Lab4Us
Professional
Decided to put this under guns instead of skills since I was basically comparing these two lever action rifles (and making sure they worked).
I ordered both from Tombstone Tactical and picked up the Marlin on 17 April 26 and the Henry this past Monday, 11 May 26, from my LGS, both new. I found the Marlin pretty easily (well, compared to the Henry), but the Henry was tough to acquire - multiple back in stock notices, but sold out before I could get it. Finally I was in my email on the 6th of May and saw the in stock message when it arrived - immediately ordered and finally secured one! (It’s so bad I had previously completed a sale on one and got an email about 3-4 hours later saying my order was cancel and card refunded). Even this one, when I reviewed box contents, showed Henry’s QC was completed 28 April 26 - so they’re selling them as fast as they can produce them. Guess the burnt bronze finish is a big draw! And apparently .357 Magnum lever action rifles are way more in demand than I thought.
I fired 75 rounds of Freedom Defense 158g .357 Magnum Flat Point Range, followed by 25 rounds of Freedom Defense 158g .357 Magnum Hollow Point X-Def through each, Henry first (because it has irons and I knew eyes would be shot after first 100 rounds), and I have a Holosun 510 on the Marlin rail. Target was at 15 yards for flat points and 10 yards for X-Def hollow point rounds. I was doing my best to aim at the center of the balloon I was shooting at. I was hitting low throughout, but I was okay with that as everything I’ve read indicates it would be just about right at distance.
First three rounds out of the box. I’ve never used a buckhorn sight, so just did my best to line up front bead with diamond and center at top of buckhorn.
After the rest of the first 75 flat points.
This is the 25 rounds of X-Def at 10 yards.
Next up was the Marlin with the Holosun 510.
First three rounds out of the box. Side note - This Holosun has the worst flared dot of any Holosun I’ve previously used. It may be because it was closer to my eye (and I do have astigmatism), but I worked with it.
After the rest of the 75 flat points.
And the 25 rounds of X-Def hollow point at 10 yards. I did aim at the top of the 8 ring trying to hit more toward the center.
In my estimation, it was a great experience with both rifles. I made zero adjustments to either the irons on the Henry or the Holosun on the Marlin. I fired all rounds standing with no rest and I’m pretty sure I can hit what I’m shooting at. These will pretty much be range toys anyway, but someday I’ll get to the outdoor range and see how they do at 100 yards.
I did all lever action after the first round was chambered from the shoulder. A couple of times I did put a round in the chamber first so I could test function with 7+1 Henry and 8+1 Marlin, but almost all rounds were loaded from side gate, Both tubes got easier to load as more rounds were loaded throughout the session. The Henry I had one fail to feed, but pretty sure it was lack of lever closing oomph. With the Marlin, I had a few fail to feeds as well, but also a couple of fail to extract. Those could have been lever oomph as well, but it did seem the Marlin barely spit out the rounds when ejected. The Henry spent brass was all over the lane in front of me and at my feet (so bouncing off the dividing wall and bouncing everywhere). The vast majority of the Marlin spent brass I just pick up off the counter between loads and put in used brass barrel. So kind of wondering about the Marlin’s extractor. Should know more after I clean.
It was a pretty fun session and have decided to forego an optic on the Henry since I thought I did pretty good with just irons. Though I could use some tips on using a buckhorn rear sight and how to correctly line up a sight picture - front is a brass bead.
Most importantly, both seemed sighted in and perfectly functional from the factory, though I’ve read about QC issues from both companies and these models. Fortunately for me, I did not experience any issues with these two samples.
I don’t regret either purchase and it seems Freedom Munitions 158g .357 Magnum works great. Both rifles are threaded, the Marlin 1/2x28, which I have a suppressor for. The Henry is 5/8x24 so I’d have to get a different mount. To be honest, I doubt I’ll fire either suppressed or often (cannot see either being as fun as the Kuna), but as they say - it’s there if I need it!
I ordered both from Tombstone Tactical and picked up the Marlin on 17 April 26 and the Henry this past Monday, 11 May 26, from my LGS, both new. I found the Marlin pretty easily (well, compared to the Henry), but the Henry was tough to acquire - multiple back in stock notices, but sold out before I could get it. Finally I was in my email on the 6th of May and saw the in stock message when it arrived - immediately ordered and finally secured one! (It’s so bad I had previously completed a sale on one and got an email about 3-4 hours later saying my order was cancel and card refunded). Even this one, when I reviewed box contents, showed Henry’s QC was completed 28 April 26 - so they’re selling them as fast as they can produce them. Guess the burnt bronze finish is a big draw! And apparently .357 Magnum lever action rifles are way more in demand than I thought.
I fired 75 rounds of Freedom Defense 158g .357 Magnum Flat Point Range, followed by 25 rounds of Freedom Defense 158g .357 Magnum Hollow Point X-Def through each, Henry first (because it has irons and I knew eyes would be shot after first 100 rounds), and I have a Holosun 510 on the Marlin rail. Target was at 15 yards for flat points and 10 yards for X-Def hollow point rounds. I was doing my best to aim at the center of the balloon I was shooting at. I was hitting low throughout, but I was okay with that as everything I’ve read indicates it would be just about right at distance.
First three rounds out of the box. I’ve never used a buckhorn sight, so just did my best to line up front bead with diamond and center at top of buckhorn.
After the rest of the first 75 flat points.
This is the 25 rounds of X-Def at 10 yards.
Next up was the Marlin with the Holosun 510.
First three rounds out of the box. Side note - This Holosun has the worst flared dot of any Holosun I’ve previously used. It may be because it was closer to my eye (and I do have astigmatism), but I worked with it.
After the rest of the 75 flat points.
And the 25 rounds of X-Def hollow point at 10 yards. I did aim at the top of the 8 ring trying to hit more toward the center.
In my estimation, it was a great experience with both rifles. I made zero adjustments to either the irons on the Henry or the Holosun on the Marlin. I fired all rounds standing with no rest and I’m pretty sure I can hit what I’m shooting at. These will pretty much be range toys anyway, but someday I’ll get to the outdoor range and see how they do at 100 yards.
I did all lever action after the first round was chambered from the shoulder. A couple of times I did put a round in the chamber first so I could test function with 7+1 Henry and 8+1 Marlin, but almost all rounds were loaded from side gate, Both tubes got easier to load as more rounds were loaded throughout the session. The Henry I had one fail to feed, but pretty sure it was lack of lever closing oomph. With the Marlin, I had a few fail to feeds as well, but also a couple of fail to extract. Those could have been lever oomph as well, but it did seem the Marlin barely spit out the rounds when ejected. The Henry spent brass was all over the lane in front of me and at my feet (so bouncing off the dividing wall and bouncing everywhere). The vast majority of the Marlin spent brass I just pick up off the counter between loads and put in used brass barrel. So kind of wondering about the Marlin’s extractor. Should know more after I clean.
It was a pretty fun session and have decided to forego an optic on the Henry since I thought I did pretty good with just irons. Though I could use some tips on using a buckhorn rear sight and how to correctly line up a sight picture - front is a brass bead.
Most importantly, both seemed sighted in and perfectly functional from the factory, though I’ve read about QC issues from both companies and these models. Fortunately for me, I did not experience any issues with these two samples.
I don’t regret either purchase and it seems Freedom Munitions 158g .357 Magnum works great. Both rifles are threaded, the Marlin 1/2x28, which I have a suppressor for. The Henry is 5/8x24 so I’d have to get a different mount. To be honest, I doubt I’ll fire either suppressed or often (cannot see either being as fun as the Kuna), but as they say - it’s there if I need it!
