for accuracy, reliability and it was affordable too. 💯 It drops deer every time I take it out. :cool: New ones are in the mid-$500s.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hickslawns

Hedgelj

Senior Member
Supporting Member
8,227
189
Mohicanish
Your Super Redhawk is about as good as it gets. Most anything else would be a step down in quality and frame strength. ( but I think you know that)

How about going down the Thompson Contender rabbit hole… ( Before anything Taurus) 😈
I really wish I had a contender and have bid on a few of the muzzys that can be converted at auctions but they are big $ that I can't justify
 

Hedgelj

Senior Member
Supporting Member
8,227
189
Mohicanish
  • Like
Reactions: hickslawns