Black powder conversion guns

[monet61]

Well it's finally cooled down enough that a person can spend a couple hours outside without suffering too badly. So I got up this morning and headed out to shoot some. Sighted in a 223, plinked with a Ruger Standard 22 and then I got out my conversion 1858s. I forgot how much I enjoy this. .38 cylinder for the .36 and 45 cylinder for the 44s. I reload BP cartridges and it's a lot of fun to make a big boom and a lot of smoke. If you have not tried it, I highly recommend it. What fun.
Here's three of mine, 2 45s and a 38.

 

[calmex]

Do you use Hollow-base bullets to get accuracy out of the .38's? The bore size is a little big otherwise, isn't it?

 

[Class III]

How timely your post is. Just yesterday I shot, for the first time, an 1862 Whitney Navy that has been handed down through the family since 1864. Recoil is quite manageable with 15 gr of fffg. Family history has it that my GGGrandfather took it from a Union soldier that no longer had a use for it.

Class III

 

[monet61]

Soft lead hollow base or heeled bullets. Think they are .357 and the soft lead "expands up". I don't shoot that accurately with them. A 5 inch group at 10 yards with it or the .45 is good for me. It's all real forgiving and fun. Then you smell like rotten eggs and get to clean them. I load 38 long colt cause I have a lot of brass.

 

[monet61]

How timely your post is. Just yesterday I shot, for the first time, an 1862 Whitney Navy that has been handed down through the family since 1864. Recoil is quite manageable with 15 gr of fffg. Family history has it that my GGGrandfather took it from a Union soldier that no longer had a use for it.

Class III

WOW... Lucky you! It would be awesome to fire something like that.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

They are fun. I like the "Remington with the ornament in the left grip. Looks like it's got a loading gate. I had two John Gren conversions but sold one. This Gren conversion on an Italian 1860 Colt is one of my favorite shooters. It has Colt markings and address stamped on it. It's a blackpowder only .44 Special. I load 23 grains of black powder with a 215 grain bullet. I loaded the ammo a while back and think I put a little cornmeal as filler in the case. I know it shoots consistantly with or without it. The barrel is relined for off the shelf cast .429 lead bullets. It shoots great. I made the lightweight holster for it.

 

[J. W.]

Cool stuff! My fiance bought me a Pietta reproduction 1858 Remington New Army for my birthday. Really fun gun to shoot! The cleaning process is a PITA though and the only reason I don't shoot it more often.

Two questions: Is it really necessary to completely detail strip after every range trip? Is there a non-corrosive blackpowder equivalent out there? Sure would be nice to be able to clean it the same way I do my smokeless powder revolvers.

 

[John Eilertson]

That 1858 Remington is by far my favorie BP revolver, and I would love to have a convertible. I wonder if that would make the cleaning less of a problem? They will grow some stink and fouling given much opportunity. I don't know what it is about that Remington, the sights, the grip, but it shoots more accurately for me than my '51 Navy repros, or the 1860 Army I had. Cleaning can take awhile, if done correctly, anyway, but the fun beforehand makes it more than worthwhile.

 

[Class III]

Yep, it was a HOOT to shoot the Whitney. Max load was reported to be 20 gr of fffg but I downloaded to 15 gr for safety, that is the safety of ME and the Whitney. I don't know if I'll ever fire it again as it is coming up on 150 years old and could never be replaced. The only thing I had to do to get it in firing condition was clean away 100 plus years of caked up grease and crud, install a new main spring, sear spring screw (Thank you Dixie Gun Works) and pick the nipples. The nipples are original to the gun and not crushed, probably from the fact that sometime in it's early post war life someone removed the main spring. By the way, serial number is 15907 and matches on the rammer, cylinder pin, barrel, frame, brass trigger guard and both grips. The cylinder is of the six safety notch variety and is mis-matched being serial numbered 13090. It is martially marked on the barrel with a "B" on the right side barrel flat, on the frame above the take down pin, on the front of the trigger guard and on the cylinder. Along with the serial number inside the grips, on the trigger guard and on the frame can by found the inspectors initials "J X".

Class III

 

[monet61]

Cool stuff! My fiance bought me a Pietta reproduction 1858 Remington New Army for my birthday. Really fun gun to shoot! The cleaning process is a PITA though and the only reason I don't shoot it more often.

Two questions: Is it really necessary to completely detail strip after every range trip? Is there a non-corrosive blackpowder equivalent out there? Sure would be nice to be able to clean it the same way I do my smokeless powder revolvers.

It has been my experiance that cleaning is an absolute necessity. Black powder will corrode the heck out of your guns if you dont. But the repro 1858s (either Pietta or Uberti) are so easy to take apart, that I don't feel like it's that much of a hassle. Take it apart, dump it in some hot water with some simple green, scrub, dry, oil and reassemble. As far as non corrosive substitutes, I really don't know. I would imagine that someone else will know.

 

[monet61]

Yep, it was a HOOT to shoot the Whitney. Max load was reported to be 20 gr of fffg but I downloaded to 15 gr for safety, that is the safety of ME and the Whitney. I don't know if I'll ever fire it again as it is coming up on 150 years old and could never be replaced. The only thing I had to do to get it in firing condition was clean away 100 plus years of caked up grease and crud, install a new main spring, sear spring screw (Thank you Dixie Gun Works) and pick the nipples. The nipples are original to the gun and not crushed, probably from the fact that sometime in it's early post war life someone removed the main spring. By the way, serial number is 15907 and matches on the rammer, cylinder pin, barrel, frame, brass trigger guard and both grips. The cylinder is of the six safety notch variety and is mis-matched being serial numbered 13090. It is martially marked on the barrel with a "B" on the right side barrel flat, on the frame above the take down pin, on the front of the trigger guard and on the cylinder. Along with the serial number inside the grips, on the trigger guard and on the frame can by found the inspectors initials "J X".

Class III

I'll say it again, you are one fortunate man!

 

[monet61]

They are fun. I like the "Remington with the ornament in the left grip. Looks like it's got a loading gate. I had two John Gren conversions but sold one. This Gren conversion on an Italian 1860 Colt is one of my favorite shooters. It has Colt markings and address stamped on it. It's a blackpowder only .44 Special. I load 23 grains of black powder with a 215 grain bullet. I loaded the ammo a while back and think I put a little cornmeal as filler in the case. I know it shoots consistantly with or without it. The barrel is relined for off the shelf cast .429 lead bullets. It shoots great. I made the lightweight holster for it.

Wyatt,
The ornament is a 1858 half dollar. I thought it would be cool on a 58 Remington. Also, it's a Kirst conversion cylinder which is different from the other two. I don't remember the name of the other cylinders but the difference is that the Kirst has one firing pin and the cylinder rotates around it and the others the whole thing rotates and has 6 firing pins. Also, although you can do the work and install a loading gate, mine are without the gate.