Best Ammo for the Henry Lever Action (.357 & .44 Mag)
Table of Contents
🎯 What You'll Learn
- Why lever guns in pistol calibers are experiencing a massive renaissance
- .357 Magnum vs .44 Magnum from a 16-20" rifle barrel — velocity gains that change everything
- Best ammo for home defense, hunting, and cowboy action shooting
- The revolver/lever gun combo advantage: one caliber, two platforms
- Why Buffalo Bore exists and when you need it
The lever action rifle is experiencing a genuine renaissance. At SHOT Show 2025, Henry, Marlin, Smith & Wesson, Heritage, Fightlite, and Aero Precision all showcased new lever gun models. Modern shooters are discovering what their grandparents already knew: a lever gun in a pistol caliber is one of the most versatile, practical firearms you can own.
The Henry Big Boy X in .357 Magnum is the most popular rifle in Henry's lineup, and for good reason. A pistol caliber fired from a 16-20 inch rifle barrel gains 300-600 fps over the same round from a revolver. That transforms a .357 Magnum from a strong handgun cartridge into a legitimate 150-yard rifle cartridge. A .44 Magnum from a lever gun barrel becomes a genuine 200-yard deer round.
And here's the kicker: both shoot .38 Special and .44 Special respectively. That means cheap, soft-recoiling practice ammo from the same gun that launches magnum hunting loads.
Quick Picks
| Use Case | .357 Mag Pick | .44 Mag Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Home Defense | Hornady LeverEvolution 140gr FTX | Hornady LeverEvolution 225gr FTX |
| Deer Hunting | Buffalo Bore Heavy .357 158gr JHP | Hornady 240gr XTP |
| Hog Hunting | Buffalo Bore Heavy .357 180gr HC | Buffalo Bore Heavy .44 Mag 305gr HC |
| Range / Practice | .38 Special 130gr FMJ | .44 Special 200gr FMJ |
| Cowboy Action | .38 Special 125gr LFN | .44 Special 200gr LSWC |
The Rifle Barrel Velocity Advantage
This is the single most important thing to understand about pistol caliber lever guns: the longer barrel dramatically changes what the cartridge can do.
A typical .357 Magnum 158gr JHP from a 4-inch revolver barrel: ~1,250 fps, ~548 ft-lbs. The same round from a Henry Big Boy's 20-inch barrel: ~1,850 fps, ~1,200 ft-lbs. That's a 48% velocity increase and a 119% energy increase. The .357 Magnum from a rifle barrel produces more energy than a .30-30 Winchester at 100 yards.
For .44 Magnum, the gains are equally dramatic. A 240gr JHP from a 6.5-inch revolver: ~1,350 fps, ~971 ft-lbs. From a 20-inch lever gun: ~1,750 fps, ~1,631 ft-lbs. That's legitimate elk-class energy at 50 yards.
The Revolver/Lever Combo
If you own a .357 Magnum revolver and a Henry .357 lever gun, you have a pistol and a rifle that shoot the same ammo, the same magazines (well, same ammo boxes), and can share your entire ammunition supply. One caliber, two platforms, all use cases covered from concealed carry to 150-yard deer hunting. This is the most practical firearms combo most people can own.
Hornady LeverEvolution: Made for Lever Guns
Hornady LeverEvolution 140gr FTX (.357 Magnum)
Hornady designed the LeverEvolution line specifically for tubular-magazine lever guns. The FTX bullet has a flexible polymer tip that's safe to load in a tube magazine (pointed bullets in tube mags can cause primer detonation under recoil — the FTX tip prevents this). From a 20-inch Henry barrel, the 140gr FTX hits approximately 2,000 fps with over 1,200 ft-lbs of energy.
For home defense, the FTX tip initiates reliable expansion while the reduced weight (140gr vs. 158gr) produces slightly less recoil and faster follow-up shots. Lever guns are inherently slower to reload than semi-autos — every round counting is important.
Check Price →Hunting Loads
Buffalo Bore Heavy .357 Magnum 158gr JHP
Buffalo Bore specializes in hot-loaded ammunition that pushes calibers to their maximum safe pressure. Their Heavy .357 158gr JHP is rated at 1,475 fps from a 4-inch revolver — from a 20-inch lever gun, expect approximately 2,000+ fps and 1,400+ ft-lbs. That's more than enough for whitetail deer at 100-125 yards and hogs at moderate range.
Buffalo Bore's quality control is excellent and their loads are tested to remain within SAAMI pressure specifications even at these elevated velocities. This is premium ammo at ~$1.50-2.00/round, but for hunting, you're shooting 2-3 rounds at game, not boxes at the range.
Check Price →Practice Ammo: Shoot .38 Special
Every .357 Magnum lever gun shoots .38 Special. Every .44 Magnum lever gun shoots .44 Special. This is your practice ammo. .38 Special 130gr FMJ costs roughly $0.30-0.40/round vs. $0.60-1.00/round for .357 Magnum. You can practice all day for half the cost.
The lighter loads have noticeably less recoil, which makes them ideal for new shooters and for building fundamentals. The lever action cycling is identical — you're practicing the same muscle memory for less money.
Do NOT Shoot .357 Maximum or .357 SuperMag in a Henry
These are different, longer cartridges that will not chamber in a standard .357 Magnum lever gun. They are designed for specific single-shot and revolver platforms. Using the wrong cartridge can damage the gun and injure the shooter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I shoot .38 Special +P in my Henry .357?
Are pointed bullets safe in a tubular magazine?
Henry vs Marlin — does the ammo differ?
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