Old 1873 Winchester Barrel Reline Project

rbertalotto · Post by **rbertalotto** » Fri May 04, 2012 7:53 am

I went out to the shop and stripped the 1873 down to receiver and barrel.

Need to remove the barrel to put it into the lathe to bore it out. I was extremely concerned about removing a barrel from a 128 year old gun. But I put the barrel into the vise, attached the receiver wrench and with about 20 pounds of force the barrel simply popped right off! NICE!

You can follow the whole project if you like on my web site......complete with pictures!

www.rvbprecision.com

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Fri May 04, 2012 8:08 am

excellent....
wish i was there to learn this stuff....outstanding!

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Fri May 04, 2012 9:02 am

Thanks for the link!

perry owens · Post by **perry owens** » Fri May 04, 2012 9:11 am

Following your progress with interest. My 1890 vintage 1873 in 38-40 needs a reline but there is only one guy in the UK who relines bores and he won't do it. I wanted to do it myself but it is illegal to export a barrel liner from the US without an export licence, which costs $300+, so with the liner, licence and chambering reamer I would be in for over $600. With the pitted bore accuracy is ok for CAS so I guess I will stick with that.
Perry Owens

rbertalotto · Post by **rbertalotto** » Fri May 04, 2012 9:46 am

Sorry to hear you can't reline for less. But if I had the work done here in USA it would be $400. So $600 isn't too terrible.

rbertalotto · Post by **rbertalotto** » Fri May 04, 2012 8:56 pm

Got the hole drilled in the old barrel tonight. Went well.

Read and see pictures on the web sight

www.rvbprecision.com

Marvin S · Post by **Marvin S** » Fri May 04, 2012 10:01 pm

Looks good so far I'll keep watching.

earlmck · Post by **earlmck** » Fri May 04, 2012 11:09 pm

Thanks much for taking pictures and writing up the project, Roy. I know that adds quite a lot of work to the project. But your lever-friends sure find that this 38wcf project is great fun to track!

Hombre · Post by **Hombre** » Sat May 05, 2012 4:35 am

Very interesting!
Thank you very much!

Best,
Stefan
Sweden

rbertalotto · Post by **rbertalotto** » Sat May 05, 2012 10:45 am

ITS DONE!

Web site is updated!

http://www.rvbprecision.com

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat May 05, 2012 4:57 pm

VERY good! Congrats on your new rifle!

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Sat May 05, 2012 5:17 pm

What a Great Post. Thank You for takeing the time to put this Up. You Get 10 LEVERS frome Me.

.

rbertalotto · Post by **rbertalotto** » Sat May 05, 2012 5:52 pm

You folks are more than welcome.

The web site has been updated with a Range Report...........She's a keeper!

www.rvbprecision.com

Shasta · Post by **Shasta** » Sat May 05, 2012 8:33 pm

rbertalotto,

I've very much enjoyed reading about all you have done with this rifle. I'd love to see some future range reports after the bore has "seasoned" a bit.

Congratulations on having brought a nice old Winchester back from the dead.

SHASTA

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Sun May 06, 2012 12:28 am

Thanks, Roy! That was absolutely fascinating!

southfork · Post by **southfork** » Sun May 06, 2012 2:36 pm

I wonder if the liner (with modern steels) adds to the strength of the 1873 rifle. Smokeless powder loads are generally not advised for the original 1873 and 1876 Winchesters, especially the early ones which may have cast iron receivers. Does the liner make safety less of an issue? What do you all think?

rbertalotto · Post by **rbertalotto** » Sun May 06, 2012 4:01 pm

I do not think the liner adds any strength to the barrel. My experience turning steel, is the barrel on this 1884 vintage rifle "cuts" like more modern steels that the barrels I've turned on from the percussion cap era. But this is just a seat of the pants "feel" on the lathe.

But someone with more knowledge might join in.

I'm going to keep pressures under 10,000psi. It will only be used for Cowboy Action Shooting with Trail Boss and Black Powder.

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Mon May 07, 2012 1:02 am

My understanding, based on posts on this forum, is that the toggle link action is the weakest point of these rifles and is the limiting factor as to what they can take, load-wise.

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Mon May 07, 2012 10:22 am

claybob86 wrote:My understanding, based on posts on this forum, is that the toggle link action is the weakest point of these rifles and is the limiting factor as to what they can take, load-wise.

That is My understanding also. But Nate (I believe) pointed out that using Uberti links gives a little more strength.
Perry

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Mon May 07, 2012 5:41 pm

Got as far as the last link you posted & bopped on over and read up on the whole project,,, Very cool! & what earlmck said! ... BTW I also bopped over to ebay and started "scoping" around for the USB bore scope you mentioned... Lots of them there but I didn’t see any small enough to run thru a 44 cal bore.. I just saw the 14.5 mm diameter ones... Can you give me a hint on what to search for...Thanks

rbertalotto · Post by **rbertalotto** » Mon May 07, 2012 8:56 pm

Here is the bore scope

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-0MP-USB-Endos ... 337265d75e

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Tue May 08, 2012 11:52 am

Excellent!... Thanks!

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Tue May 08, 2012 12:36 pm

Ben_Rumson wrote:Excellent!... Thanks!

+1

Old 1873 Winchester Barrel Reline Project

Old 1873 Winchester Barrel Reline Project

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Re: Old 1873 Winchester Barrel Reline Project

Re: Old 1873 Winchester Barrel Reline Project