Hi Mike, as I already said I am an idiot amateur gunsmith, but do have some experience in doing the Kirst 1860 conversion. Since I experienced difficulty, I recommend that anyone wanting a gated Kirst 1860 conversion that they have you do that conversion. Over the years I wondered that if I had just removed all the sharp edges from the Kirst floating back plate that my issues would not have occurred.
BTW, part of the enjoyments of doing gunsmith oneself is the knowledge gained. Also, many times the drop in conversion cylinders require some work, either conversion cylinder has length issues, or hand modification requirements. However, once set up, a conversion is as reliable as the original C&B.
Regards,
Richard