lever action cleaning

[GRIZ1911]

Does anyone remove the bolt from their lever action to clean from the breech side?

 

[ku4hx]

I have, but since the action is completely locked upon firing, only the chamber and bore get dirty for the most part. A rod guide will protect the muzzle if your worried about that. Or use a "non abrasive" rod and be careful

 

[CraigC]

Never.

 

[delrom418]

I remove the bolt for cleaning my '94 Marlin when I shoot black powder in it. It's really easy, just remove one screw and both the finger lever and the bolt come out. I don't bother when I shoot smokeless. Then I just use a muzzle guide and run the cleaning rod in from the muzzle.

 

[rcmodel]

Marlins yes.

Winchesters NO.

As stated above Merlin's are super easy.

Winchesters on the other hand are not.

rc

 

[Missouri Farmer]

I removed the bolt once on a Winchester style lever action to give it a good cleaning. Won't be doing that again. Took me a long time to put it all back together.

 

[jr_roosa]

I did once on my Model 94, but that was just because I took it down for it's once-every-40-years detail cleaning.

I'd never bother to do it otherwise and just clean from the muzzle.

-J.

 

[JeffDilla]

I echo the remarks about Marlins. I remove the bolt from my 1895G when cleaning it. Takes a matter of seconds to remove the screw and lever and the bolt slides out.

 

[WYOMan]

Bore snake.

 

[ontarget]

Yes bore snake. I love them.

 

[The Alaskan]

not no but hell no.

 

[stubbicatt]

1873 Winchester clone. Only time I remove the bolt and interior parts is the once a year detail cleaning. The design seems to keep residue forward of the bolt and cartridge lifter.

There is this sort of funnel shaped muzzle protector device on the cleaning rod that engages the crown area to prevent contact with the cleaning rod.

 

[Ifishsum]

I take my Win 94 down for a detail cleaning after deer hunting season, as the rifle usually gets thoroughly soaked inside and out at some point in the season and I don't want any rust on inside parts. Otherwise I would probably not take it apart very often.

 

[hoghunting]

My Marlins, yes. Sold the Winchesters. It is too easy to remove the bolts from Marlins and Henrys.

 

[Merle1]

I removed the bolt once on a Winchester style lever action to give it a good cleaning. Won't be doing that again. Took me a long time to put it all back together.

Amen to that! Once was enough for a Winchester! Marlins, however, are a piece of cake.

 

[BCRider]

I occasionally shoot black powder in my 92 and I use it a lot and in some nasty weather as part of my cowboy action shooting. So I tend to do a full detail strip about every 6 to 8 months instead of the once a year of the others.

At that time I take advantage of the occasion to clean from the breech. But the rest of the time if it does get cleaned at all due to shooting black powder loads then it's cleaned from the muzzle using a crown protector on the rod.

I don't strip it every time because the pin that holds the bolt to the lever is eventually going to wear and I'll need to "swage" the bolt or the pin to give it back the grip it needs. By not doing a full strip other then when it really needs I can stretch that day out to many years in the future.

Cleaning from the muzzle does not need to be a harsh or damaging treatment if it's done right. Many guns do not provide for cleaning from the breech.

 

[jeepnik]

Marlins I always remove the bolt.

Winchesters and Winchester clones I generally clean from the muzzle end. With the exception of the annual tear down and complete cleaning.

The exception to the above are takedown models of course.

 

[MEHavey]

I (almost) never remove either the `94 or `95 Marlin bolts.

Put an empty case (w/ a patch inside as absorber) into the action and close it.
Clean from the muzzle with a Dewey Rod and(or) muzzle guide.
Simple.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

My Marlin is easy to remove the bolt so I do. Now, my ruger mark 2 pistol is a whole other story.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Ain't nothing to a MK II....

 

[AStone]

Marlins yes.

Marlins I always remove the bolt.

My Marlin is easy to remove the bolt so I do.

Ditto Marlin. 336, 30-30

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I shoot Black Powder almost exclusively in my lever guns.

Winchester toggle links: Henry, 1873, no.







Not all that difficult to take them apart, but not really necessary for routine cleaning. These models must be completely taken down to use a cleaning rod from the breech end. Instead, a few patches in the slotted end of my cleaning rod from the muzzle with my favorite Black Powder water based solvent. Clean around the carrier with a couple more patches. The fact that most of the action is further back than the carrier keeps most of the fouling out of the rest of the action. It helps that these rifles are chambered for 44-40 and 38-40. The exceedingly thin brass at the case mouth expands beautifully to keep most of the fouling in the bore where it belongs.





Winchester 1892, real pain to take them apart and put back together again, so I never do that anymore.






Marlin 1894: Super easy to take down, one screw and the lever, bolt, and locking lug come out, easy to clean from the breech end.

 

[rcmodel]

Toggle-link Winchesters were easy until the stronger locking block 86, 92, 94, 95 and 71 came along.

Taking the bolt out was a Whole different ball game then!

rc

 

[Merle1]

Nice collection! Can I get in your will?

 

[MechAg94]

Agreed. I don't think I will ever disassemble my Rossi 92 ever again.