Henry Big Boy .357 Carbine vs Side Gate Big Boy: How to Choose

Two Big Boy .357 / .38 rifles can look almost identical in a photo. The real differences live in the model number, the receiver metal and the barrel, so here is how to compare them properly.

Why this comparison is harder than it looks

The question behind this page is a common one: you see two Henry Big Boy .357 lever guns, both with a side gate and walnut stock, and the listings do not obviously explain why they are different products. The honest answer is that the differences are real but sit in small print.

Here is what our product data actually confirms.

The blanks in the right-hand column are deliberate. Rather than guess at a weight, barrel length or receiver material, this page tells you what to verify. That is the most reliable way to avoid buying the wrong variant.

The four attributes that actually separate Big Boys

1. Receiver material

Henry has built Big Boys with brass receivers and with steel receivers, and some steel versions have a color case hardened finish. Material is the single most visible difference, and it affects look, wear and feel.

• Brass is softer, develops a warm patina and shows handling marks over time. Many owners treat that as character rather than a flaw.
• Steel is generally tougher against dings, takes blued or case colored finishes, and is a more conventional match for a hunting rifle.

Neither material changes the basic rule: shoot only ammunition the manual approves for your model. If a dealer listing omits the receiver description, the model number will tell you what you are getting on Henry's own page.

2. Barrel length and shape

A 16.5-inch carbine barrel makes for a handier rifle in brush and a shorter overall package. Longer, full-size Big Boys give a bit more sight radius and more muzzle velocity from the same cartridge. Octagon barrels are a styling and handling choice: they look traditional and some shooters like the balance. Compare the barrel length in the listing title with what you want the rifle to do.

3. Capacity

A shorter barrel carries a shorter tube, which means fewer rounds. The carbine is listed at 7+1. Longer Big Boys with full-length tubes hold more. If you plan to shoot cowboy-style stages or just enjoy a deep magazine, capacity may matter more than carry weight. If you hunt, a shorter magazine is rarely a handicap, and some jurisdictions have rules on magazine capacity for hunting that you should check with your state agency.

4. Loading method

Both rifles are listed with a side gate. Per our Side Gate explainer, Henry's side-gate models let you top off through the receiver while keeping the removable tube for unloading. Older-style Henry Big Boys load only through the tube, which is a genuinely different way to run the rifle. If a listing does not mention a side gate, do not assume it has one.

What does not change between them

Several things are the same across the Big Boy .357 family, so they should not drive your choice:

• Cartridge options. Both fire .357 Magnum and the milder .38 Special. Our .357 Magnum lever gun guide covers how that pairing works for practice versus field use, and the revolver-side view is in the network's .38 Special versus .357 Magnum explainer.
• Tube magazine rules. Centerfire cartridges stack nose to tail, so pointed bullets are off the table. See the tube magazine ammo safety guide.
• Feeding fussiness. Overall cartridge length can affect feeding in any lever gun. Try a small box of a given load before buying more.

A simple way to decide

Work through these questions in order:

1. Do you want the shortest, lightest option? Pick the 16.5-inch carbine, since its barrel length is confirmed in the listing.
2. Do you care about receiver material for looks or wear? Confirm it on Henry's page for each model number, then choose by taste.
3. Do you want the biggest possible magazine? Check tube capacity for the specific model; a longer barrel usually means a longer tube.
4. Do you want a rifle that matches an existing revolver? Either works, since both are .357 / .38.

If none of those questions has a strong answer for you, the carbine is a sensible default because its main numbers are published in the listing and it is the more compact package. Read our full model review of the carbine for the long version.

When to buy neither

Two situations argue for a different rifle. If you want to use pointed, long-range bullets, a tube-fed Big Boy is the wrong tool and a box-magazine lever such as the Long Ranger fits better. And if your goal is simply cheap, quiet practice, a .22 lever gun does that job for much less per shot.

Bottom line

These two Big Boys share a cartridge, a loading gate and a look, and the differences between them are receiver material, barrel length, capacity and finish. Rather than trusting a thumbnail, match the model number to Henry's spec page, decide which of those four attributes matters most to you, and choose accordingly.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.