About to enter Conversion Territory.

[Hewy]

In keeping with my MO, Soon will be buying
a Conversion cylinder from Taylors . The gun I have
is. Pietta 1851 Navy of recent manufacture 1915 
I mean 2015 so it has the Colt grip shape, not the Pietta tail.
What I need to learn is the casting of heeled bullets.
Who makes the correct mold ? Will 38 Special cases work ?
Reading the recent details of soft hammer face damage, that looks
to be fixable.
What other points do I need to be aware ?

[Mad Dog Stafford]

I'm watching this thread.

I too have a 1851 Navy .36cal. Thinking about getting a con. cylinder here. 

I think, you can use cowboy loads of .38spl ammo in there...I think?

[ssb73q]

Hi Hewy, IMO all recent Pietta 1851/1860 Colt replicas require that the end of the hand end needs to be shortened just a little. The problem is that the current hand begins to rotate the conversion cylinder sooner than the bolt drops down enough to allow cylinder to rotate. Just go easy and slow with a fine stone. If shy doing the work yourself, Taylor will fit their conversion cylinder to your revolver for no cost other than shipping.

Loading heeled bullets is a royal pita. Getting bullets that will work is also an issue. Because of the bullet length you will also need to buy 38 Short Colt brass.

There is a simpler path, hollow based bullets in 38 Special brass work well. The hollow based bullets bump up to fill the rifling on firing. I use either 148gr Magnus or Speer hollow based wadcutters (with 2.7gr TrailBoss powder). Factory loaded Sellier & Bellot 148gr Wad Cutter bullets are hollow based and will work well in the conversion cylinder. See:
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/sellier-amp-bellot-pistol-38-special-wc-148-grain-50-rounds?a=1586652

IMO search this archive for heeled bullets and hollow based bullets.

Regards,
Richard

[ssb73q]

I'm watching this thread.

I too have a 1851 Navy .36cal. Thinking about getting a con. cylinder here. 

I think, you can use cowboy loads of .38spl ammo in there...I think?

Hi Sam, regular 38 Special ammo without a hollow based bullet is too small in diameter to have the rifling engage the bullet.

Regards,
Richard

[mazo kid]

I use a Lyman HB bullet in my .36 conversion cylinders. A while back I got a Lee .375 bullet mold and tools from a member here to make heeled bullets. So far, I have not loaded any up....too many other projects (home and gun) going on.

[Mad Dog Stafford]

ssb73q, I didn't know that. Thanks for pointing that out Bud! 

I never had any con. cylinders for any .36cal Black Powder Pistols.

[Hewy]

Ya Sam, I read, in the Howell web site about the rebarreling. I didn't
want to get into any gun modes , like the ejection rod and opening up the
recoil sheild etc, that's why I chose Howel drop in .
Having one will allow shooting other Piettas with out doing anything more.
Also can drop your BP cylinder in and well.............
Plus the cost of doing all the mods will pay for an additional Howel cylinder.

[45 Dragoon]

I think the .38s are 6 shooters and shouldn't have the hand issue. The .45C cyls are 5 shooters and must turn farther.  They have approaches before and after the locking notches to assist with this issue. Of course,  with all "fine" things in life, the human touch is needed  lol!!

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks

[Hewy]

Happy you jumped in Dragoon.
Do you have any thoughts for the "soft hammer syndrome" ?

[Hewy]

I use a Lyman HB bullet in my .36 conversion cylinders. A while back I got a Lee .375 bullet mold and tools from a member here to make heeled bullets. So far, I have not loaded any up....too many other projects (home and gun) going on.

Are you going to use it  or sell  to me ?

[45 Dragoon]

Hey Hewy,

 Well, I put in a steel insert to stop that problem with cart. conversions. On cap guns, the hammer shouldn't contact the nipples anyway, so "clearancing" the hammer face is really all that's needed. If your cyl moves away too far and causes ignition problems, the barrel/cyl clearance is too large.

I've only owned  1 Howell type cyl and I hardened the firing pins. It was for a Remington and it didn't have the soft hammer face problem. I suspect most don't in this application since the nose of the hammer is so thin. I'm sure the hardening process is pretty much 100% in that area.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks

[ssb73q]

Hi Hewy, this the ground I plowed to use the 38 Colt/38 Special Taylor conversion cylinder:

http://blackpowdersmoke.com/colt/index.php?topic=932.msg7159#msg7159

(The dies necessary to load heeled bullets is also discussed.)

BTW, I now own 21 conversion cylinders so I have some experience. 

Regards,
Richard

[Hewy]

Richard,  I am looking forward to getting the conversion cylinder and jumping in.
This appears to be the avenue I was looking for to further a black powder experience, and it's
steps to the modern world.
Thanks for the link back.

[45 Dragoon]

The only problem with this  avenue is it wasn't taken by Colt. Colts conversions were gated or just ported. Remington took this Ave. though so your in the "spirit" at least!! The main thing is to have fun!!!!!

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks

[Dellbert]

Hi Hewy, this the ground I plowed to use the 38 Colt/38 Special Taylor conversion cylinder:

http://blackpowdersmoke.com/colt/index.php?topic=932.msg7159#msg7159

(The dies necessary to load heeled bullets is also discussed.)

BTW, I now own 21 conversion cylinders so I have some experience. 

Regards,
Richard

Hi Richard! Please don't take this the wrong way. I spent most of the morning reading reading through all the post on this thread and the one you put up from a year or so ago and want to thank you for saving me a bit of money on buying a .38 conversion cylinder, bullets, and brass. I can deal with the 45 Colts but the 38 for me is a wast. Thank you for all the info you have put up on here it has made me realize the 38 is not my cup of tea in a cap and ball revolver.