conversion to cartridges

C

charles-smythe

Inactive
just for kicks I'd like to convert a cap & ball to cartridge...which is better to convert...36 or .44?...can anyone suggest an inexpensive 1860 to convert?...:cool:
 
Both are good to convert though I prefer the .44

Here are my Remington's, top Kirst .44 to .45
bottom R&D .36 to .38

2q8pli8.jpg
 
.44 Special and .44-40 bullets would be too small in diameter.
AFAIK the .44 Remington caliber designation was determined by it's land to land diameter and not by it's groove to groove diameter like the later cartridge calibers.

Smokin_Gun Post #5 said:
Piettas have a .451" bore, .440" lands and something like .446" chambers ... use a lube pill or a wooly wads thay will work jus' fine.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347315
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
You can fire regular non-heeled .38s if you line the barrel to .357:

2qa4y28.jpg


The cap and ball replicas though called .44s are actually .45 caliber taking a .451 to .457 ball whereas a 44/40 is .429, too small for the barrel unless you use heeled bullets.
 
is the only difference between a .36 and a .44 cap & ball pistol :)the size of the hole in the barrel?...if so could a competent gunsmith safely re-drill a .36 caliber to the proper deminsions for a .44 and is a conversion .36 caliber cylinder long enough (and strong enough) to be reamed out to .44-40... don't know why but I just like shooting .44-40s and .44 specials...
 
The .36 has a smaller cylinder. If you'll notice the 1860 Army has a rebated cylinder and a stepped frame. You can get a 44-40 or 44 spl cylinder for the 44's but you're back to using heeled or hollow based bullets.
 
Great thread Charles. Just what I wanted to know next. Gents, do you all reload your cartridges? Is there a good thread on conversion and reloading of BP cartridges? Thanks.

Hong
 
Why not just get a Richards Mason or Colt open top if you just have to have the .44 cartridges? Hong he better be into reloading if he wants to shoot 44-40 they're around 35.00 per 50. Reloading bp is easy. Just fill case to 1/16 from top with bp and seat bullet.
 
I use Pyrodex in my 44-40's. I've never used 777 but from everything I hear it's real finicky. Maybe less so in a cartridge since you have more control on bullet depth. 777 does not like compression but it can't have an air space. Compress it and results are sporadic. 777 is stronger than real bp or Pyrodex by 20%.
 
...is the only difference between a .36 and a .44 cap & ball pistol the size of the hole in the barrel?...if so could a competent gunsmith safely re-drill a .36 caliber to the proper deminsions for a .44 and is a conversion .36 caliber cylinder long enough (and strong enough) to be reamed out to .44-40... don't know why but I just like shooting .44-40s and .44 specials...
Click to expand...

Yes, the bore of the barrels are different sizes. All of the above is possible, but you are looking at nearly $1,500 if not more (not including the pistol) to have that done. "Re-drill" is called reboring the barrel. Cheaper to buy a Pietta .44 Colt or Remington from Cabelas and then purchase a .45 Colt conversion cylinder from either Kirst or Howells Gunshop (from Midway, etc.) and drop it in. Some cylinders may require minor fitting.

P.S. If you really want a .44 Colt (not .44 Special) cartridge conversion cylinder, here is one:

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,5852.html

You will need to use heeled bullets with it.
 
Last edited:
hey, Hawg Haggen...Why not just get a Richards Mason or Colt open top if you just have to have the .44 cartridges? Hong he better be into reloading if he wants to shoot 44-40 they're around 35.00 per 50. Reloading bp is easy. Just fill case to 1/16 from top with bp and seat bullet...can I interperet this to mean that the Richards or an open top Colt like an 1860 can be convered to .44-40 instead of .45?...:cool:
 
My opinion, based on experience with many conversions: Remington is *definately* the better frame for cartridge conversions, due to the easy to remove pin for the cylinder. I have had such good luck with mine that I ordered a second one exactly the same as the first. The Colt copies are just more difficult to disassemble, and more finicky. You can handload some pretty darned impressive .45 Long Colt stuff for a modern steel framed Remington copy with the conversion cylinders. Yes, they are placarded for Cowboy Action loads only, anything else is your experiment, but I've shot lots of standard defense-capable .45 stuff (smokeless loads) thru mine with no issues at all. My own leaning is towards newer Uberti products v/s the Piettas. Taylors sells the entire shootin-match and it's top notch stuff. Howells cylinders are 6 shot and have been perfect.

.45 is less troublesome to deal with. You're really gilding the lilly by even thinking about .44-40. Really.

Latest project here is a Walker Dragoon with thru-bored cartridge conversion cylinder and .460 S&W Brass, loaded with 50 grains of fffg powder. Shot 60 grains "just to see", and then backed off to 50 "just for fun". It's a fun sport.



Willie

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top