Speaking of conversions

If its a brass frame then no, the frame will be to weak. If its steel I would assume a Howells old west drop in or a kirst. First thing you need to decide whether or not you want a permanent conversion or drop in. Kirst makes one version with a loading gate so you want have to disassemble the gun everytime you want to reload. The downside is you can shoot cap & ball no more but you still could load some bp cartridges.

If not what brand repro is the best/easiest to convert?

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If you're gonna buy one to convert, buy a factory cartridge conversion. They're better and more historically correct than anything you can put together.

They're better and more historically correct than anything you can put together.

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That's just your OPINION.

Very hard to find one for an ASM. having two asm myself i do not plan on buying anymore. Deer creak products is the only place you can really find parts.

That's just your OPINION.

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Richards Type I, Type II and Richards-Mason cartridge conversions all had ejectors, loading gates, the frame relieved, some sort of conversion to the hammer and the rammer removed. The factory cartridge conversion guns replicate these. I'd say that's a damn sight better than a percussion gun with a conversion cylinder that has to be disassembled to be reloaded. All of the current cartridge conversions are manufactured by Uberti. Uberti builds better guns than Pietta and ASM. So yes, in my OPINION, a factory cartridge conversion, manufactured by a well-respected gunmaker like Uberti, is "better" than a Pietta or ASM percusson gun converted at your kitchen table AND more historically correct. That last part, is fact.

You have no idea what can be done on a kitchen table or work bench, and I think you are doing a disservice to some of the members here to think that only the Uberti factory can produce a historically correct conversion. Geez, you haven't been around much then!

I've been doing kitchen table gunsmithing for 25yrs. Nothing you can do to a Pietta or ASM will make it as good as a Uberti. Maybe instead of saying "you're wrong", you might go to the effort of proving it. Of course, none of this hostility was necessary in this discussion so you are responsible for its degradation.

And you are irresponsible for making your blanket statement that no ASM or Pietta can be as good as a Uberti. Balderdash! BTW, I've been doing hobby gunsmithing for 34 years and took a gunsmithing course on the GI bill.

It's times like this that I question why I even bother to log on this forum. Think I'll go to another that is less "intense" in it's approach to a reasonable question....

Adios....

Yes.....simply put!

I can fit one for you.........

CraigC said:

I've been doing kitchen table gunsmithing for 25yrs. Nothing you can do to a Pietta or ASM will make it as good as a Uberti. Maybe instead of saying "you're wrong", you might go to the effort of proving it. Of course, none of this hostility was necessary in this discussion so you are responsible for its degradation.

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Just thought I would post a picture of my "gunsmith" conversion of a Pietta......

Back to the original question, I fitted an old ASM Remington with a percussion cylinder from a .44 Uberti Remington, so I fail to see why the same couldn't be done with a conversion cylinder.

BHP FAN said:

Back to the original question, I fitted an old ASM Remington with a percussion cylinder from a .44 Uberti Remington, so I fail to see why the same couldn't be done with a conversion cylinder.

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Did you not see my reply at #13?
I answered your "original question"...........

Just thought I would post a picture of my "gunsmith" conversion of a Pietta......

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Yes but you ARE a gunsmith. And again, not only does it cost more to buy a Pietta, buy the conversion parts and have them installed but a Uberti is a better gun out of the box anyway. Might be different if you already own the Pietta but the OP does not. Which was my whole point before I got jumped on with both feet. Why would you buy a Pietta 1851 percussion gun, strictly to convert it, when you can spend less money on a better Uberti 1851 Richards-Mason cartridge conversion???

CraigC said:

Yes but you ARE a gunsmith. And again, not only does it cost more to buy a Pietta, buy the conversion parts and have them installed but a Uberti is a better gun out of the box anyway. Might be different if you already own the Pietta but the OP does not. Which was my whole point before I got jumped on with both feet. Why would you buy a Pietta 1851 percussion gun, strictly to convert it, when you can spend less money on a better Uberti 1851 Richards-Mason cartridge conversion???

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Craig

First, the only thing on that revolver out of the realm of the hobbyist is the hot blueing (and cold blue or aged finish would suffice).

I will answer your question, but to be fair I don't believe you are open to others opinions.......

The Uberti cap and ball is generally MORE expensive than the Pietta.

The Uberti requires arbor work to correct issues that the Pietta does not and this is an attrictive feature for the "non" gunsmith owner who wants to covert his own pistol.

The "drop in" conversion allows the opportunity to slowly improve and invest which (contrary to your beliefs) is an attractive feature to many. If not the market would not exist.

