Cleaning my Uberti 1873 Winchester after a light day at the range

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VMass

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Due to health issues, I don't get to the range as often as I used to. And when I do go, I often shoot 100 rounds, or less, per gun.
My question is how far do I need to breakdown my Uberti 1873 Winchester clone for cleaning when I've shot 100, or less, smokeless rounds? Aside from thoroughly cleaning the barrel, I used to breakdown everything short of the trigger assembly, but I don't always have the stamina to go that far anymore.
I want to be sure I hand down that rifle, my favorite, to my boys in good condition. Looking for some good advice here.
Thanks all.
 
I would pull one side cover off only so the toggles don't fall out and do a basic visual inspection for crud. It might be very clean. A light cleaning and a greasing of the toggles and its off to the races. Make sure you use an appropriate size hollow ground screw driver and do not force anything.
 
On my model 94, I clean the bore using a bore snake followed by a otis pull-thru with patches. To clean the inner works, an aerosol type cleaner like Balistol followed by some compressed air really shines for this task. For the exterior metal, I just use a little motor oil applied with a small paint brush. The brand/weigh/viscosity/synthetic status of the motor oil doesn't matter- its not a car. I buy a quart of the cheapest motor oil at auto zone for this- a quart lasts me for years, and I shoot a lot.
 
For a non-autoloading firearm, I usually give the barrel a few passes and swab the bolt face after each range session. Unless you are using black powder, unlubed lead bullets or corrosive primers, this should do the trick.

It isn't a bad idea to give the internals on an 1873 a good inspection right after purchase, in case the factory missed a few metal shavings. Be careful -- the edges of this side plate can be sharp! After that I would be inclined to leave the sideplate alone until the action feels sluggish/gummy.

BTW, Karl at InrangeTV did a comparison between Henry and Uberti 1860 reproductions -- you may find his discussion of the action interesting (the 1873 is a derivative):

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=951373635238969
 
I had an original '73, one of the simplest actions ever since you can get to everything just by removing the screwed on side cover.

Aside from a good strip cleaning when I first got it, just regular barrel cleaning like any other rifle. I was using my light reloads with TrailBoss.
 
I've had mine for 13yrs and it hasn't been cleaned yet. Unless you're shooting blackpowder, there's no reason to "break down" a levergun to clean it. Little reason with blackpowder. As far as cleaning every range outing with smokeless, don't waste your time.
 
Clean guns stay in the safe. Dirty guns are taken out to play.
No need to clean it, let alone detail strip it, without a good reason.
Yeah, I know, some vets can't sleep at night if they put their gun away dirty... ;)
Moon
 
You’re scooting smokeless, and you’re not using grandpas 90 year old primers or some kind of Cold War milsurp ammo, so there is absolutely no need to clean your gun. Wipe down the outside with ballistol and put a couple of patches down the barrel if you feel the need. Otherwise, shoot it some more.
 
BRatigan said:
I would pull one side cover off only so the toggles don't fall out and do a basic visual inspection for crud. It might be very clean. A light cleaning and a greasing of the toggles and its off to the races. Make sure you use an appropriate size hollow ground screw driver and do not force anything.
Click to expand...

Music to my ears. Thats what I had intended to do and it's comforting to hear another person confirming it's enough. Tanks.
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
For a non-autoloading firearm, I usually give the barrel a few passes and swab the bolt face after each range session. Unless you are using black powder, unlubed lead bullets or corrosive primers, this should do the trick.

It isn't a bad idea to give the internals on an 1873 a good inspection right after purchase, in case the factory missed a few metal shavings. Be careful -- the edges of this side plate can be sharp! After that I would be inclined to leave the sideplate alone until the action feels sluggish/gummy.

BTW, Karl at InrangeTV did a comparison between Henry and Uberti 1860 reproductions -- you may find his discussion of the action interesting (the 1873 is a derivative):

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=951373635238969
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
CraigC said:
I've had mine for 13yrs and it hasn't been cleaned yet. Unless you're shooting blackpowder, there's no reason to "break down" a levergun to clean it. Little reason with blackpowder. As far as cleaning every range outing with smokeless, don't waste your time.
Click to expand...

Thanks. You're confirming my gut feeling. Since my '73 is my my favorite rifle, I want to be able to hand it down to my boys in excellent condition and it looks like I may have been overdoing the cleaning in the past.
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
For a non-autoloading firearm, I usually give the barrel a few passes and swab the bolt face after each range session. Unless you are using black powder, unlubed lead bullets or corrosive primers, this should do the trick.

It isn't a bad idea to give the internals on an 1873 a good inspection right after purchase, in case the factory missed a few metal shavings. Be careful -- the edges of this side plate can be sharp! After that I would be inclined to leave the sideplate alone until the action feels sluggish/gummy.

BTW, Karl at InrangeTV did a comparison between Henry and Uberti 1860 reproductions -- you may find his discussion of the action interesting (the 1873 is a derivative):

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=951373635238969
Click to expand...

Watching the You Tube now. Thanks!
 
VMass said:
That's solid advice to anyone with a Winchester '73, clone or not. I have a dedicated screwdriver set and an extra set of Uberti screws for this specific rifle.
Click to expand...
the screw are on sale often on midway. I keep an extra set too. They get dinged, it happens
 
'73s are indeed nifty rifles; have the Miroku version, and it is a ball to shoot. With modest loads, you're never apt to wear it out.
BTW, have a tang sight on mine; makes a real difference for those of us with ahem, seasoned, eyes.
Moon
 
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