drawbacks of conversion revolvers?

Aren't B/P conversions restricted to "Cowboy Action" (read light) loads?
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1973292272/howell-old-west-conversions-conversion-cylinder-44-caliber-pietta-1858-remington-steel-frame-black-powder-revolver-45-colt-long-colt-6-round

Note: This conversion cylinder is for BLACK POWDER cartridges or black powder equivalent cartridges (also called Cowboy Ammunition) with lead bullets on a steel frame revolver ONLY. Attempting to use modern ammunition and/or installation on a brass frame will create a dangerous condition that can result in injury or death. Dry firing with the conversion installed will damage the firing pins.
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"conversion cylinders" & in general black powder revolvers should be limited to softer loads, when in stock form, unless noted otherwise in the instructions, & IMO, brass framed guns should not be charged hot, or have conversion cylinders installed in them ...

I don't know if DRAGOON has seen or noticed this, but with many of the guns we've done permanent conversions on, the case hardening is done for colors only, the surface hardness is very thin, which is why on anything "we" do, in 38 special or more, we heat treat in an oven with "carbon", in an enclosed chamber to get a deeper surface harness ( case harden ), as well as do extra things to stengthen the gun... I was told they just use a torch to surface harden, & many parts ( like hands & cylinder stops ) have had very thin surface harness ( hence my question about round counts in the other conversion / cowboy thread in this section of the forum )

32 S&W Colt pocket conversion



32-20 Conversion



38 long Colt conversions



45 Walker conversion

 
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Aren't B/P conversions restricted to "Cowboy Action" (read light) loads?
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Yes. Taylor's R&D, Howell's Old West, and Kirst are all proofed for Smokeless powder but the instructions will specifically tell you that only 'Cowboy' loads should be fired in them.

Which makes for a bit of a problem, since there are no official SAAMI standards for Cowboy loads. You will find references to a maximum velocity of 650 - 750 fps, but as I have said many times, velocity does not determine what is a safe load. Pressure determines what is a safe load, and there are no official standards for pressure for 'Cowboy' loads.

There is certainly plenty of commercial ammo loaded with the label 'Cowboy' on it, and there are 'Cowboy' recipes in many loading manuals. These loads should be fine to shoot in a conversion cylinder, but don't go looking for official SAAMI data on what constitutes a Cowboy load, because there ain't any.
 
Nope.
Kirst says 1000 fps or less (is within pressure limits per reloading tables).
I load my .45s (they all have the same diet) to right at 900 fps with Tight Group powder (and 250 gr. lrnfp.
The '60 Army is a jumper ! The Dragoons think it's a walk in tha park!!
My El Patron Comp and Remie (fitted with a six shot R&D cyl. ) are happy campers as well.
All are sweet as a lady, built like a tank, and can take a beating!!!

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram
 
Magnum,
I don't mess with .38s. I like to keep things simple and .45s all around, does it for me.
Not wimpy loads and not magnum loads, just honest day in, day out loads is what I use . (if you look back , they didn't all say "cowboy only" loads but I'm sure "ears got bent". If I were manufacturing something that was on the " cusp" of works/ won't work , with some of the folks out there, I'd be a fool!!!! They are still in business. Nuff said.

That said, you and your buddy can do whatever makes you happy (that is ultimately who you have to satisfy) and I'm way happy with my situation. Every time "conversions" are brought up, this is the topic. If you want to shoot cowboy loads only, fine. Telling everyone that that's all they can shoot is not necessarily true.I I certainly don't and I have thousands of loads through my Dragoons and Army (all with the same ammo) with no problems at all. The Remie with the R&D seems to be liking it as well. I have no complaints nor any signs of problems. My guns come back home with the same clearances they left with. That makes me happy and tells me the "package " is up to the task.

By the way, I have seen how "y'all " do this and that, and, like I said, you do what you feel like you need to do. Y'all, didn't write the book on the subject so I'm still happy with MY setup along with the more than adequate components offered which yields quite a formidable revolver that I would most certainly put up against any "modern" "like" revolver. My setup has been tested with many many customers and have had no failures so far. Some are used heavily which is what I like because that is the real test.
Couple that with the fine offerings from Kirst and Taylor's (Remie six shot drop cylinders) and you have as fine a weapon as you can expect.

It's not rocket science.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram
 
DRAGOON just to insure you understand, I wasn't calling you out, or making reference to your work ( or ours ) being inferiour, in fact I hear nothing but good things about your work... ( though it seems you have a tendancy to poo poo others work, or at least my buddies & mine :eek: it's Ok, I have thick skin, & don't do work for others, so as long I'm happy... I'm happy :) ) & I'll agree the bigger Dragoons or Remmies are certainly more up to the task, than the smaller 51's, 60's or Colt pockets... ( on my 51 Navy conversions for 38 Long Colt, we did litterally nothing to strengthen them, aside from 4140 cylinders, because of the chambering... they were specifically chambered to fit only the 38 Long Colts ) ( if you look at the SAMI chamber drawings, you'll see that 38 Special "may" fit into a looser 38 long Colt chamber... we were picky on the chamber dimensions, specifically to keep 38 Special & possibly long after I'm gone, someone else from sticking a +P in one ) the 32-20 has more done to it... the Walker obviously more yet
 
My Kirst Konversions...drawbacks of conversion revolvers? Expensive to make em however lots of fun if you like to do this sort of thing. Pro side depending on where you live not a registered weapon. They are attractive too IMHO


KirstKonv1.jpg
 
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Don't know & not interested in getting into a fraction fight.
OP asked if there were any restrictions, I just answered his question. Partly because no-one else had mentioned it.
 
Magnum,
( I feel like Higgins! Lol). Thank you for the complement.
Not poo pooing yours or anyone else's work (please let me know whose I have).
I like what you and your buddy have done and have asked in the past about arbors and the like but don't think I got an answer. That's OK.

I look at these forums as a learning platform and I try and help when I can and it irritates me when so much manure is being scattered about especially when it is where my passion is.

Magnum, thanks again.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram
 
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