Cylinder Conversion Question

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Harleytoo

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So I have started reloading again and the two things I have a boatload of and no longer guns for is 45 ACP and 45 LC.

Now, why am I talking cartridges and reloading here. Wellll, I got to thinking that instead of trying to find a couple of new guns that I should try out conversion cylinders on my Ruger Old Army.

So, what is the feeling around conversion cylinders? I am considering getting a 45 LC and a 45 ACP from Howell.

Any experiences I should know about?
 
Also, the big plus for me going this route to use the brass I have is it will be far cheaper than a new gun and provide another use for the two OA's I already have.

I am hoping that Howell's are pretty simple drop in units.
 
The Kirst conversion is a much stronger and I think better machined conversion and Ive owned the 45 Colt and ACP cylinders in addition to the Howell conversions. Ive owned 4 of the Kirst conversions and they all dropped in with .006" +/- .001" cylinder gap. You can buy one complete cylinder in .45ACP and use the backing plate on the 45 Colt cylinder. Saves money that way.

I will say that while the conversions are easier to load than cap and ball they are still a pain to load if you shoot a lot unless you have a stand alone base pin.
 
I have a .45 Colt conversion cylinder by Howell's for my ROA and load 7.0 to 7.3 gr. of Unique behind a 255 gr. cast SWC. Works great AFAIC.
You'll need a taller front sight though if you don't want to be shooting high all the time.
 
So that is one vote for each. We have any tie breakers out there with some experience.

I am leaning toward the Kirst.
 
My normal "cowboy" load is 9.5 grains of unique behind a 255 grain .454" Hornady. The pop out the muzzle at just under 1080 ish fps . Thats a little bit faster than the old 40 grain BP load but not much. The Kirst eats them up. Same basic setup works fine with the 45 ACP round and they are substantially higher pressure than the 45 colt old cowboy loads Howell limits you to. I'm telling you. Get both in your hands and the Kirst is much better machined.
 
I have 5 Howell conversion cylinders for my 5 "shoot alot" ROAS.
3 are stainless and 2 are blued.
I bring them if rain looks likely.
If it is not raining, I will shoot the percussion cylinders, if it's raining, I'll change 'em out to the cartridge cylinders.
Everyone has dropped right in & works flawlessly every time.
I shoot BP cartridges in them -- I'm not much of a smokeless guy
I've never shot a Kirst, altho I hear they are good.
Went with Kenny Howell years ago & have stuck with his conversion cylinders for all my guns, Remmies, Colts, & Rugers
--Dawg
 
Harley too,
The ROAs use the same barrel as the Blackhawk. That's why the cartridges work well and why a .457 was suggested (more bearing surface like a conical).
For the past several years the Uberti Walkers, Dragoons, Armys . . . . have had a fast twist barrel which is perfect for the conversions ( about 1:18" twist).

Here's another vote for the Kirsts (gated in my case). They are rated for higher (normal tier one pressures) than other conversion cylinders.


Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks
 
here's my reply on the other conversion thread. It seems it will save my typing finger some work.
''I have Howell conversion cylinders for most of my collection. I have a Kirst conversion permanently built [ because of the .38 barrel sleeve] on an Uberti .36 Remmy. I don't like running the conversion cylinder on my ROA, because the bullets aren't as accurate as round balls in that gun, but my stainless Remington shoots .45 Colt better than it does round ball...''
 
Harley:
Why is the stand alone base pin needed?
It's not needed.
3 of my ROAs have Belt Mountain stand alone pins.
My two Buntline ROAs use the standard loading lever/pin
And they all work great.

So do the smaller 451/452 bullets work ok?

I use .452 bullets when I shoot cartridges and they work just fine.
--Dawg
One of my favorite toys:

baby_ROA.jpg
 
Thanks for all of the replies guys, very helpful.

Placing an order today for the 45 LC Kirst Konversion kit and the 45 ACP cylinder.

Now, if I can find a way to keep my wife from looking at the bills for a few months with the 2 other gun purchase I made this month! :what:
 
A note on cartridge OAL. The standard 1.600 of the 45C won't work in my R&D in the ROA. Max is 1.590 and that's on the cusp of hanging up on rotation. I bullet set generally to 1.585 OAL. This mean some bullet designs just don't work as they need to be set too deep.

This is for the Howell conversions and I seem to have read somewhere that Kirst are even shorter
 
My standard load length for 45 Colt is 1.600 unless I'm using the 335 grain bullets for the big vaquero's. Standard bullets like the .452" 200 grain or .454" 255's get loaded at 1.600" and Ive never had an issue loading them in the Kirst cylinders.

You dont NEED a stand alone base pin but that loading lever contraption gets real clunky real fast when you are doing frequent reloads.
 
Kirst can't make a cylinder for an ROA with a loading gate. I called and asked them. The fella told me to figure out how to do it and they'd make it.

Midway had a sale on Howells' conversion cylinders at the time so I picked up a stainless one for $189. I've never been sorry.
 
Does the 45 ACP version require moon clips or are they head spaced?

NVM, called them, it head spaces.
 
Last edited:
Ruger's Old Army have barrel bore dimensions (.451" grooves/1 to 16" twist) that are identical to those in their .45 Colt/.45 ACP Blackhawk revolvers. Other then shooting to a different point of impact a conversion should work fine.
 
The cylinders and a back plate are on order. I am pretty stoked about getting them. I love my ROAs and this will just make them that much mo-betta.
 
I have two Taylors conversion cylinders for Pietta 1860s, and a Kirst Koversion for a Uberti 1860, all three were timed perfectly, with no work from me. All are a hoot to shoot. You do have to do metal work for the Kirst, but anyone who has a Dremel tool, and any kind of minimal skill with tools can do a great job, if they take their time. I shoot all three in Cowboy matches all the time.
 
A Dremel was the primary tool I used to cut the loading port when I installed a gated Kirst conversion in .45 Colt on this Pietta '58.

Pietta_1858_Kirst_R.jpg

I have more details and pics of the process here.

So far all I've fired in it has been .45 Colt and .45 Schofield CAS loads by Black Hills. They shoot fine. I just got a set of Lee .45 Colt dies, so I will be loading for it soon. Probably 8 grains of Unique and a 230 to 250 grain bullet.

Note: The BH .45 Colt CAS ammo (250 grain bullet at about 750 FPS) is no mouse fart load. It will penetrate a seasoned 12" pine log from about 10 yards. It is more powerful than the .455 Webley Mk. VI service load.
 
Dave, that is a fine looking gun you have there.

I received my Kirst 45 LC and 45 ACP cylinders yesterday and test fit them both las night. Both fit no problem, locked up well and all gaps and alignment looked good.

That was in my 5 3/4. I will try them in the 7 1/2 today, although I am thinking I will use them most in the former. I am thinking about selling the latter, but getting rid of a gun is tough!

Hope to get some range time soon.
 
Harley,
Would you be interested in a gated conversion for the ROA (if one were available)?
You might want to hang on to the 7 1/2" er for that.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks
 
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