I was thinking about doing a (Kirst style) .38 cartridge conversion on an 1851.
I wondering how many of you have done cartridge conversions, (specifically as to using a non gated back plate) instead of a gated plate?
I'm referring to the back plate that is just cut out like a "C", not the solid non-gated one, that requires complete removal of the entire cylinder to reload.
For those of you that have the 1851 conversion..... non gated back plates, have you ever had issues where a cartridge backed out enough that the cylinder wouldn't turn or similar function problem...worse scenario a bullet slides to far back or even falls out, (while cocking back the hammer of course...since it cant happen when the cylinder is aligned with the barrel and ready to fire) ....while pointing the revolver upwards to some degree of angle especially.
For example...I tinkered around with my .45LC converted 1858 with the gate door in the "open position" , while drawing back the hammer (gun pointed up at about 45 degrees upward) and on more than one occasion, I noticed a bullet would occasionally back out just enough that I noticed it.
Once it was enough that it stopped the cylinder from rotating as the brass stuck out and caught the back plate.
,
The open design is appealing on guns like the 1849 shown here at
http://www.kirstkonverter.com/coltpocket.html or on an 1851.... but if its more trouble than its worth, I will steer away from it and stick with a gated conversion.
I read that the "Public Defender" was a pretty popular take on this design a few years back in .38 S&W.