Yesterday's Weapons Forums

I think I mentioned I hit a scratch card that pretty much paid for this. $145. I bid $150 after seeing the attached pic. The cylinder shows what appears to be corrosion. I figured some basement cow pie pounded down a 6 pack & played fast draw using just percussion caps. I think he was also spinning the gun on his finger while drinking because the gun shows clear evidence of having been dropped multiple times.

I don't know what the priming compound for caps is anymore, but it used to be corrosive. I reasoned the gun itself should be sound. Got it last night & what a mess! Some bone head not only fired just caps, he fired loads with no lube. As in the cylinder would barely turn and when I shined a light down the barrel, it looked like a sewer pipe.

Well, never say die. The bonehead used something that left the shown divots when he tried to get the wedge out. I used a plastic mallet. Two vigorous smacks & it popped out. It took a big arm to separate the barrel & remove the cylinder due to the dried powder residue.

So I sprayed the bore and chambers with WD-40 & let soak overnight. Lo & behold, everything cleaned up nice & shiny! Tight & timed just like it was supposed to be.

Not leaving well enough alone, I loaded a cylinder with 777 & drove out for a function test. I haven't fired a cap-n-ball since the 70s & forgot stuff. Like I didn't think #10 caps were so tough to push on. The first 6 trigger pulls just seated the caps & they all went off next time around. I didn't get too mean when I put them on 1st time. I couldn't remember how hairy they were.

The balls fit the bore just fine but were loose in the cylinder.

So when I get my next gas saver $ from the RR, I'll get a 38 long colt cyl with loading gate & use it like that. If it hadn't been snowing a lick, I would have stayed out there & shot more - I lke it! SW


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Slava Ukraini!!

The balls should be oversized for the chamber. Should shave them, even leave a lead ring on the cylinder when you seat them. Makes a nice tight seal & helps prevent chain-fires

I use .365 for 36 cal & .451 for 44 cal if I recall correctly


The Idjit prolly didn't realize you have to push down on the springy portion of the wedge before you push it out

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It's 5 o'clock and it's watermelon time.....................
because you can't drink beer & load rockets - TXPete

very nice , i like the 38LC conversion

I got a greater bend in my learning curve today... the right balls for 36 cal are .375" I've got to start asking questions before I jump in on some hare-brained project.

I happened to see in the new midway catalog their 38 gated cylinders need to be D&T to the receiver. better call Buffalo Bros & see what's up with theirs that way. SW

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Slava Ukraini!!

nothing is ever easy , nor should it be i guess , sounds a great project tho , look at one of the other 38s ? 38s&w ? i can recall the dia at this moment but im thinking its close

I just bought another non historical peace. one of my favorites, .44 cal. black powder 1851 Pietta to go along with my Army San Marco 1851 .44 cal. Does anyone make a conversion cyl. in .45 long Colt . I would like to convert my Pietta to a .45 Long Colt if possible..
I was wondering if a 1860 Colt, use's the same frame? And why do they call them .44 Cal. when they slug out nearer to .45???
Just got the fever, and had to get another. the Pietta has a larger grip. Had to buy it.

Here you go! I just got a 38 cylinder from them and am happy with it. In the projects forum is what I did when the cylinder locked up & wouldn't rotate. Easy fix!

As far as the whys & wherefores... no clue. But these are way fun! Mario has one! SW

http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/cartridg ... nders.html

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Slava Ukraini!!

.....AMEN...!!!...

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....Naj puška govori!....
.............deplorable typical "bitter clinger"....

Thought about the .36 just didn't want to have to buy another size of bullets, and I know they make conversions to .38, I read your threads, about it, It makes a lot of sence

all of this makes me think i should buy something already converted to centerfire in what i want , im not much of a muzzle stuffer really , but i do appreciate the nuances and enjoyment of it all , ill do so on special occasion , not as the norm ,

Muzzle stuffers, that's a new one for me,,,,, I have a few smoke poles, as little as a .32 cal. and several .50s, really enjoy shooting them when I got the time, love the smoke, love the noise, like taking time to shoot them, and do enjoy shooting cap and ball pistols to. I have found that alliants Black MZ will shoot with caps. they recommend 209 primers. But I only used 200grn. cast bullets

im new --- cut me some slack --- i only have the one lancaster county tennessee flinter rifle to my name , oh , and that pattern 1853 enfield - but its a cap and ball , beyond that nothing .....so far

I just got a email from Howell cartridge converters and they told me the 1860Colt will fit my 1851 .44cal. But will be finicky fitting it. I emailed them back and haven't herd back yet.

I just installed a conversion cyl. in my .44 percusion revolver, and now its a .45long colt, I had to do a lot of filing on the spure rachet so as to retain the original cyl. and it locks up nice. I bought a conversion for a 1860 colt for my 1851 repo.shoots high. but works like it was made for it. good investment.

I loaded 25 grns. Black MZ W/ 255 grn. pellet compressed a bit by Powder measured by volume shoots with low Pressure and Vellostity was 780 F P S.

I bought a 5" barrel on eBay and shot my .45 conversion though it and not only does it look cool it shot straight, really neat to carry on those walks in the woods

I like short barrels - post a pic when you have a chance. SW

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Slava Ukraini!!

i did put a conversion cylinder in my 1858 revolver to shoot my cowboy loads , it works great - save for having to remove the cylinder to unload/reload but then its still quicker than black that requires a lot of steps and a lot of cleaning ...just sayin ,

I will post a pic soon I also bought a holster too, makes nice package. I like the conversion cylinder I like to put them on all my black powder pistols. How does the 1858 shoot? I got a pietta I would like to put one on.

the 1858 shoots really well , ive also been contemplating a conversion for my 1860 45 and my 1851 38 but have not yet gone out that far on the limb , i still shoot 1873s in 45 colt for SASS - and will continue it so these would just be for fun , i am having that with the 1858 for now , i do enjoy it a lot tho ,