My New Old 1873 Winchester

[Thumper]

I just bought one, Ser # says made in 1892-93. I'll be shooting BP only and my question is about lube. I make lube pills out of beeswax, parraffin and tallow, these work well in my handguns and I've put this mixture in the bullet (32-20) greasering for the rifle. It's a typical small grease ring (not DD type) so I'm wondering if that's enough lube or should I put a pill in the shell before seating the bullet....naturally leaving enough space for good, not overmuch compression. Thanks.

[rbertalotto]

NICE!!!!!

I recently rebuilt an 1873 (1884 vintage), 38-40   www.rvbprecision.com

I've been shooting BP in different ways.

I've used Goex Cartridge and FF (30g) and see no difference in accuracy or fouling......

I started shooting with a 1/16" vegetable wad under the Lyman BP bullet with SPG in the grooves. Great accuracy initial and very mild BP clean up. Very little fouling in the bore. But accuracy falls off after about 30 rounds.

I then switched to a 1/16' vegetable wad then a SPG "disc" then the Lyman BP bullet. Better long term accuracy. Easily can shoot 50-60 round with no accuracy drop off.

But the overall best solution is the vegetable wad, SPG disc and Big Lube bullet with SPG lube. Near zero fouling. Accuracy simply never drops off (at least up to 120 rounds as this i8s the most I've shot without cleaning) and super easy clean up.

[rifle]

Cool rifle Thumper.
The loading mentioned sounds like a good one. One thing....what's a "disc" of SPG Lube? Is it akin to the venerable "LUBE PILL"?
Just hackin round.
A disc of SPG would be hard to make wouldn't it? The SPG being so soft and all.
Softer is better I know but...how is it to work with the soft SPG LUBE DISC?
Yep...I'd say using the BIG LUBE BULLETs would be a winner. Might get away with a Lyman Bullet ifin there's a lube pill under the bullet.
I have a denim belt bag/purse thingy, my wife made me for s sectioned screw together cleaning rod. I can carry a rod in the pack on my belt....just in case fouling builds. Don't use the rod much anymore though.
You have to watch usin overly soft lube in cartridges in the summer when it's really hot. I add some extra paraffin to my mix for warm weather use of the LUBE PILLS.

[w44wcf]

Thumper,
Nice rifle!  If you were to use Swiss B.P. you would not need a lube cookie / pill, just a good b.p. lube in the lube groove.  A distant friend has a '73 32 WCF with a 28" barrel (4" longer than standard). He has used the Lyman 3118 bullet lubed with SPG and backed by Swiss FFFG.  Great accuracy and no "foul out" for many shots without cleaning.

With any other b.p.'s you likely will need the additional lube capacity.

Have fun!

w44wcf

[Thumper]

Thanks for the tip on using Swiss powder. I've had the rifle completely apart, fixed what needed fixin' replaced the extractor and am waiting on some shell's so I can load and shoot some!!!