Some people enjoy and get a sense of satisfaction out of buiding/making/modifying things themself.

I could go on but this is plenty of answers to your question.

I understand all that, truly. I stand by my first post, which apparently has been taken to mean something not intended. It has occurred to me, after having this discussion innumerable times that not everybody is aware that you can buy a factory cartridge conversion. If you want to build your own, that's all well and good but I'm of the opinion that you should be aware of all your options before making your choice.

I'm not saying that Pietta's are crap, far from it. I enjoy my pair of 1860's immensely and I don't have to call Pietta crap say that my Uberti's (all six of them) are better guns. Because they are better and any day of the week I'd rather have a factory Uberti cartridge conversion than a converted Pietta. Unless somebody can talk Bob Millington into working on anything other than 2nd and 3rd generation Colt's. Whatever the end user may get out of building one themselves (which the OP did not express) is mutually exclusive of the quality of the sixgun to begin with. Which was my whole point.

I don't believe you are open to others opinions.......

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Apparently you have some misconceptions about me, no doubt tainted by the ramblings of a somewhat unstable and unruly poster and my subsequent defensive response so I will just leave it at that.

CraigC said:

If you're gonna buy one to convert, buy a factory cartridge conversion. They're better and more historically correct than anything you can put together.

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No Craig, my "misconceptions" are not misconceptions and your defensive nature is what has caused me to post (I can't speak for the others). It is not healthy for other members when contributing members state opinions as facts and then act so DEFENSIVE about replies that point that out.......

The other side of the coin is just that, a differing opinion and this is America we all get to have those.

I simply posted a picture showing that the things you stated in your "first post" were not necessarily true and if you did really know you would not have stated them as FACTS.

When you posted, "If you're gonna buy one to convert, buy a factory cartridge conversion. They're better and more historically correct than anything you can put together. " you assumed that you were addressing the OP's question but he MIGHT have already known that Uberti makes conversions. What you don't know is whether or not the OP wanted a pistol that fired PERIOD CORRECT heel base bullets or maybe the ability to switch back and forth to cap and ball. Maybe he doesn't want a revolver that has a gas ring (not period correct) or maybe he wants the options that I stated in my first reply to you.

Please don't continue this range war from your defensive perspective, it's just pushing people away from the forum......and you should probably reread the opening post because you are reading things into it that aren't asked!

HH

PS:
I own Millington converted Pietta's........

No HH, they ARE misconceptions. I was defensive to junkman's post because of the PM battle that went on behind the scenes weeks ago. This due to a post that I deleted before anyone responded to it. Now, if you think that "You're an a-hole" (that's a direct quote and the PM from junkman in its entirety) is an appropriate response to my first two posts in this thread, then we have nothing else to talk about. If not, then you might understand my defensiveness. Had junkman not participated in this thread, it would be very different and WE would not be having THIS discussion. I love these guns and I love talking about them but I DO NOT enjoy discussions like this in the least. It is my firm position that there was ZERO need for this thread to degrade but junkman made it so.

I simply posted a picture showing that the things you stated in your "first post" were not necessarily true and if you did really know you would not have stated them as FACTS.

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Personal preference is one thing, I have mine, you have yours. But I make statements as to quality as fact because that is what I perceive them to be. It is a fact, based on my own personal experience and that of others, that Piettas are made from softer steels. It is a fact, based on my own personal experience and that of others, that Uberti builds a better sixgun than Pietta. Now, if you take issue with that, take issue with it but be specific.

I own Millington converted Pietta's...

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When I spoke to Bob he would only work on Colt's.

......and you should probably reread the opening post because you are reading things into it that aren't asked!

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Really???

If not what brand repro is the best/easiest to convert?

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sad to say Close it

I'm trying...peace offerings have been made.

I'd rather not close it. Seems to me that two knowledgeable and skilled people could maybe pretend they were face-to-face over a cup of coffee somewhere and discuss differences of opinion the way they would in person, instead of two "intact" tomcats tied together in a burlap sack.

I'd be willing to bet that all of us would have a fine time burning some powder at the range together and we could have had this whole conversation, back and forth, with smiles and hearty laughs and pats on the back. The model should be, "let's help each other see possibilities and understand different points of view," not, "Let's see where this jerk screwed up and then crucify him in public!"

Agreed!!!

I sure hope I conveyed civility!

I was trying to steer the thread back to the OP and his question and to "mediate" between craigc and junkman01...........while also trying to explain that acting defensive was only perpetuating the problem.

If any of you feel otherwise please let me know and I will refrain from offering facts and answering questions from the professional point of view.

HH