Cylinder conversion for this?

[Ryanxia]

I just got this BP .44 caliber revolver, it's a Navy Arms. I've heard of conversion cylinders that let you shoot .45 LC. I have three questions.

Is there a conversion cylinder available for my particular revolver?

Can it be swapped out without permanently affecting the gun? (ie. no cutting the frame or anything)

I assume the .45 long colt conversions are for the .44 revolvers, do they have the same diameter?

I would love the option to shoot cartridges out of this but I don't want to permanently modify it, I bought a black powder for a reason.
Thanks in advance for any help, I included a picture.

 

[junkman_01]

Each manufacturer of conversion cylinders will tell you they are for STEEL frame guns only. The arbor on that brasser will get loose, and the recoil ring will take a bashing. My advice is don't consider it for that revolver.

 

[Ryanxia]

Alright thanks. That's disappointing.

Can I shoot conical bullets out of this or does it have to be round ball ammo? I was told awhile back with a single shot BP I had that the conical bullets were heavier and meant for rifles only.

 

[scrat]

they do make conicals for revolvers. You should not be dissapointed though. Shooting roundball .44 is awesome from that gun. They are very accurate. Keep loads at around 20 grains and it will last a long time

 

[Ryanxia]

Thanks Scrat. And the only reason I ask about the conical bullets is because I bought 350 rounds 6 months ago because they were a good deal at $35 for all and I'd like to shoot them.

 

[Jaymo]

Ryanxia, is your signature line from "Glory Road"?

 

[Ryanxia]

It's from a book by Robert Heinlein called Starship Troopers written in the 80's. The book was much better than the sci-fi movie

Does anyone know if 20 grains of powder is enough to shoot the conical bullets out of it? Or is just enough to shoot round ball? (I REALLY wanna use up those rounds )

 

[Jaymo]

That's why it sounds familiar. I like Heinlein. Glory Road and Tunnel in the Sky are my favorites, so far. It's been years since I read most of his work. I just reread Glory Road and started rereading Tunnel in the Sky.

I like his use of knives, swords, guns, and bows in his books. He wrote science fiction that wasn't stupid, like so much of it is.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Ryanxia,

As long as that revolver is in good condition it should be fine to shoot with conicals and moderate loads. You'll probably get better accuracy with roundballs, though.

BTW, Starship Troopers was first published in 1959. Always good to see another Heinlein fan on the board.

 

[Ryanxia]

Thanks for the correction Dave. I have no idea why I was thinking 80's.

What is considered a moderate load?

 

[jgh4445]

Here's my take on conversion cylinders. I have an 1860 Army. Wanted to get a conversion cyllinder. Did the research and found the R&D would work and let me switch back and forth between caps and cartridge, however, unloading the cartridge cylinder and reloading was just as much trouble as loading up again with cap and balls unless I had the port cut away for the loading gate and an ejection rod. Then I have permanantly changed my 1860....so...I just ordered two extra C&B cylinders. That will make for a quick reload. Now, I still want to shoot BP cartridge so I guess I'll just have to break down ( SOB SOB SOB) and buy an 1872 open top! That way I'll have the best of both worlds. Then the 1861 Navy and the 1871 open top in .38 Spec....oh the deliemma!

 

[Busyhands94]

If you really wanted a conversion cylinder you could use parlor loads, in the range of 15-20 grains of powder and a light conical bullet with some grits as a filler.

Just don't load +P defensive loads in it. Don't try and make a magnum from a special and you should be fine.

~Levi

 

[Dave Markowitz]

What is considered a moderate load?

If you stick with about 20 grains of 3Fg powder and a round ball plus a lubed wad or grease, the gun should last a good long time. The chambers will probably accept 30 to 35 grains max, but doing so will increase the wear on the gun if you shoot it much.

If you find that you enjoy BP revolver shooting and plan to do it a lot, at some point you'll probably want to get a steel framed gun.

 

[CraigC]

Now, I still want to shoot BP cartridge so I guess I'll just have to break down ( SOB SOB SOB) and buy an 1872 open top!

That's exactly what you should do!



However, you may then decide that you really like the looks of the 1860 percussion barrel but want to also shoot cartridges and then you'll end up with a Cimarron 1860 Richards Type II conversion .44Colt.

 

[Ryanxia]

Thanks for the info. And I did think about a steel frame but I like the brass confederate look and feel much better. I'm sure I'll get a steel frame at some point but, one gun at a time

 

[unknwn]

You might consider employing a cylinder loading press for that brass framed open top. Especially if you plan on shooting conicals through it.
The brass frame guns suffer from a loose arbor MUCH more from the stress of the onboard loading ram then the heavier powder charges.
Although the wedge might wear at a faster rate from the removal & reinstall to load the cylinder off the frame, those are wear items that you can expect to have to replace. When the arbor comes loose (and it's going to) you will end up retiring the gun.
You can get a Powder Inc. type of press on eBay for less than $60.00 delivered, which is much cheaper than a new gun, and you will end up using it for many more guns for the rest of your BP experience.

 

[mykeal]

one gun at a time

Never heard of such a thing.

 

[kBob]

Ryanxia,

No doubt Fleet Sargeant Zim would reward you with a full 6 mm appoving nod for learning to use a new to you weapon system and a grunt for having the intellegence to ask this crowd about the system.

I just finished reading Rocket Ship Galileo to my son. We share a book several nights a week as a father & son time. We did the Rolling Stones in March. We are currently on a Heinlien break and , as he is finishing his school survival course we are near the end of Alas Babalon and about to begin Tunnel in the Sky to get back into Heinlien.

He is continually amazed at how many things RAH predicted technology wise. I am thinking about springing Revolt in 2100 on him so I can gloat over the 1911 and '03 Springfield in a world of personal lasers and the internet.

I much enjoy shooting round ball from Brass framed Semi Imaginary Colts.

Be safe, have fun, and re read favorite RAH books yearly!

-kBob

 

[Ryanxia]

Thanks kBob, I do reread SST around once a year actually when I don't have anything new to read.

A friend pointed out that apparently some replica BP revolvers are actually just brass plated and the whole frame is actually steel underneath. Does this sound right? How would I confirm that is not the case with mine? (I know it's a dumb question but gotta ask )

 

[junkman_01]

I NEVER heard of a brass plated steel framed BP revolver. Nickle plated, yes, brass plated , no. In fact, most nickle plated BP revolvers are brass framed.

 

[TomADC]

Ryanxia when in doubt use a magnet

 

[Ryanxia]

Of course. Thanks Tom, I've used that test several times in the past, can't believe it didn't occur to me

 

[junkman_01]

Nickel is also a a 'magnetic' metal, so it will attract a magnet, although fairly weakly. Don't be fooled.

 

[Ryanxia]

I don't think they'd put nickel in this.

 

[TomADC]

Just check the magnet on the frame then the barrel you should be able to tell the difference. :banghead:

It may have .003 if that much nickel plating on it I doubt much magnetic attraction.

Okay I just used a magnet on my nickel plated 1851 and all it did was jump to the cylinder almost zero attraction.