Lever-Action Ammo by Cartridge: What to Feed Each Henry

Most lever-gun ammunition problems come from three mix-ups: the wrong bullet shape, the wrong pressure level or the wrong cartridge entirely. Here is a map by caliber.

Three questions to ask of every box

Before you buy ammunition for any lever gun, ask three questions. Is it the exact cartridge stamped on the barrel? Is the bullet a shape the magazine can safely hold? Is the load at a pressure level the rifle's manual approves? A yes on all three is a purchase. A "probably" on any of them is a pause.

The rest of this guide applies those questions caliber by caliber, using the cartridges found in the Henry and Chiappa rifles we cover elsewhere on this site.

Start with magazine type

The reason is in our tube magazine safety guide: in a tube, each bullet tip rests against the primer of the round ahead of it. A blunt tip spreads force; a sharp one does not. Hornady's LEVERevolution line is an example of a design with a flexible tip intended to be safe in tubes, but check each load's labeling.

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

Rifles such as the Henry Big Boy .357 are marked for both cartridges, and .38 Special is the milder, shorter round of the pair. That gives you two modes: gentle practice and full-power field loads. The one-way rule is the key: a .357 Magnum chamber can usually take .38 Special, but a gun marked only for .38 Special must never be fed .357 Magnum.

• Practice: standard .38 Special in flat-nose, round-nose or semi-wadcutter shapes.
• Field and full power: .357 Magnum loads in tube-safe shapes.
• Watch: very short or oddly shaped .38 loads can feed differently from standard-length rounds.

You can browse the .357 Magnum ammunition category and sort by bullet type. The network's guide to ammunition for the Henry lever action covers .357 and .44 Magnum choices in more depth.

.44 Magnum and .44 Special

The same one-way logic applies. A rifle marked .44 Magnum may also accept .44 Special, but check the manual rather than assume. A rifle marked only for .44 Special would never take .44 Magnum. For Magnum shooting, pick tube-safe bullets; our .44 Magnum brush gun guide explains why the cartridge suits thick cover.

You can browse the .44 Magnum ammunition category for current options. .44 Special is milder, and some rifles feed it less smoothly than Magnum rounds, so test it before buying in quantity.

.45 Colt

.45 Colt is a classic that comes in a huge range of strengths, and the strongest loads are intended only for very strong modern revolvers. In a lever gun, stay with standard-pressure loads that the rifle's manual allows. Never mistake .454 Casull for .45 Colt, since .454 Casull rounds are far stronger and must not be fired in a gun marked for .45 Colt. Our Henry Side Gate .45 Colt review goes into this.

.45-70 Government

.45-70 is the cartridge where pressure differences matter most. Loads exist from mild, trapdoor-era levels up through hard-hitting modern hunting loads and, beyond that, specialty loads for the strongest single-shot and bolt rifles. A lever action belongs in the middle band, so look for ammunition labeled as suitable for modern lever-action rifles and read the manual. Our guide to modern .45-70 loads explains the tiers, and the network offers a stocking-oriented .45-70 buying guide and a matching-loads guide.

.22 rimfire

Rimfire levers like the Golden Boy are the easy case for bullet shape, since rimfire primers sit in the rim, not the center of the case head. Cartridge matching still counts:

• .22 LR rifles may also take Short and Long, according to the model's marking and manual.
• .22 WMR is a different cartridge. Do not mix .22 WMR and .22 LR, and do not try to load a WMR round into a .22 LR rifle or the reverse.
• .22 Short-only rifles are not for longer .22 cartridges.

For a general look at rimfire choices, the network's best .22 LR ammo by use is a decent start.

Box-magazine rifles: 6.5 Creedmoor and .223

The Long Ranger's box magazine accepts pointed bullets, so your options are the same as for any rifle in the chambering. Match the cartridge exactly. For the .223 rifle, confirm in the manual whether 5.56 NATO is approved, since .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO are not interchangeable in every chamber. You can browse the whole rifle ammunition category for both calibers. Our Long Ranger guide explains the platform.

A quick reference table

Habits that prevent most problems

1. Test small first. Buy one box and cycle it through the rifle before stocking up.
2. Check overall length. Odd shapes can jam or fail to feed.
3. Store ammunition dry and cool, away from unauthorized access.
4. For the final word, the manual wins. If a retailer's text and the manual disagree, follow the manual.

For the wider compatibility picture, the network's ammo mix-up chart shows what chambers and what doesn't across common calibers.

Bottom line

Feed each lever gun the exact cartridge it is marked for, in a bullet shape its magazine can hold, at a pressure level its manual approves. Do that, and the ammunition side of lever-gun ownership becomes simple.

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.