First Time Lever Gun

[Meatwad]

Hello all,

I recently bought my first lever action. I got a Uberti 1873 sproting rifle with the case hardened finish chambered in .45 colt. So far I love everything about the gun. Havent fired it though. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the lack of user manaul. It has one, just in my opinion for the price I paid I was expecting a bit more information other than some rudimentary information. So I have a few quesitons if you all dont mind answering some.

1. Cleaning...How often do you need to break down this gun and clean it. Should it be a full break down all the time or maybe just removing the side plates. This gun is definately not like my Remington 700 (hit a button bolt slides out. Nice and easy) Is there any thing special you have to do with case hardened? The manual just said keep it very well oiled.

2. How to break down...I have found one good youtube guide on breaking this rifle down from downeastgunworks and a book on amazon that I might order. Does anyone have any other resource they could link to.

3. Lastly is there a after market front sight that I would buy with perhaps a white bead or something I could see easier.


Thanks for the help.

[AJMD429]

All I do with most of my new guns is take them apart to make sure:

• there are no loose parts or shavings of metal
  all screws are tight
  to check what parts may be the most prone to overstressing (and learn how not to stress them)
  to check what parts may be the most prone to breakage (and learn how not to break them)
  to check what parts may be the easiest to lose (and order some extras)

I may file on and smooth some parts but not until after the first range-session.

As for 'cleaning' - I run a bore-snake through them once in awhile, and alternate cast and jacketed, and only 'brush' the barrel out once every 500 rounds or more with most of them.

As for more visible sights, don't forget to try a dab of white paint applied carefully, or careful use of a round-ball Dremel bit to dish-in the front and hold a bigger drop of colored epoxy, or use of a tiny drill front through back of the blade (if it is a wide blade) that you could set a brass brad into or a piece of fiberoptic, even (you can file into the top of a wide 'blade' sight and let light enter).
Winter front sight project link - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21648

P.S. - I almost forgot . . . . Welcome...!!!

[pwl44m]

Welcome to the fire. I have an Uberti 73 in 45 colt also, Mine is in the white, use My technique and U will never have to clean it. (don't shoot it) I know not much fun.
Perry

[ollogger]

HI & WELCOME
you got a fine rifle there
I took my 73 Winchester apart 2 times, first time was to see how the guts looked after 123 years
and to clean it up, 2nd time was to clean it after two thousand rounds & sell it, nothing against
the gun, just got the itch for a new to me toy

ollogger

[Griff]

and Welcome to the Forum.

A good guide to the '73 action can be found among Marauder's Rifle Tips.

I happen to really like the .45 Colt... I have a '73, an 1860 Henry, an 1885 single shot, a Rossi 1892 and 4 Colt and clone SAAs in .45 Colt. Excellent choice.

[M. M. Wright]

Welcome!

There are a couple of Uberti 73s in my safe which get wrung out a lot. Of course mine are 44-40 and I feed them ffg. Shot a SASS match last Wednesday and only swabbed the bore a few times after. I usually take the side plates off, (watch out, the toggle links will fall off if you turn it sideways) about once a year. You will want to clean the inside after a few hundred rounds. If you try to loosen the springs on the elevator or lever, be advised that Guido puts about 80 foot pounds of torque on them.(I know, that's an exaggeration but you may believe it after loosening them.) You need a very well fitting screwdriver preferably with a "T" handle.

I wish somebody engraved the bottom of the lifter with the caliber like the originals.

[O.S.O.K.]

Welcome to the board!

I too like the bore snakes as they do a very good job and prevent muzzle wear. If you're shooting smokeless loads though, you really don't need to clean the bore out after every shooting session. I used to shoot cowboy action would only clean the bore every three months or so - just kept the working parts oiled. That was smokeless, cast boolit loads. And you definately don't need to dissasemble very often at all unless there's a problem.

For the front sight - Marbles makes several different types and heights - Brownells is a good source.

Cool first levergun!

[Blaine]

Welcome to the Home for Riflemen....

