Richard Mason Conversion

[red rick]

I have been thinking about getting a Uberti Mason conversion from Taylor's .

I can't decide if I want the 1851 or 1860 . I was leaning toward the 1851 , but I also reload .45 Colt .

If you have both which is your favorite and why ? If you just have one or the other , tell me how you like it .

 

[Tommygunn]

I have the Richards/Mason '51 which is chambered for .38SP, with a 5.5" barrel --- which is shorter than the usual you will find.
I like mine a lot. Because of it's open-top configuration and that it is an OLD design I do not run normal .38 loads through it, I use cowboy loads, or I run .38 Long Colt I have with blackpowder propellant.
The only problem I have had is you have to be a little careful getting the wedge in, if it isn't placed correctly the cylinder binds up quickly. A short soft rap with a plastic-tip hammer on the wedge corrects it. However, that may be a particular bug with my gun and not something you'd need to worry about.
The guns Uberti makes as conversion revolvers are generally made better and of stronger metal than their cap & ball guns but don't "HOT DOG" the loads.
And pay closer attention to assembly/disassembly instructions; if you know cap & ball guns then you'll note small differences in them when compared to the conversion guns.
However they are great guns and loads of fun and a part of history we can actively involve ourselves in as they are new and not 150 year old tired wall-hangers! Enjoy!

 

[TruthTellers]

If you're interested in shooting .38 without the issue of being restricted to hollow base lead bullets only, go with the '51. The bore diameter in the factory made conversions is smaller and sized for the .38 bullet while the cap and ball revolvers stick to the classic round ball size of .375 or .380.

Also, since .45 Colt is easy enough to convert without bore issues, you can wait until a c&b revolver you like goes on sale and buy the Taylor's or Kirst conversion cylinder yourself.

 

[CraigC]

Just decide which you like best and get that one first.

If you're interested in shooting .38 without the issue of being restricted to hollow base lead bullets only, go with the '51. The bore diameter in the factory made conversions is smaller and sized for the .38 bullet while the cap and ball revolvers stick to the classic round ball size of .375 or .380.

Both guns are available in .38Spl with appropriate dimensions for the cartridge.

Also, since .45 Colt is easy enough to convert without bore issues, you can wait until a c&b revolver you like goes on sale and buy the Taylor's or Kirst conversion cylinder yourself.

Which will always cost more in the long run, especially if you go all the way with a gated conversion with ejector.

 

[TruthTellers]

Just decide which you like best and get that one first.

For once, we agree on something.

Which will always cost more in the long run, especially if you go all the way with a gated conversion with ejector.

Jeez, it's like some people don't want to spend money...

 

[CraigC]

Jeez, it's like some people don't want to spend money...

That's ironic, coming from you.

Yeah, you can buy a percussion gun (I paid $300 for my Pietta 1851 London model), a gated Kirst conversion kit for $325, an ejector for another $140, have it professionally installed for $125, line the barrel for another $200 (to shoot standard .38Spl loads) and have a real nice conversion after waiting a few months for it to be built, for a grand total of about $700 plus all the associated shipping costs. Or you can buy one off the shelf for $450-$500 that is made of superior steel and proofed for smokeless. Why would you spend more money on the same thing, that is less historically accurate and will probably need gunsmith installation to function properly?

Not to mention the fact that the .45 converters are 5-shot, while the factory conversions are 6-shot.

I'm ALL for having something built when you can't buy it but if the factory offers what you want, it's silly to have one made.

 

[TruthTellers]

That's ironic, coming from you.

Yeah, you can buy a percussion gun (I paid $300 for my Pietta 1851 London model), a gated Kirst conversion kit for $325, an ejector for another $140, have it professionally installed for $125, line the barrel for another $200 (to shoot standard .38Spl loads) and have a real nice conversion after waiting a few months for it to be built, for a grand total of about $700 plus all the associated shipping costs. Or you can buy one off the shelf for $450-$500 that is made of superior steel and proofed for smokeless. Why would you spend more money on the same thing, that is less historically accurate and will probably need gunsmith installation to function properly?

Not to mention the fact that the .45 converters are 5-shot, while the factory conversions are 6-shot.

I'm ALL for having something built when you can't buy it but if the factory offers what you want, it's silly to have one made.

I don't disagree, I was merely pointing out the benefits of getting the 1851 from the factory. Since the design is a lot stronger, the TC could use any .38 load in it and be just fine.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

red,
if spinning is in the cards, get the '51 grip.
A buddy of mine got the 1860 grip on his and it
never did spin right for me.

This is my Traditions 6 shot .44 Colt.
It's been thru 3000 rounds -- 4.5 grs. of 231 with the RCBS 200 gr. FN --
and still going strong.
Got this long before Cimarron or Taylor's got involved.



It was a new 8" blue/case colored gun, but just
did not look right to me.

JT

 

[CraigC]

Looks better now!