Revolver conversions - what's it cost?

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goon

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This question is pretty straightforward and directed to those of you who have some experience with conversions.

Assuming you have a good Colt or Remington replica already in your possession, what's the total cost of a conversion with a conversion ring and a replacement cylinder from someone like Kirst going to set a guy back? And does anyone know the cost of having a barrel relined to take it from .375 down to a .357 to take advantage of .38 Special bullets?

What I've got in mind would maybe be converting a .36 caliber Remington 1858 to fire standard pressure .38 Special. I know Uberti is already making one like that, but I'm still interested in having a C&B converted, especially if it could work out to be more cost effective.

Any experience with Colt style guns would be appreciated too. I'm also liking the idea of having an 1860 converted to use .45 LC or Schofield.
 
Can't say anything about the .36 into a .38. Built a '51 navy (ASM) kit 25 yrs ago with a conversion kit in it. It was fun for a while but def. not a target gun. Reversed it back to c.and b. and is a great shooter (learning experience).

I have two 1st Mod. Dragoons with Kirst Konversions and they are very nice and quite accurate shooters. I also have a '60 Army (Pietta) with a Kirst K. It's my carry.I designated mine to be cart'g only so I'm not concerned with a b.p. cylinder thus, I've taken great pains to keep tolerances very tight and now I have two of the most accurate revolvers I've ever owned (the Dragoons). So, I say DO IT !!!

The cost is what it is, about 350-375 but, you end up with a VERY nice cart'g gun that's convertible!! (unless you do like me and designate it to stay .45 Colt). I fig. I have 350 in a kit, 380 in a Dragoon, so just north of 700 bucks and my time smithing (which I have a passion for), I end up with 2 big 'ol guns that will out group most . . . for the price of a Colt!! (but I've got 2 so it's twice the fun!!)

If you buy a '60 to convert, get a Pietta. If you use an Uberti, all loads will be re-loads (cylinder is too short for factory fodder).

Have fun.

45 Dragoon
 
Thank you for the info on the 1860. I plan to reload pretty much every round anyway, but still, good to know that I couldn't shoot factory loaded .45 if I wanted to.

For the 1858, I plan for it to be a cartridge gun and never converted back to C&B. I'm in no hurry to pull this off, but I did really like the 1858 .44 I had before. If I could have that fun and accuracy in a round that I'm already stuffed with brass for, it would be a winner.
 
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I am looking for a gunsmith Northern California to change a 1873 Pietta Traditions 44 caliber percussion revolver to a cartridge 44 cylinder.
 
Can't do it.
I mean, it can be done (been talked about many times) if you want to spend twice the money it would cost to buy a new conversion from your fav. supplier. Nothing lines up right on the '73 percussion guns to allow conversion (as designed). Of course money talks . . . . .

45 Dragoon
 
45 Dragoon said:
If you buy a '60 to convert, get a Pietta. If you use an Uberti, all loads will be re-loads (cylinder is too short for factory fodder).

Have fun.

45 Dragoon
Click to expand...

ive never read this, so the pietta '60 is noticeably longer than the uberti?
im just learning all this stuff, cimarron has a howell conversion for Uberti '60 to .45 LC, what sort of ammo would you use? i just got my '60 and perhaps in the future i may go that route, or may just get a SAA:)
Thanks
gene
 
If what you want is offered from the factory, I think you're always money ahead to buy one rather than convert. You'll also end up with a better sixgun made of better steels and proofed for cartridges. Particularly if you're looking to do a .36 because if you don't have it relined, you'll have to use heeled bullets.


I am looking for a gunsmith Northern California to change a 1873 Pietta Traditions 44 caliber percussion revolver to a cartridge 44 cylinder.
Click to expand...
Not possible whatsoever.
 
If all you want is cylinder and ring go to Howell's Old West Conversions. Will Cost between $220.00 and $240.00 depending on gun. 36 cal will fire 38. 44 cal will fire 45 LC. Buy Cowboy loads. Lead bullets no jackets.
Kirst will cost more but you will have loading gate so easier to reload. Better if you do not want to go back to Cap and Ball. I think if you go gated you will also have to do paper work with BATF, Kirst will have that information when you order.
 
Ivan, CraigC is right about the cost if you don't already have the gun you are converting. Just for the record, the Dragoons (CraigC has one too) have more than enough "meat" for factory strength .45 offerings (lead only). I've said a few times in here, you can go shoot those all day long and come home with all the specs. in place that you left with.
Bullslinger is right as well with the Kirst kits. That is where I got that info. myself. My '60 is a Pietta and factory rounds (250 gr.) just do fit. It's not a noticeable diff., you just wont be able to turn the cylinder with the Uberti. My understanding is, as long as you don't sell or distribute YOUR converted gun, there isn't any paper work. You should be able to find this info. on line.
 
The .36 caliber conversion would fire a .38, but I'd have to use heel-based bullets. I'd prefer to just be able to use the .357/.358 bullets I'll already have on hand. I think I may just need to go with .44 for this project or buy the conversion already being made by Uberti in .38 Special. Seems that when you look at the price and the better metallurgy, Craig C. is probably right. If I go with .44 I wouldn't need to reline the barrel to be able to use regular bullets intended for the .45 Colt so that saves some money. I could also just use a bare conversion cylinder for the Remington - it's not that big of a deal to pull the cylinder to reload and it would allow me to still use it as a C&B if I ever wanted to. Not anticipating that... but my tastes have changed. And if there's an ammo shortage, being able to shoot BP could come in handy.

