I talked to a guy last week who has a pietta 1858 with a "drop in" conversion cylinder and he told me he had to send it to a gunsmith to make the thing work like it should. Have any of you had a better experience? What brand conversion cylinder was it, and what adjustments did you have to make to make it function properly?
1858 conversion cylinder stories
- Thread starter Delmar
- Start date
Fingers McGee
New member
I had a pair of Pietta Remmies that I bought R&D cylinders for when they first came out. Both cylinders worked fine in both pistols without having to do anything to them.
Conversely, I know a shooting pard that bought an R&D for his Pietta Remmie that didn't. He ended up sending the pistol & cylinder in to have them matched so they'd work together.
Sometimes they work fine & sometimes not.
Conversely, I know a shooting pard that bought an R&D for his Pietta Remmie that didn't. He ended up sending the pistol & cylinder in to have them matched so they'd work together.
Sometimes they work fine & sometimes not.
I wonder if the both the Uberti and Pietta cap-n-ball revolvers aren't as precisely made as a Ruger Old Army. I've read many posts that Uberti and Pietta revolver more often times than not require a little gunsmithing to get the Kirst or R&D (Howell) cylinders to fit. I've hardly heard the same of the Rugers but I'm sure there are a few. The point being I think I would expect the Uberti's and Pietta's to need a little help and would be surprised to find the conversion cylinders pop right in. Whereas, I would expect the opposite for Rugers. As one data point my Ruger accepted an R&D cylinder perfectly. But your mileage may vary.
long rider
New member
Not all 58s are the same, even if they are made
by the same maker, i have two 58s by asm, and
the drop in conversion fits better in one than the
other.
by the same maker, i have two 58s by asm, and
the drop in conversion fits better in one than the
other.
drop in says it all
Me too. Bought an 1858 last fall along with an R&D with no tuning. Have you read my broken hand post? It's all in the hand. Next project: convert my Uberti 1860 Army and put a gated Kirst in the Remington. I love the .45Colt cartridge, it is a forgiving round when reloading.
Me too. Bought an 1858 last fall along with an R&D with no tuning. Have you read my broken hand post? It's all in the hand. Next project: convert my Uberti 1860 Army and put a gated Kirst in the Remington. I love the .45Colt cartridge, it is a forgiving round when reloading.
I found an article about installing the Kirst Konverter. This talks about some of the smithing they had to do.
http://www.hobbygunsmith.com/Archives/June04/Feature.htm
http://www.hobbygunsmith.com/Archives/June04/Feature.htm
Huntzalittle
New member
I bought a R&D Conversion cylinder last year for my Uberti 1858 and it dropped right in with no additional work 
I'm very happy with it and have been reloading the brass. Makes a nice addition to what I have.
I'm very happy with it and have been reloading the brass. Makes a nice addition to what I have.flatheadsal
New member
I have a pair of ASM 1858's, Taylor's inc suggested I send them in for free fitting because they are not Pietta or Uberti, the smith there did a superb job and I'm very satisfied, this was about 2 yrs ago, flathead
long rider
New member
Delmar, yes to the QS the standard does fit
better in one than it does with the other,
one is a tad bit sloppy but they both shoot
good, but they shoot high with the 45 but
thats the norm with the58 cnversion cylinder.
better in one than it does with the other,
one is a tad bit sloppy but they both shoot
good, but they shoot high with the 45 but
thats the norm with the58 cnversion cylinder.
long rider
New member
delmar, if i was you iwould get the cylinder then i
would see if it fits first before you send it to taylors
some folks get lucky and some have to have them
fit to the gun, thats why i allways say they are not
ALL the SAME even if they are from one maker.
would see if it fits first before you send it to taylors
some folks get lucky and some have to have them
fit to the gun, thats why i allways say they are not
ALL the SAME even if they are from one maker.
flatheadsal
New member
Delmar, I don't know if they are still fitting them, it was a couple yrs ago,but yes you'd have to buy them there, flathead
long rider
New member
I dont mean to be a killjoy, but i have heard some
storys about taylors, how some folks have sent
there smokers to be worked on so the cylinder
will fit, and the nightmare begains, some say they
have kept the gun for months, no return phone
calls and so on, but thats what i have heard, i
got my conversion cylinder in old west gun shop
in phoenix and i had no probs with it.
its all down to trust, when you send your gun
to be worked on, unless you no the folks, mysellf
i woud not send them to anyone i did not know,
but thats me.
storys about taylors, how some folks have sent
there smokers to be worked on so the cylinder
will fit, and the nightmare begains, some say they
have kept the gun for months, no return phone
calls and so on, but thats what i have heard, i
got my conversion cylinder in old west gun shop
in phoenix and i had no probs with it.
its all down to trust, when you send your gun
to be worked on, unless you no the folks, mysellf
i woud not send them to anyone i did not know,
but thats me.