Winchester Repeating Arms 1873 - Manual (Page 16)

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• Move the rear sight base to the right to shoot
farther to the right on the target.
• Move the rear sight base to the left to shoot
farther to the left on the target.
Care should be taken not to mar the finish or bend
sight components when adjustments are made.
All sight adjustments are a matter of trial and error.
Remember, it is usually necessary to adjust your sights
when you change type or even brand of ammunition.
C leaning anD
m aintenanCe S uggeStionS
beFore PerForMing cleaning Procedures,
oPen the action and MaKe certain your riFle
is coMPletely unloaded. KeeP the MuZZle
Pointed in a saFe direction. Failure to
Follow these warnings could result in
serious injury or death.
wear eye Protection when disasseMbling
and cleaning your riFle to Prevent sPrings,
sPring-loaded Parts, solvents or other
agents FroM contacting your eyes, resulting
in injury.
KeeP all aMMunition away FroM the cleaning
area. never test the Mechanical Function oF
your riFle with live aMMunition. Failure to
Follow these warnings could result in
serious injury or death.
C leaning P roCeDureS
Your Model 1873 will function better and more
reliably over a longer period of time if it is properly
maintained and kept clean. Clean your firearm after
each day of shooting and more often if it becomes
excessively dirty. A minimum cleaning includes
wiping down the action and oiling key parts. Regular
maintenance will also include cleaning the barrel.
If you encounter a function problem be sure to give
your firearm a thorough cleaning to see if it solves
the problem before seeking the services of a
Winchester Repeating Arms Authorized Service
Center or our Service Facility in Arnold, Missouri,
or a qualified gunsmith.
1. Open the action by completely lowering the lever.
2. Use a cleaning rod with a tip and patch large
enough for a snug fit in the bore. Insert the rod
and patch into the barrel at the muzzle end and
run it back and forth several times. Care should be
exercised to ensure that neither the cleaning rod
nor the handle strikes the crown of the muzzle, as
damage to this area can adversely affect the
accuracy of the rifle. A muzzle guard can be
purchased separately from your local firearms
dealer to help protect the muzzle crown while
cleaning the barrel of your rifle.
3. Inspect the chamber and bore for brass, copper
and powder fouling. A normal amount of powder
residue can be expected and is not serious. It can
usually be removed by repeating step 2, using a
patch saturated with solvent. If, or when, fouling
should become heavy, it can be removed with a
brass bore brush. Dip or spray the brush with
solvent and scrub the chamber and bore until the
fouling is removed. To prevent brass bristles from
breaking off, the brush should be pushed
completely through the bore before being
withdrawn. Your rifle will operate more smoothly
and reliably with a clean bore and chamber.
4. To maintain the utmost accuracy of your rifle,
clean the bore with a copper or lead solvent. Swab
the bore of your rifle with solvent using the
product manufacturer’s recommended procedure.
5. After fouling has been removed, wipe the bore
dry. Then pass a lightly oiled patch through the
barrel for preservation. A fine, light gun oil is
recommended. The barrel and action should be