Could anyone help me with the ins and outs of how to clean the triger mechanism of the Winchester Model 50, 12 G shot gun? It's the one that can only hold 3 shells. It was my dads gun and I have recently inherited it. The gun fires great and has never jammed but I know that I'm doing a thorough job in cleaning it since I've never taken apart the triger mechanism.
Thx,
Bruceosu

I meant to say that I have NEVER cleaned the triger mechanism. Sorry for the confusion.

mine is currently in pieces in a box waiting to be reblued. I haven't gotten around to taking the trigger apart ,but I was going to buy the disassembly manual before attempting that. I have already recut the checkering and refinished the stock. As long as the gun is firing correctly I am not sure why you would need to mess with the trigger unless you need to replace parts.

quote:

Originally posted by Bruceosu:
Could anyone help me with the ins and outs of how to clean the triger mechanism of the Winchester Model 50, 12 G shot gun? It's the one that can only hold 3 shells. It was my dads gun and I have recently inherited it. The gun fires great and has never jammed but I know that I'm doing a thorough job in cleaning it since I've never taken apart the triger mechanism.
Thx,
Bruceosu

You shouldn't have to dissasemble the trigger group to clean it. You can clean it in a solvent tank using an M-16 cleaning brush (tooth brush), a 1" wide paint brush, pipe cleaners and toothpicks.

Hand scrub every piece you can reach. Restrain the hammer so that it doesn't fly forward as you pull the trigger, and then slowly allow the hammer to move forward. Work the hammer, trigger, safety and carrier assembly back and forth while holding the assembly submerged in the solvent. Slosh the assembly around in the solvent and then blow it out really good using compressed air.

Reach into the small areas with the pipe cleaners and toothpicks to scrape out any built up junk and rinse it out again. Use compressed air to help dislodge and remove the junk. Be sure to blow out the hammer spring and it's plunger real good with the compressed air while working the hammer back and forth.

When you feel that you have it clean, saturate the whole thing with WD-40. Work the trigger, hammer, safety and carrier assembly really good, and then blow out the remaining WD-40 and place the assembly back in the gun.

If you don't have a solvent tank, a coffee can filled with Kerosene will work fine. If you can't resist the temptation and decide to start pulling pins, I would suggest taking good closeup photo's before you remove each piece so you will have some idea what it should look like as you put it back together... Good luck.

Do you know how the magazine, action tube and it's plunger come apart?

Thanks for the detail in your reply.
No. I do not know how to take apart the magazine, action tube or plunger. I have only been cleaning the barrel. Any help with this one?
Bruceosu

I agree with malm on everything but the WD-40. I have had it "gum up" after long term storage.
Here, in the humid middle Atlantic East, you have to be careful what lubes you use.

quote:

Originally posted by eddieharren:
I agree with malm on everything but the WD-40. I have had it "gum up" after long term storage.
Here, in the humid middle Atlantic East, you have to be careful what lubes you use.

Agreed for long term storage, but as long as he blows all the excess WD-40 from the trigger group and doesn't place the gun into long term storage where the lube can pool up and set, he should be fine.

A lot of folks have WD-40 on hand and if it's used for the trigger group of a working shotgun, and it receives regular attention, it should be fine.

If any gun is put into long term storage regardless of what lube is used, I would recommend pulling it down and giving it a good cleaning before placing it back into service.