I was just wondering how many of you guys have taken your original BP cylinder on an 1851, 1860 or similar open top and used it as part of a cartridge conversion for today's store bought or hand loaded cowboy loads or black powder cartridge loads?
I though about using the original cylinder of an 1851 (to retain the lines and roll markings) and having it modified to accept .45LC, then back it up, with a plate from Kirst. (Of course this is a steel frame revolver I'm talking about)
I figure in the long run, the price might come out around the same, either buying both a "Kirst Cylinder" & "Gated Back Plate" from Kirst.... or having a machinist/gunsmith modify my BP cylinder and then buy a Kirst gated back plate.
Any issues with a Pietta BP cylinder holding up to cowboy .45LC loads? I figure today's metal-ology has to be better than the metal they worked with, back in the 1860's-1870's, etc...so they did this sort of thing way back when.... and other than hearing about the original cast iron Walker cylinders splitting/fragmenting, I haven't heard any scary stories.
Maybe a member like HoofHearted would be a guy to talk with.... but I've seen a few guys here, that have converted BP cylinders for cartridges... but I can't recall if they were always in .38 special or if anyone did it in .45colt.