It really didnt get much fouling in the action, the case sealed it quite well. When I did clean the action, it was just with a toothbrush with a little solvent, then wiped with a rag and/or a clean toothbrush. I used plain hot tap water,and even kept the patches to reuse after hand washing them with dish soap for the dirtiest ones. I just laid them out to dry and saved them for the next time. The ones that ended up getting dirtiest I tossed over time and rotated the next cleanest ones to first passes thru the barrel. It truly was simpler than many modern guns with jacket fouling. The bore cleaned up very easily with hot wet patches. Bullets were Lyman 400's (457193 I believe)cast from wheel weights, lubed with the old Lyman Alox lube. Same for the Colt SAA in 44 spl, very simple to care for with black loads. 44 spl cases dont seal as well as 45-70's, but it still wasn't difficult to keep up.
It brings back memories, it was probably some of the most fun shooting I've ever done. The 86 was a heavy barrel 40 that had been rebored to 45-70, and been rebuilt with extra fancy grade wood and reblued very well. It looked like a new gun. The Colt was a late 4 3/4" nickel. I drug those guns all over N Az back in the day on my motorcycle.
Oh, Noah Zark posted on leverguns, he recently found a Browning 86 carbine in excellent condition for $800.
I understand about wanting a certain style. I've modified the Brownings I have. Chopped barrels, changed stocks, added decent sights and slings.
The late Winchesters can be swapped with Browning hammer and trigger to remove the rebound, and the tang safety removed. A tang sight covers the hole, or it can be professioanlly filled and refinished. Some have original type markings put on them when thats done also, on the tang and barrel.