For some reason, the idea of converting my own revolver and learning some gunsmithing skills appeals to me. Especially if I can get a fixer-upper and make it into something useful again. I think I may try to go that route with an 1860 Army eventually. Not in a huge hurry though... it'll have to wait til I get some other issues sorted out.

Thanks for all the insight. I'll keep checking back.
 
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45 dragoon

yeah, i wasnt completely sold on a conversion, i had talked about it with some buddies, that was before i held my '60, kinda like her the way she is:)
besides itll give me an excuse to pick up a vaquero next year:D or maybe a lightning i saw on cimarrons site...
then again theres the walker i need, this never ends does it
Thanks
Gene
 
Ivan, NOW you're Thinkin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd vote for the Dragoon but then i'm a little biased.
 
I heard of a feller reaming out the .38 Special conversion cylinder on his Remmy to shoot .41 Colt ammo, the bullet diameter of that is .380 IIRC. With soft lead bullets he said it made a much better shooter than the .38 special, cause they swaged down to bore diameter and sealed well instead of bumping up to fit the rifling.
 
Nope, you can shoot factory stuff. Don't know anyone that sells .45 Colt that's not safe in um. I think all 250 gr. are under 1000 fps. I shoot fact equiv. in all of mine. Folks bring this up often but anything you can shoot in a Colt 45, I shoot in mine , no prob.

Not to mention, depending on how well the gun and the conversion are mated will dictate the value of the sum. I wouldn't trade either of my Dragoons for a Colts S.A.A. I think Colts are awesome and would like to acquire one in the future but I wouldn't trade one of mine for what to me, may be a lesser gun. Just my opinion, knowing what I have.


BTW, an 800-950 fps .45 cal 250 gr chunck of lead aint what I would call "low powered". That's more oomf than a 1911 has. Go tell that crowd about there low powered gear or go check your own post !!

And thank you , but I don't need you or anyone else worrying about my pocketbook ( When someone brings that up, it's a definite sign of jealousy. Your secrete is safe with me.).
 
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I have 3 guns with conversion cylinders: an 1858 Remington .44 by Pietta, an 1849 by Uberti and an 1858 Remington .36 by Euroarms. The .36 Euroarms I bought used in like new condition with an R&D conversion cylinder for $350.00. The 1849 Uberti I bought both the gun and the R&D conversion cylinder used at different time for a total cost of $400.00, both in like new condition. The conversion cylinder is the now out of production 6 round cylinder. The 1858 Remington .44 by Pietta and the Kirst conversion cylinder were purchased used at different times for a total cost of $375.00, both in like new condition. If you look around you can pick up some pretty good bargains on the used market. My next conversion cylinder purchase will be a new Howell (R&D) for my 1860 Army by Uberti that I bought used in like new condition for $150.00. It will cost me around $225.00 new as I cannot find a used one at what I think is a fair price for one.
 
Howdy

I bought a 45 Colt conversion cylinder for my old EuroArms 44 1858 Remmie a whole bunch of years ago. I can't remember what I paid for the Remmie when I bought it in 1975. The cylinder ran a tad over $200 when I bought it. So if you have already amortized the cost of the gun over a long period of time, converting it to cartridges makes financial sense. Particularly with a 44 because you don't have to mess with the barrel.

By the way, the pamphlet that came with my R&D conversion cylinder plainly states to use it with Black Powder or Cowboy ammo ONLY. No high powered stuff.
 
Does anyone sell "high powered" .45 Colt ammo? I've been reloading for mine since '92 and see the loadings for Rugers, T.C. and the like but was not aware that they sell "high powered" ammo.

45 Dragoon
 
Scholfield Works

The Scholfielf works well in and is preferred in both the Uberti and Pietta guns. It is a shorter round but is kinda difficult to find ( hells bells so is 22lr at the present time ).
Buy a conversion cylinder if ya want another option for a gun you like. You really are not going to save any money in the long run (MHO). For around $350 +- $25.00 you can buy a new EAA SA in 45LC that is well made and a lot of fun to shoot.
 
BullSlinger said:
The Scholfielf works well in and is preferred in both the Uberti and Pietta guns. It is a shorter round but is kinda difficult to find ( hells bells so is 22lr at the present time ).
Buy a conversion cylinder if ya want another option for a gun you like. You really are not going to save any money in the long run (MHO). For around $350 +- $25.00 you can buy a new EAA SA in 45LC that is well made and a lot of fun to shoot.
Click to expand...

If I buy a new .45, I think it's going to be a stainless 5.5 inch Ruger Vaquero.
Costs more, but when I looked at one last week it fit my hand like a glove and locked up like a bank vault. And it's a stainless Ruger, which it to say about as tough as you're going to get in a production gun.

But the conversions speak to me. They are just plain awesomeness disguised as blued steel and walnut.
I'll have a conversion or two, and a couple open top Colt knock-offs, before this whole thing settles. But it may take a couple years.
 
Well Goon you started the thread wanting to know the cost, it aint real cheap $500 + for steel framed gun and R&D conversion cylinder. You are correct that a new Rugger is a nice way to go. I only mentioned the EAA cuz it made the cost so much less and a quality German made gun to boot.
 
Oh, I still want one.
I'd like a Remington in .38 Special, gated cylinder, no ejector.
We'll see how that plays out. I've got some stuff for sale now and the prospect of buying a new gun with stuff I'm selling off is on the table.
It's been a rough few months... I could use something to celebrate.
 
Cant think of any particular brand but it was pretty common to find +p ammo fo the 45 colt at most gun stores.

It is high powered no other way to put it.

so dont shoot it in any replicas or anything else not built for it

(meant to quote 45 dragoon)
 
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