Remington 1858 Conversion?

SIGP2101

SIGP2101

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OK,

My 1858 is on its way and hopefully I will have it i my hands in next 5-10 days. She is in original shape and percussion. It would be nice to find original conversion cylinder for it but may prove to be difficult task.
I would like to have some drop in solution that would allow me to go back to percussion any time. Back and fort ability would be nice. First of all is there such a ting? Second, how many of you have similar setup and what is your experience with it?
Last:
Is converted 1858 Remington in .44 on no go list? This is in case i decide to import already converted one as well.
 
SIGP2101 said:
OK,

My 1858 is on its way and hopefully I will have it i my hands in next 5-10 days. She is in original shape and percussion. It would be nice to find original conversion cylinder for it but may prove to be difficult task.
I would like to have some drop in solution that would allow me to go back to percussion any time. Back and fort ability would be nice. First of all is there such a ting? Second, how many of you have similar setup and what is your experience with it?
Last:
Is converted 1858 Remington in .44 on no go list? This is in case i decide to import already converted one as well.
Click to expand...


44 is fine as long as it's not 44-40 (44 WCF) - which is a good chance since most 44 at this time were in 44-40.
 
44 in those old guns is the equvilant of .45 in cartridges so i have been told. Krist is the only company I know of that does the conversion cylinders and they are in .45 long colt and .45 scholfield.

The only thing with the krist converters are unless you mill out the side of the receiver (DONT DO THAT ON AN ORIGINAL :D ) and fit the loading gate you have to remove the cylinder to reload. Would be nice to have a couple spares but they arent cheap. Try gun broker in the states for an original conversion cylinder.
 
If you get a conversion cylinder that'll chamber a .45LC it becomes a restricted. I think they used to make them for .45 acp, or if you could get one that is .45 Schofield only then that'd be OK. The actual bore on these is around .451 usually, (originals may vary) thus the .45 conversion cylinder. Enjoy
 
There are two types of converters, those that require milling out a loading port in the frame and modifying or changing the hammer and those that have firing pins built into each chamber. The latter type allows for quick change back to cap and ball but requires removal of the cylinder to re-load cartridges.
I have shot several hundred " cowboy loads " in .45 Colt through a reproduction SAA and it is a powerful round, not one that I would shoot through an old original gun. Steel making has come a long way in the 150 +- years since those were made.
 
So conclusion is basically:

Period correct conversion - gun needs to be modified and back and fort ability lost to a degree.
Modern conversion - limited to 5 rounds and cylinder has to come out in order to reload but that maybe only option in order to stay in antique territory and legal.

Very useful input guys, much obliged.
 
mrclean89 said:
Yes krist converter comes in either .45 long colt (restricted) or .44 scholfield ( antique)

Mclean
Click to expand...

Are you sure, because my impression is that it is same cylinder that would chamber both. Sort of like 357/38.
If that is the case gun could definitely loose antique status. Can somebody confirm this?
 
The original conversions were in 44colt and used a heeled hollow base bullet to expand out into the rifling .Bores are usually around 454 I bought the 45 acp convertion and shoot with shortened 45 Scholfield cases and 454 keith style bullets . The problem with the 45Lc/45Scholfield convertion is that they are marked 45Lc and in a original gun this is on the no-go list for Antique status
 
SIGP2101 said:
Are you sure, because my impression is that it is same cylinder that would chamber both. Sort of like 357/38.
If that is the case gun could definitely loose antique status. Can somebody confirm this?
Click to expand...

Correct they are intended for 45Long Colt aswell so a no go for Antique status thats why I bought mine in 45ACP as its not on the list and also chambers Shortened 45Scholfield cases nicely and you can use a better sized bullet .454
 
Mine was put in an original overall length was tight a few thou. had to be taken off the cylinder face also mine was for the Pietta . 2nd the hand must be modified so buy one it must be moved towards the cylinder pin (shaft) this is a little tricky I don't know about the Uberti ones .I GOT MINE TO WORK BUT IF THE THOUGHT OF WORKING ON THE HAND ETC .is a little worrying this maybe not for you. Lets put it this way it's not just a strait drop in
 
As has been noted the kirst cylinders aren't drop n - they'll need fitting.

QM 86 87 - I believe it could be either? There are lots of remingtons in 44, but I think Remington also made a cartridge of their own in 44 called 44 remington that was short lived and not well known. I may be thinking of a 45 cartridge though.
 
DEZ said:
Correct they are intended for 45Long Colt aswell so a no go for Antique status thats why I bought mine in 45ACP as its not on the list and also chambers Shortened 45Scholfield cases nicely and you can use a better sized bullet .454
Click to expand...

DEZ, what velocity and accuracy you getting out of shortened Schofield.
What do you use BP or smokeless?
 
I have an original 1858 Remington revolver, converted to accept metallic cartridges.

RCMP insist that it is a .44-40, which means Restricted.

Of the 100 fresh .44-40 casings I have here, the cylinder will accept NONE.

The original cylinder is used on this conversion, just altered at the back end: turned down and a plate added. It is bored STRAIGHT through, being the original muzzleloading cylinder.

This means that the dimension which is critical is the rear end of the conversion cylinder.

To convert mine back to a muzzleloader would require an original ML cylinder AND Hammer. The Hammers also were converted.

There are photos of this set-up in another thread; I'll ask Twosteam to re-post them here.

Hope this helps.
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