Cimarron1873 maintainence question

[Gundogblue]

I've got a new Cimarron 1873 rifle in .45 Colt,  I've only put 150 rnds through it. And I clean it after each shooting session, but at how many rnd intervals do you guys take the side plates off to clean and lube the toggle mechanism?
Thanks
Paul

[DeaconKC]

If you are running smokeless, I have gone 300+ rounds. If BP or subs, after each match.

[Gundogblue]

Ok thanks I'm shooting light starting loads with smokeless AA#5 out of it.
Thanks,
Paul

[DeaconKC]

Okay, with light loads in .45 Colt, you are going to get more 'blowback' into your actions on all your guns. I run a heavier load of 7.5 grains of Unique with a 200 grain bullet on the advice of folks here to use a heavier load to help with the problem.

[Abilene]

I only shoot smokeless in my 45 '73.  After 2500 rounds of both 45 Colt and 45 Schofield, I have yet to take off the side plates for cleaning, and it runs fine.  In my 44 Spcl '66, I ran BP and BP substitutes quite a bit, thousands of rounds, and I didn't clean the innards for years, just sprayed Ballistol into the action when cleaning.  When I finally opened it up, it was pretty grungy with goop but still functioning fine.  YMMV.

[Gundogblue]

DeaconKC,
You're right about the blowback, i use light loads in my .45 SAA and those cases get pretty sooty. But the reason I'm using starting loads in my 73 is cuz I've heard that toggle action is pretty weak, and I sure don't want to hurt that rifle.
Paul

[Coffinmaker]

  Gundogblue

You're listening to Old Wives Tales.  The Uberti and Miroku 1873 Replicas are not "weak actions."  Not as strong as a 92, but are successfully chambered and proofed for 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum.  You're not going to hurt it with reasonable SAAMI ammunition.

You're going to get "Blow By" regardless of load.  The 45 case will NOT expand sufficiently to seal the chamber.  It is possible to mitigate some of the Blow By with heavy loads but not eliminate it.  The only ways to eliminate Blow By is to anneal your cases or fire form 44-40 cases to 45 Colt.

[Gundogblue]

Thanks for all the good info, it's good to know I can load for that rifle to standard factory .45 Colt pressures. Again I want to thank all you guys for your time and input.
Paul

[Froogal]

For what it is worth, I load my .45s with 8.5 grains of Unique under a 200 grain bullet and I still get blowback.

[Coffinmaker]

  Froogal

Yepper.  Reference my above post (second Para) for Gundogblue, your load won't stop Blow-By.  You can either live with it or fix it.  There are two "Fixes."  One is to anneal your 45 Colt cases.  The annealing makes the Colt case soft enough it will obturate (expand) to seal the chamber and will work even with light loads.  Two is to carefully run 44-40 cases thru 45 Colt dies, then fire form them to be 45 Colt.  The fire formed 44-40 will seal the chamber as well and both will run as clean as any of the dash calibers.


I DO NOT recommend annealing for Pistol ammo.  Won't be real harmonious for ejection.

[Froogal]

Froogal

Yepper.  Reference my above post (second Para) for Gundogblue, your load won't stop Blow-By.  You can either live with it or fix it.  There are two "Fixes."  One is to anneal your 45 Colt cases.  The annealing makes the Colt case soft enough it will obturate (expand) to seal the chamber and will work even with light loads.  Two is to carefully run 44-40 cases thru 45 Colt dies, then fire form them to be 45 Colt.  The fire formed 44-40 will seal the chamber as well and both will run as clean as any of the dash calibers.


I DO NOT recommend annealing for Pistol ammo.  Won't be real harmonious for ejection.

So far I have been just living with the blow back issues and doing a thorough cleaning every so often.

Point taken on the annealing of pistol ammo.

I have acquired a 44-40 rifle (black powder) and have played with it some but other commitments have prevented me from getting real serious about the whole black powder thing. Hopefully I will have more time and energy soon.