[mikld]

While I don't own an Uberti, the procedure is the same with each new gun I get (factory new or used). I disassemble the gun as far as I feel safe. I liberally spray with break clean or electronics cleaner removing any oil, grease, machining chips, etc., down to bare metal. I then apply an oil to all necessary wear/friction points and reassemble. The barrel gets a normal cleaning (on some parts I use 5-20 motor oil and some parts a very thin gun oil) This produces two good results; I become familiar with the innards/workings of the gun and any stuff left over from manufacturing or previous owners is removed...

OOPS! almost fergot; Welcome!

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Howdy and welcome to the fire.

Lot's of good advice above. I would add, your gun chambered in 45lc will tend to blow crud back into the action if you are using some of the down loaded Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) style 45lc ammo. Part of the problem is an anomaly in how the 45lc chamber is reamed. The chambers are actually a bit too big compared to more modern calibers. The tell is cases that are heavily smutted with black soot.
I've actually had 45lc CAS rifles sent in for work because they developed a failure to extract. This is because the extractor is raised over the rim when chambered and fired and this allows the crud to build up under the extractor to a point that it fails to hook the rim anymore.

So, you may need to clean it more often.

[FatJackDurham]

Nice! I need a '73. Post pictures if you get a chance. We'll look forward to your first range report!

[Meatwad]

Thanks for all the great information. I had a feeling this was the right spot. So the story behind the gun (and why the case is in the photo) is I picked up the case in Mexcio about 2 years ago on my wife and my honeymoon. After getting home I found that none of the guns I owned would fit in the case so I was able to justify after about 2 years that I needed to get a lever action so the case wasnt just sitting around empty and here we are!!! I will post the first range next week. We are going on Tuesday if all works out.

[pwl44m]

Thats Nice, never thot about buying a gun case first. Will have to try that one.
Perry

[pokey]

Welcome to the Home for Riflemen....

yepper. and a couple wayward pistoleros as well.

I needed to get a lever action so the case wasnt just sitting around empty and here we are!!!

good thinkin.

[vedearduff]

You are going to love that rifle. I have one in .44WCF and would not want to be without it. I picked it up in '97 when I got started in Western Action Shooting, my favorite load is a compressed (approx .1 inch) load of 3F GOEX black powder, behind a Big Lube 200 grainer.

Here are a couple photos.

[Meatwad]

Nice gun Vedearduff and thanks for all the info and links to guides.

I ran about 25 rounds through it at the range this weekend. Made no sight adjustments just wanted to toss some lead out of it down range.

I started to clean it tonight ran into to a bit of a problem. I picked up some Grace USA screw drivers and everthing was going well until I decided to take the lever springs off because I wanted to pull the carrier block and wipe it down as it was really dirty. I went to remove the lever springs and those babies are in there so tight it snapped tip of the screw driver. So my question, what is a good set of screw drivers and can you please provide links.

Also does anyone have a nice homemade gun holder for cleaning? I was using one I bought my dad for Christmas a ways back but it is not ment for lever guns. Post pictures (So I can copy your design )

Again thanks for all your help

[Meatwad]

Took the gun to the range yesterday and the attention it took me a bit by suprise. The range instructors where all looking and it and I let shoot it and a bunch of people were coming up and looking at it drooling. Got a few scratches in the stock so I think I have to spend some money on a butt stock cover. Oh well I didnt buy it to sit in the house and look pretty. The friend I was shooting with just couldnt get over how great it shot. It is really sweet glad I went with it.

[AJMD429]

Sounds like you're hooked - this is very unlikely to be your last levergun...!

I've had all sorts of screwdrivers and sets and not all that happy with any of them. I got a set of "Chapman" bits with a handle, and a couple broke off over the years without any real abuse. Got a set I think of "Pachmayr" screwdrivers and two snapped off (honestly, I don't torque screws that hard...!). Currently have a Lowe's "Kobalt" driver and handle of two different sizes and each has two slotted screwdriver sizes. Works well for those screws it actually fits. I have a hodgepodge of 'bits' I've gathered over the years and a 1/4" driver.

No gun-vice for a levergun, though I did build a levergun-specific rifle rest for shooting that could be used I suppose...


Cost me just a few bucks for stuff at Ace Hardware and some scrap wood.

Here's a thread I just put up on it - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47960