AGI Armorer’s Course for 1860 Henry, 1873, 1866 & 1876 Winchester Rifles

Bob Dunlap completely understands the design, function, and repair of this toggle link design, descended from the volcanic pistol, and beloved by generations of shooters, and today cowboy action crowd, for its smooth cycling and reliable feeding. More importantly, you will also after he finishes teaching you its mysteries. A cut-a way gun and AGIs extreme close-up video, is used so that you can actually see how all of the systems work and the parts interact. If you want the quick course on how to get these cowboy classics apart, clean, back together, and operating as intended, then this course is for you (if you want the long course, look into our basic 108 hour Professional Gunsmith Course.)

Among the items covered are:

History

• Discussion of the basic similarity of all of these volcanic derivatives
• Discussion and demonstration of the differences between the Henry, the 1866, and the 1873 models, including loading, magazines, trigger springs, and side plates
• Bob shows you a rare original 73 in .22 short, discusses its shortcomings and Ubertis less than perfect fix on its replica
• What to avoid when removing the magazine tube from the guns
• A not uncommon problem with the bolts, and its cure
• Discussion of the volcanic pistol and its cartridge
• B. Tyler Henry steps up
• Oliver Winchester steps into the picture, acquiring both the gun and Mr. Henry
• A little bit of history, Cowboys and Indians, and decorations of the guns

Design & Function

• Explanation and demonstration of the Toggle Lock system ever see a Luger
• Weaknesses of the system
• Trigger blocking safety shown
• Visual demonstration of the firing/loading cycle using the cut-a way
• How the safety notch works
• How the extractor works, and what actually causes the empty to eject
• How the toggle lock works, and causes the carrier to rise and fall
• How the gun is able to feed cartridges of different lengths, i.e., .38Spl/.357 mag, or the kindest cut of all
• Demonstration of the loading and ejection cycle
• Explanation of positive and negative sear engagement, what you want, and what you cannot live with at all
• A lazy carrier; what it causes, why it causes it, and how to make all of those problems go away

Disassembly

• Extensive disassembly, parts not removed have removal described, including extractor, forend hanger, and front sight
• Difference in the side plates on a 73 and a 66, why you can remove one with impunity, and should not remove the other unless absolutely necessary
• What to do to make the carrier rise smoothly
• Trigger and hammer removal shown, and the differences between the Henry/66 guns and the 73/76s

Cleaning & Lubrication

• AGI cleaning & lubrication methods shown, along with the reasons for their use

Reassembly

• Making sure you have no parts left over
• Firing pin protrusion spec given, and how to correct it if there is not enough

Special Bonus- Cowboy Tune-up

• Parts to smooth
• What tensions can be reduced, and which should not. In addition, what results to expect if you do not follow the advice
• Strain and what results if there is not enough
• The commonly fouled-up trigger job, do not be an amateur. Pretend it is really a Colt. If you do not know what that means, get the trigger course. Be safe, not sorry
• Tuning the trigger blocking safety, how to do it right
• Smooth means smooth, what happens if you get too aggressive
• What to leave alone and why
• Chamfering, what needs it and how much. What to polish the chamber with if it needs it
• Making it easier to load those shells into the magazine, and what happens if you go overboard

If you noticed how often the terms “explanation” and “demonstration” are used, you may be getting some idea of why this course is necessary for owners of any of B. Tyler Henrys lever gun designs and their descendants, or someone who intends to be.