Been pondering a conversion cyl lately, and see that I have a choice of a couple flavors - .45LC or .45ACP
Is there anyone listening who can give me a run down on some pros & cons of either?
Re: Conversion cylinders
2The 45acp cylinder can only accept lead loads. If you reload, not a problem. If you buy factory, good luck finding any...
The downside to the 45lc is they are so damn expensive to shoot factory ammo.
IMO you'd be better off buying a 73 clone in 357 or even the dual cylinder Ruger 45acp/lc. Depends on how much you shoot, but the break even period can be a short amount of time when you're shooting ammo $40 / 50 rounds.
The downside to the 45lc is they are so damn expensive to shoot factory ammo.
IMO you'd be better off buying a 73 clone in 357 or even the dual cylinder Ruger 45acp/lc. Depends on how much you shoot, but the break even period can be a short amount of time when you're shooting ammo $40 / 50 rounds.
Re: Conversion cylinders
3hrmm.. I thought it was more about the gun & barrel, rifling, than the cylinder that determined if you could go jacketed or not?curtism1234 wrote:The 45acp cylinder can only accept lead loads. If you reload, not a problem. If you buy factory, good luck finding any...
probably a few boxes to start of with yeah, then the idea was get into hand-loading and still use black powder in them.curtism1234 wrote: The downside to the 45lc is they are so damn expensive to shoot factory ammo.
On the con side for me, is that I already have a gun .45ACP, but .45LC would be adding a new calibre to the stash.
already have that! I have an Uberti Cattleman in .357 to match my Henry Big Boy. The idea there was the same.. make some .357 brass and then start loading my own at some point. A '73 pattern just ain't quite the same as a Colt open-top though, ya know?curtism1234 wrote: IMO you'd be better off buying a 73 clone in 357 or even the dual cylinder Ruger 45acp/lc. Depends on how much you shoot, but the break even period can be a short amount of time when you're shooting ammo $40 / 50 rounds.
Brian in StL
Re: Conversion cylinders
4There's also a pre- made colt conversion available in .38 to consider. A better arrangement than some of the conversion cylinders.
That said, if you're primarily interested in loading BP, I'd go with the .45 Colt and maybe get the Lyman 310 tool to reload them. It's not a volume setup, but too cute for words.
That said, if you're primarily interested in loading BP, I'd go with the .45 Colt and maybe get the Lyman 310 tool to reload them. It's not a volume setup, but too cute for words.
Re: Conversion cylinders
5I've already got a 45LC rifle, so 45LC conversion cylinders are probably in my future. I understand you have to be careful with pressure loads with these cylinders too. Stay with 'cowboy' spec low power ammo
Re: Conversion cylinders
6I'd love a 310 kit but damn it's expensive compared to other reloading options. But it'd be fun...Marlene wrote:There's also a pre- made colt conversion available in .38 to consider. A better arrangement than some of the conversion cylinders.
That said, if you're primarily interested in loading BP, I'd go with the .45 Colt and maybe get the Lyman 310 tool to reload them. It's not a volume setup, but too cute for words.
Live like you will never die, love like you've never been hurt, dance
like no-one is watching.
Alex White
like no-one is watching.
Alex White
Re: Conversion cylinders
7Correct, that cylinder is the strongest part of the gun. Perhaps I misstated that.stl303 wrote:hrmm.. I thought it was more about the gun & barrel, rifling, than the cylinder that determined if you could go jacketed or not?curtism1234 wrote:The 45acp cylinder can only accept lead loads. If you reload, not a problem. If you buy factory, good luck finding any...
Re: Conversion cylinders
8My Ruger Vaquero has both the .45LC and the .45ACP cylinders. I'm really glad it does, because there's always ACP around. Interestingly enough, the ACP's are a bit snappier than the LC somehow. They print differently with the ACP printing a bit low at 15 yards. I say if you have the opportunity to get both cylinders, do it. You won't be sorry.
I'm going to have to make a new pic of my cylinders because that one custom one is no longer available.
CDFingers
I'm going to have to make a new pic of my cylinders because that one custom one is no longer available.
CDFingers
Crazy cat peekin' through a lace bandana
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eyed Jack
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eyed Jack
Re: Conversion cylinders
9Not sure if it applies to cap and ball revolvers but I believe most black powder weapons have deeper cut rifling for the use of soft lead. I don't understand the conversion units for cap and ball revolvers but people seem to like them because they still make them.
Re: Conversion cylinders
10The market is very small for them though. There are only 2 companies Kirst (who is getting up there in age) and Howell (formally r & d).
They were created by reenactors for reenactors and that's where they do the bulk of their business.
They were created by reenactors for reenactors and that's where they do the bulk of their business.
Re: Conversion cylinders
11I'm personally thinking of doing CASS shoots with cap and ball guns because I like the aesthetics of them better. I'm going to start with blackpowder and caps, but it might turn out to be a massive pain in the ass to do an entire shoot that way, so I might switch to conversion cylinders.
