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April 26, 2015
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I’ve had this 44 cal 3rd model 1873 for 3-4 years. The bore looked very good when I bought it but I couldn’t chamber a round. It was 1/4 inch out of battery. “Hmmm, something must be in there” I thought. I probed and picked and finally extracted a 1/4 inch-long ring of brass. After that, it would chamber a round but only with great difficulty; the lever often pinching my pinkie finger as I forced it closed. “Hmmm, something else must be in there” I again thought. I couldn’t see anything with a bore light so I bought a bore scope figgerin I could always use it to perform colonoscopies on neighbors. This is what I found (see brass halo) and, after disassembling the rifle, I was able to pick it out after hours of struggling with improvised tools. After reassembly, the rifle shoots like a dream. I can only speculate as to how 1/2 of brass got jammed into the chamber.
BK
Bruce,
An easy way to remove broken casings out of a chamber without worrying about scratching it:
Brownells sells a product called Cerrosafe. It is very similar to lead but the melting point is only 170*. Get one of the small pouring lead ladels and melt a small piece of the cerrosafe. You can melt it with a propane torch or if you have a gas kitchen range that works well also. Lightly pack a small piece of cotton just in front of the case neck. lightly oil the exposed area of the chamber with a Q-tip. Pour the cerrosafe in until most of the chamber is full. Use a brass rod to knock out the offending casing. The whole process takes about 5 minutes. No worries about damaging the chamber…………The cerrosafe is reusable so just toss it back in the ladel, remelt it and fish out the debris with a pair of needle nosed pliers.
Best,
Erin
I have a broken shell extractor for 44-40. I bought some loading tools years ago and it was in with the stuff.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Well, now that the horses are out of the barn, here’s a video on how to close the gates: https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-mozilla-004&hsimp=yhs-004&hspart=mozilla&p=broken+cartridge+extractor#id=2&vid=609093f6a475a029d171e89601cd5ad3&action=click
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
I disagree with Mr. Potterfield using the steel rod…….. I will stick to brass. But that’s just me and to each their own.
Erin
November 7, 2015
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I’ve never failed to get one out with an oversize cleaning brush but I’ve only had a few. Glad you got that old 1873 shooting again, Bruce.
April 26, 2015
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The first one came out with a .45 cal brass brush but the second one wouldn’t budge. The bore scope really helped. Think of your colonoscopies and how doc does his work. One has to focus on the image, not on the hand, the gun or the tool. Still, I prefer to not do this again.
November 7, 2015
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What did we do before bore scopes? I use mine now and then but the images can be alarming. I understand they’ve helped sell quite a few barrels.
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