modify an uberti 1860 army to 7shot 38sp?

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paterfamiliasnz

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I have an old uberti 1860 army 44 b/p that was my dad's from the 70's and wonder what it would take to modify into a 7-shot 38sp? Then I could try have fun with single action in NRA Action/bianchi style matches where hammer must be down on an empty cylinder. Some variant of the Richards conversion must be possible but could 7 rounds be squeezed into the 44 cylinder diameter and still be safe? Call me crazy.
 
I doubt it could be done but don't have a cylinder to measure. Cost to do so would be extravagant. It could be rechambered and the barrel lined to .38 easily enough but gettin it to hold seven is gonna be tough.
 
I have an old uberti 1860 army 44 b/p that was my dad's from the 70's and wonder what it would take to modify into a 7-shot 38sp?
Click to expand...

I did some rough measuring and I don't see how it would be physically possible to get 7 .38 Specials in there. Six, yes.
Then there is the barrel which would have to be sleeved to go from its present .44 caliber to .357.

Also, is the frame brass or steel? Steel frames are the recommended material for cartridge conversions.

You might try here to see if there is anything that be of use to you. http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/2,357.html
 
Wouldnt a whole new kind of cylinder have to be blueprinted and forged, even if to fit over the arbor and be aceppted by the frame?
 
no worries

I like to shoot the bianchi action match with my 686's so it was a speculative question I guess. Maybe one of the other 'cowboy' guns would better suit, after all why should only the s+w 686 style have interesting extra capacity mods but the single action hammer down on an empty cylinder rule and still needing 6 rounds loaded has me stumped.

I really think the single action revolvers should be able to do the bianchi match times easily enough with practice (draw and fire 2 shots in 3 seconds is the fastest requirement) and it would be a fun alternative. I just like the open top looks, so cool. Thanks for your replies anyway.
 
a couple of years ago an article ran in the backwoodsman, wherein a guy did a conversion, at home, with minimal tools to make a .44 1858 into a .38 special.... it can be done, you could drill out the percussion ports, where the nipples go, and then sleeve it with seamless tubing- he did something similar- then he got a barrel sleeve from numrich and went to town....... modded the hammer with a "beak " to hit the primers just right ....... no way to easily do a 7 shot though, due to size and the timing issue....
 
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