Re: Conversion cylinders
12Just stick with Remington varieties and it will turn into a much lesser pain over Colt just for the fact the caps won't get all bound up in the cylinder. Buy a few more regular cylinders and you'll reload like the Preacher.valen wrote:I'm personally thinking of doing CASS shoots with cap and ball guns because I like the aesthetics of them better. I'm going to start with blackpowder and caps, but it might turn out to be a massive pain in the ass to do an entire shoot that way, so I might switch to conversion cylinders.
Re: Conversion cylinders
13But but Colt's are so much prettier...curtism1234 wrote:Just stick with Remington varieties and it will turn into a much lesser pain over Colt just for the fact the caps won't get all bound up in the cylinder. Buy a few more regular cylinders and you'll reload like the Preacher.valen wrote:I'm personally thinking of doing CASS shoots with cap and ball guns because I like the aesthetics of them better. I'm going to start with blackpowder and caps, but it might turn out to be a massive pain in the ass to do an entire shoot that way, so I might switch to conversion cylinders.
Re: Conversion cylinders
14There are pros & cons.valen wrote:But but Colt's are so much prettier...curtism1234 wrote:Just stick with Remington varieties and it will turn into a much lesser pain over Colt just for the fact the caps won't get all bound up in the cylinder. Buy a few more regular cylinders and you'll reload like the Preacher.valen wrote:I'm personally thinking of doing CASS shoots with cap and ball guns because I like the aesthetics of them better. I'm going to start with blackpowder and caps, but it might turn out to be a massive pain in the ass to do an entire shoot that way, so I might switch to conversion cylinders.
Colt can be "cap suckers" but Rems bind up faster I'd your shooting a bunch in one round.
There are some pretty reliable cures for sucking caps, but nothing I'm familiar with to keep the Rems from binding, other than stopping for a field cleaning.
I agree, the Colts are purdy.
Lots of folks use the conversions too though, and they're also a work-around for using your iron at an indoor range
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk
Brian in StL
Re: Conversion cylinders
15Triple 7stl303 wrote:
There are some pretty reliable cures for sucking caps, but nothing I'm familiar with to keep the Rems from binding, other than stopping for a field cleaning.
Re: Conversion cylinders
16I haven't worked with them much, but I think I really want a Remington Navy with a couple of muzzle loading cylinders and a conversion cylinder to use with black powder loaded .38 special. It just seems like a heck of a lot of fun.
And yeah, I know some don't agree but I think the aesthetics of the Remington are far better than most of the Colts with only the 1860 Army coming close.
And yeah, I know some don't agree but I think the aesthetics of the Remington are far better than most of the Colts with only the 1860 Army coming close.
Live like you will never die, love like you've never been hurt, dance
like no-one is watching.
Alex White
like no-one is watching.
Alex White
Re: Conversion cylinders
17I'm starting to get used to the looks of my 58. The Colts are way better balanced but they are harder to shoot because of the caps and the hammer notch sights.
As far as your plan, I would strongly reconsider some aspects of it. The cylinder is not meant to be removed constantly, you'll go through a lot of screws and leaf springs (which likely need to be handfitted).
If you want to shoot a colt quicker, I'd suggest
1. Getting two of them
2. Get the conversion kit that comes with the gate/ejector
3. Get a factory centerfire conversion gun from Uberti/Cimmaron via Taylor
1 and 3 make the most sense imo
As far as your plan, I would strongly reconsider some aspects of it. The cylinder is not meant to be removed constantly, you'll go through a lot of screws and leaf springs (which likely need to be handfitted).
If you want to shoot a colt quicker, I'd suggest
1. Getting two of them
2. Get the conversion kit that comes with the gate/ejector
3. Get a factory centerfire conversion gun from Uberti/Cimmaron via Taylor
1 and 3 make the most sense imo
Re: Conversion cylinders
18For me, I think it's less about speed, and more about being able to squeak in some more use out of the iron at an indoor range.curtism1234 wrote:As far as your plan, I would strongly reconsider some aspects of it. The cylinder is not meant to be removed constantly, you'll go through a lot of screws and leaf springs (which likely need to be handfitted).
If you want to shoot a colt quicker, I'd suggest
1. Getting two of them
2. Get the conversion kit that comes with the gate/ejector
3. Get a factory centerfire conversion gun from Uberti/Cimmaron via Taylor
1 and 3 make the most sense imo
What screws and springs do you speak of? the only parts to experience increased wear & tear should be the wedge and perhaps the arbor hole (keyway? not sure it's proper term)
It's also an excuse to get into some hand-loading
Brian in StL
Re: Conversion cylinders
19Yes, the wedge and it's associated spring and screw. The screwhead is very soft and will easily round and the spring on the wedge likes to get bend - then it's almost impossible to get it back in the revolver.stl303 wrote:
What screws and springs do you speak of? the only parts to experience increased wear & tear should be the wedge and perhaps the arbor hole (keyway? not sure it's proper term)
I wouldn't take the wedge completely out except on accident