Hey all,
I've ordered the Kirst conversion cylinder w./ gate for my standard Pietta 1858 Remington and am excited to be shooting 45LC loads that I'll be hand loading (Remington brass, 5.8g Trail Boss, Oregon Trail 250g .452 RNFP bullets, using the Lee classic loader and auto-primer). I'm intent as well on having a loading gate cut into the backing plate, as well as having new sights installed (adjustable rear & dovetailed front sight), for which work I'm going to take the iron to a gunsmith. While I'm at it I'm figuring I'll have the following done:
- cut 11-degree chamfer to forcing cone
- lighten trigger pull to 3lbs
- lighten hammer pull to tolerance for cartridge & ball
- check chamber to bore concentric alignment and tune cylinder timing
- stone polish & tighten action
To this end, I have a few questions for y'all:
- Does anyone have any recommendations on sights? I was thinking of just going with the target/tiro model 1858's sights parts from VTI, but am happy to entertain other possibilities...
- Would having the hand spring replaced make sense to do as well? The iron is still pretty new and functioning well as is, but I've been reading tales of spring failure with woe and foreboding... If so, any recommendations on prefab ones, or should the 'smith just make one himself?
- Are there any other recommendations for tuning that folks would care to proffer?
- Any suggestions as to what a reasonable total cost for this work should run me?
- Finally, I think I know the smith that I'd like to have do the work, but am wondering if folks have any recommendations for gunsmiths in New England that'd be "best bets" for taking care of my Remmie?
many thanks and straight shoot'n,
-g
I've ordered the Kirst conversion cylinder w./ gate for my standard Pietta 1858 Remington and am excited to be shooting 45LC loads that I'll be hand loading (Remington brass, 5.8g Trail Boss, Oregon Trail 250g .452 RNFP bullets, using the Lee classic loader and auto-primer). I'm intent as well on having a loading gate cut into the backing plate, as well as having new sights installed (adjustable rear & dovetailed front sight), for which work I'm going to take the iron to a gunsmith. While I'm at it I'm figuring I'll have the following done:
- cut 11-degree chamfer to forcing cone
- lighten trigger pull to 3lbs
- lighten hammer pull to tolerance for cartridge & ball
- check chamber to bore concentric alignment and tune cylinder timing
- stone polish & tighten action
To this end, I have a few questions for y'all:
- Does anyone have any recommendations on sights? I was thinking of just going with the target/tiro model 1858's sights parts from VTI, but am happy to entertain other possibilities...
- Would having the hand spring replaced make sense to do as well? The iron is still pretty new and functioning well as is, but I've been reading tales of spring failure with woe and foreboding... If so, any recommendations on prefab ones, or should the 'smith just make one himself?
- Are there any other recommendations for tuning that folks would care to proffer?
- Any suggestions as to what a reasonable total cost for this work should run me?
- Finally, I think I know the smith that I'd like to have do the work, but am wondering if folks have any recommendations for gunsmiths in New England that'd be "best bets" for taking care of my Remmie?
many thanks and straight shoot'n,
-g