Stainless BP revolver conversion

J

johnwilliamson062

Moderator
Would it be safe to convert a stainless BP revolver to a cartridge gun then shoot full strength loads out of it? My impression is stainless is not heat treated so it is not a problem... But, i admit, I don't really know.
 
Which conversion?
What stainless gun?
What caliber?

What do you mean by "full strength"?
For example, are you asking about .45 Colt loads that are for Ruger & T/C only as being "full strength"?
(If that's the case, then the answer would be no.)
 
If it says anywhere " For Black Powder or substitutes only" then no.

They mean it when they say that & no amount of converting or add ons is going to change it. Even the conversion cylinders reiterate the need for reduced charge, BP or cowboy only loads.
 
Would it be safe to convert a stainless BP revolver to a cartridge gun then shoot full strength loads out of it?
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Depends on what the conversion cylinder manufacturer has to say about the strength of the cylinder to make. All conversion cylinders I have seen are for "cowboy" or reduced loads only.

If you want to shoot full power loads buy a modern single action revolver.;)
 
not again...

your revolvers ability to be converted is limited to..

1. what you can purchase ont he free market for a conversion caliber. each model is slightly different from every other one. yours is NOT an exception to the rule.
ive seen a picture of an armi san marcos dragoon next to a Uberti dragoon, same colt model, but the uberti was much larger.


2. what you are brave enough to do
3. what you can get a gunsmith to do. theyll do a 5 shot cylinder no matter what the conversion is for.


4. your revolver is a bp replica. therefore the barrel is NOT safe with copper bullets of ANY kind.



when they talk of cowboy ammo or ammo that is max 1000 fps from a pistol barrel, well they basically mean the original saami load data for that caliber.
 
You might want to check with the BATF about "manufacturing" a handgun. I think what you're suggesting is illegal as well as incredibly dangerous.
 
It is categorically NOT illegal to do a cartridge conversion to a cap & ball revolver. At ,least not under Federal Law. Under NYS law maybe it is, NYS isn't gun friendly. He states he is in Mobile, so I don't think he is going to be effected by NYS or NYC laws there though!

It is done all the time, both as a temporary conversion, by inserting a special cylinder, or permanently by adding loading gates & other accessories & making the needed changes to the original pistol to allow this to happen.

I do agree on the advisability of doing anything beyond the obvious warnings though.
 
wogpotter: if you convert a black powder to a cartridge and the cartridge is not black powder, you have manufactured a handgun. This requires a Federal permit to do this (manufacturing license). If you convert it to a black powder cartridge gun it does not.
 
wogpotter: if you convert a black powder to a cartridge and the cartridge is not black powder, you have manufactured a handgun. This requires a Federal permit to do this (manufacturing license). If you convert it to a black powder cartridge gun it does not.
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Not true, its perfectly legal without jumping through hoops.
 
John,
Stainless most certainly IS heat treated.
Conversion cylinder makers will recommend you NOT use hot loads in their replacement/conversion systems.

NoSec,
Nope, you're wrong.
It is not prohibited by the feds to use one of the conversion systems to shoot cartridges, BP or smokeless, nor is any type of license, permit, or paperwork required at their level to do so.
Whether the conversion shoots BP or smokeless cartridges has nothing whatever to do with it.
Denis
 
Cabelas had some stainless BP guns advertised and i was just thinking about it. More hypothetical than anything. In some countries it is pretty easy to own a BP gun.

I don't mean TC or Ruger only loads. I meant more like off the shelf defensive rounds. I didn't think about the fact that the cylinder conversion would limit it. I previously thought it was the frame that would stretch as there seemed to always be mention of absolutely not doing it with brass frame revolvers.

mobile, not Mobile, AL. :)
 
I think you'll find that all of the conversionmakers will tell you NO brass frames, for the reason you mention.

Back when I was doing some work with a Ruger & a certain conversion cylinder, the maker advised publicly that they recommended against anything hotter than the very mild cowboy loads. Privately, when I called to discuss it with 'em, they couldn't give me a specific reason why not. Caution, more than anything.
I ended up using a factory load or two that was a little stiffer than the cowboy stuff, no problems.

That said- Not ALL conversion cylinders are created equal, and the Ruger is in a class of its own as far as strength goes.
Nothing I've said here should be taken to mean I think it's OK to shoot hot loads with every conversion cylinder in any repro percussion revolver, brass or steel. :)
Denis
 
Denis nailed it...
Most, if not all conversions these days limit ammo to "Cowboy" loads.


If you want something "hotter" I guess you could always use black powder instead of smokeless.
A 230 to 255 grain .45 over 40 grains of FFG is as potent today as it was back in the 1880's.
BP is some wicked nasty stuff to mess with though.
 
I just recently bought a Uberti [ Cimerron ] 1871 converson, right at $500 or so. It is exactly what you would have after you do a conversion of a cap and ball---it's a copy of the 1860 Colt army, but manufactured to shoot 45 Long Colt, they can also be had in 44-40 and .38---I shoot the cowboy action rounds in it, fun and totally safe---the "looks" of the older Colts without the hassle of shooting black powder, who could ask for more---my advice would be go this route rather than trying to make one up yourself---check Cimerron's web site-----
 
Don't worry, be happy.

:eek:
100_0593.jpg


If black powder can do this what do you think smokeless well do?
Cylinder.jpg
 
If black powder can do this what do you think smokeless well do?
Click to expand...
If that was a BP load, then somebody made a very basic mistake.
They didn't seat the bullet enough & there was a space between the powder and the base of the bullet.

As I mentioned above, BP is some wicked nasty stuff.

Smokless is quite a bit safer and more forgiving.
 
Read up a bit more on this, and somebody somewhere claims their brothers uncles aunts son called ruger and they make the ROA out of the same exact metal as their redhawks...
Anyways, I ran across this option while trying to solve my dedicated handgun hunting rig dilemma and it seems as if it will not complete the task I have in mind. A ROA may end up in my possession someday, but it seems not before next fall.
 
John, the ROA is the premier cap and ball revolver readily available on today's market. There are a few smith's around that offer special mods like boring the chambers deeper for a increase powder volume. With a 50gr charge of T7 it is at .357 energy levels. I recall someone converts the ROA to a five round 50cal.
 
I had a GP100 and decided i wanted more for deer. I never had a problem with it, but I just thought a 44 mag + would be better. I think I am just going to keep my eyes on encore classified.com until next fall.
 
Back in my hunting days I took a small doe with a .357 out of a 8.375" S&W M27. The doe was DRT. I have two scoped .44mags I have taken larger bucks with. This has been in heavy brush and all shoots in the 20-30 yd range. The .44 is very effective. I've used a cap and ball Colt Walker and ROA to hunt with but never encountered any animals. They probably smelled the revolver:D
 
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