[Pancho]

just curious, does anyone make a conversion cylinder for the 1862 colt police?

[Old Fuff]

None that I know of, because the number of guns in circulation is too small to create a market. However you can get conversions for 1849 pocket models in .32 S&W Long. The '49 pocket model was the basic platform for the '62 police model

[dwave]

For Pietta, yes. Uberti I don't think so. The Pietta uses the same frame as the 1851 Navy (also 1861). The Uberti doesn't. The Pietta can use the conversion Cylinder for the 1851/61 Navy.

http://www.randdgunshop.com/catalog.php?category=Conversion%20Cylinder%20Kits

"The CK1851P may also be used with the Pietta "1862 Army Police" model as sold by Cabela's."

[Old Fuff]

For Pietta, yes. Uberti I don't think so. The Pietta uses the same frame as the 1851 Navy (also 1861). The Uberti doesn't. The Pietta can use the conversion Cylinder for the 1851/61 Navy.

You have a point, but I don't consider any revolver built on an 1851/1860 frame to be an 1862 Police Model. Suposedly the Italian reproductions are supposed to recreate a revolver made during the 19th century. Uberti has generally been good about this. Others not necessarily so.

There is also a question of bore size in the cap & ball revolvers. These can run all over the map, particularly when it comes the the (so called) .36 caliber guns. On average you will find that they have .368" chambers, use .375" round ball/bullets, and have a bore that go to as much as .372".

A .38 Special or (today's) .38 Long Colt bullets are .358" - now you do the math... :uhoh:

Uberti's 1849 Pocket model has approximately .319" chambers, use .321" round balls, and barrels are supposedly as large as .332" - while the .32 S&W Long cartridge uses a .312" bullet.

Not a perscription for superior accuracy.

Some of the better gunsmiths get around this by drilling out the barrel and installing a correct liner. That usually works, but it obvioulsy will add to the expense. :eek:

If you plan to convert a cap & ball revolver (as opposed to buying an open-top cartridge model) slug and measure the bore on your gun first... :scrutiny:

[dwave]

100% True. I slugged my Barrel and my Cylinder on my Pietta 51 Navy and I got .366 on the Cylinder and a bore of .371. However the makers of the .36 conversion recommend a heeled bullet or hollow base to bump up the diameter. Haven't seen that recommendation for the .32 though.

[Old Fuff]

A heeled bullet is a solution...but just sort of. You have to buy and handload them, they're outside lubricated, and I'm not sure if the chamber throats on the conversion cylinders are bored straight through, or stepped with a throat. You are getting into a high hassle factor here.

Somehow I got the idea that converting to metallic cartridges was supposed to make things easier... :rolleyes: :scrutiny:

[dwave]

I would think (but who knows with some companies! :rolleyes:) if they recommend the heeled bullets they would drill the cylinder accordingly, but like I said, who knows!