For me, picking the right cartridge can result in cleaner guns. Straight walled cases often result in lots of blowback into the action. I have several leverguns and the bottleneck cartridges shoot so much cleaner that they rarely need interior cleaning. I currently shoot mostly Uberti reproductions, 44-40 Henry, 44-40 Model 1866, 45 Colt Model 1873, 45-75 Model 1875, and 45-70 Model 1886. The dirtiest of the bunch is the Model 1873 shooting straight-walled 45 Colt. Actually the Model 1886 shoots pretty clean probably due to the long case.
As for deep cleaning, the Model 1873 is the toughest levergun to strip and reassemble and if I had it to do over, it would be a 44-40, but the 30" Deluxe model was too much to pass up. I am a firm believer or keeping guns oiled and that allows me to shoot them longer between cleaning, but I probably have to do a deep clean my 1873 a few times a year, certainly not every time I take it shooting. If the gun is not running dry, it will shoot a long time without issues and will never rust. If one shoots black powder, that is a whole different story and I don't need that headache.
As for deep cleaning, the Model 1873 is the toughest levergun to strip and reassemble and if I had it to do over, it would be a 44-40, but the 30" Deluxe model was too much to pass up. I am a firm believer or keeping guns oiled and that allows me to shoot them longer between cleaning, but I probably have to do a deep clean my 1873 a few times a year, certainly not every time I take it shooting. If the gun is not running dry, it will shoot a long time without issues and will never rust. If one shoots black powder, that is a whole different story and I don't need that headache.
Attachments
Last edited:
