1851 Richards-Mason conversion

[Big D]

Hey yall. I just ordered a Cimarron 1851 R-M conversion in .38spl.
Does anyone here have any experience with these conversions? I have
always wanted one, and finally had a chance to order one. I believe
they are one of the most elegant and beautiful revolvers ever made.
Any replies would be greatly appreciated!

 

[1KPerDay]

I agree with you. I don't have one yet but It's on the drool list.

 

[Jim in S.A.]

Can't tell you a lot about them. Mine's fairly new and hasn't been shot a lot. Basically it combines the good looks of the Navy with the convenience of the .38 special. I've enjoyed shooting mine. Subjectively, it seems a little heavier than my percusion cap Pietta, but it's also finished very nicely. I am extremely happy I bought mine.

 

[Mictlanero]

those are great looking revolvers! Definitely on my list also

 

[cheatin charlie]

1851

I have a pair of them and they are beautiful pistols. Two things to look for
when you shoot them. The firing pins are flat and will sometimes pierce the
primers because they have sharpe corners. A little stoning will cure that.
Also on mine the would lock up after because the fired cases would catch
on the recoil shield right where the loading gate pivots. On mine the loading
gate was recessed and not flush and there was a sharp ledge that would
catch the head of the case. Again all it took was stone a small bevel on
that edge that would push the fired case back into the cylinder. I smoothed
them up and put in Wolff springs and they are really nice pistols. Find the
article by Pettifogger about tuning up uberti pistols and learn how to make
them work great.

Charlie

 

[Prairie Dawg]

Here's a link to the articles Charlie talked about:

http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_1.pdf

Part 2:
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_2.pdf

Part 3

http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_3.pdf

Part 4

http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_4.pdf

I've had them before -- very nice guns.
Stay with the flat bolt/trigger spring.
Most everyone I know who went with a wire spring had over-rotation problems.
--Dawg

 

[Tommygunn]

I have one as well, but mine has a somewhat shorter barrel, being just a little longer than the extractor tube. It is a very nice gun. I usually run .38 Long Colt black powder ammunition through it.
For .38 I would load only cowboy loads and only use cast lead bullets -- certainly no jacketed rounds. They're fun guns!

 

[Big D]

Why no jacketed rounds? I do load my own .38 Spl for my other single action, an Uberti Millenium .357, which is another great revolver. I was thinking about doing some BP loads, as I do have some left over Pyrodex sitting around. I just do not like the clean up....one of the main reasons I don't shoot my Pietta '51 Navy.

 

[Tommygunn]

Big D, a individual far more knowledgeable than I advised me not to use jacketed rounds in the Richards Mason gun. I wish I could recall excatly why....I sorta recall but without knowing exactly I won't risk a guess.
Anyhow I usually take advice from people who are more experienced than I .... even when i can't reall the details.

 

[Big D]

Is the barrel just not rated for those types of bullets? I understand the open
top design is over 160 years old, but then again this revolver was designed ground up to fire the .38spl round (minus +P), which modern steel and heat treating. Based on that it should be able to handle all .38spl type bullets as long as they are kept to standard pressures.

 

[Tommygunn]

OK, IIRC it had something to do with wear.
Don't quote me or rake me over the coals if some expert chimes in and says I don't know what the **** I am talking about.
My reasoning is; this gun is not one I would use for self defense. It is also a very old design, a gun used for entertainment. I treat it very conservatively.
Note I said I use .38 Long Colt & Short Colts. These are light loads compared even to the .38 SP. the gun is rated to handle. I'm quite happy using my gun in this manner, despite the fact the gun might easily handle more powerful rounds.
It's just "me being me."
YMMV.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

I recently purchased a Cimarron Type II Richard's Conversion of the 1860 Army. I am really enjoying this thing and it super classly looking. I'd highly recommend it.