Kirst Cartridge Konverter

[piebiter]

I'm new here and would like to know if anyone here has any experience with them?

[Deadeye Don]

For starters you should do a search for Kirst Cartridge convertions or just type in Kirst.  There have been alot of posts regarding this subject and I am sure they are all still around. Then if you have more specific questions you can ask them here.
Welcome to Cas City pard.

[piebiter]

Thanks.

[Pappy Hayes]

I have one in my Pietta 58 Rem. It shoots either 45LC or 45Scholdfield. I prefer the 45Sch but are not available anywhere close to me so I have been using 45LC. I have not ported mine yet. Just have not gotten up the guts to start grinding on the gun. So I drop mine out and put it back in like in Pale Rider. It shoots good and I like it. I think sometimes I would like it better to have the R&D just because it will hold six shots. I also have one in a Pietta 61 Navy. It is ported and has a loading gate. It shoots 38LC. I would prefer to be able to shoot 38spl since that ammo is fairly cheap and plentiful. I have not shot it a lot so I am still trying to figure out how it shoots(low or high) I am thinking about purchasing  Kirst's ram rod kit for it. The only other thing I can say about it is that the ring is kind of loose. I have been lookin at it trying to figure out if there is a way to anchor it to the frame. It is really a personal preference of which one you get. I cannot speak about R&D's but have read good things about them.

[piebiter]

I appreciate your input Pappy. I have a 2nd Gen. 1851 Colt Navy and I've gotten the conversion bug and like the idea. However I don't know very much about them and wanted to hear what someone experienced with them had to say. It would appear however that I may be out of luck since my gun is a Colt. Even though the conversions are made for recent pistols and the 1851 Colt Navy is listed, there isn't a listing for Colt manufactured pistols.

[Fingers McGee]

Piebiter,

The conversions for the Ubertis will work on the 2nd Gens.  Uberti supplied the rough castings for them.  When converting a .36 cal C&B to 38, you need to take the bore size difference into consideration when selecting bullets.  You need some sort of hollow base .38 to work well in a .36 C&B barrel.

Fingers (Show Me MO smoke) McGee

[Flint]

Trivia:  When Uberti started making the parts for Colt in the 70's, they changed the nipple thread to #12-28 (M5.5x.90) from the formerly metric M6x.75.  That is still not the original Colt thread, which was .225-32, but it does match Ruger's, so Ruger Old Army nipples will fit an Uberti or 2nd/3rd gen Colt.

[Jubel]

Cousin Piebiter 

I converted my Pietta 1851 to shoot 38 Colt. I love the options now available. I bought mine from
  http://www.riverjunction.com/kirst/index.html   he also carries ammo and lead for the conversion. The proprietor
of River Junction could likely answer any questions you might have about converting. I have never regretted the
purchase especially now that there is a functioning ejector rod assembly available.

[piebiter]

I'm obliged for the help, you guys have cleared the air some with your valubale input.

[Flint]

Pappy, you can shoot 38 Special if loaded with 148 gr Hollowbase Wadcutters, the overall length will fit.  The cylinders are marked 38LC because of the length, but the chamber is bored through, and a short enough bullet will fit, but the easiest is the wadcutter.

The R&D backplate is screwed to the breech, it requires drilling and tapping the frame, and a fixture R&D will either rent, or sell to you, to assist doing that.  No doubt the Kirst can be screwed to the breech as well, it would require spotting a location and drilling the holes for the screws in both the frame and the backplate. 

I have two Navies drilled and tapped for the R&D, and ported.  The Kirst can also be used in that frame, but I haven't yet bothered to check whether the Kirst backplate is clear for screw holes in the R&D's location.   

[.43 spanish]

Gentelmen: First of all congratulations on your forum. I have find it looking for kirts cartidge konverter.
Unlucky, spanish laws dont' let me to buy this accessorys for the 1858 remington new model.

               Nevertheless you have ecourage me on my studies of english language.
Best regards from Madrid, Spain                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

[piebiter]

Glad to have you along .43 spanish.

[.43 spanish]

thank you very much. Piebiter

[Canyon]

 :)Hi 43 Spanish,Can you tell us what the Spanish gun laws are like?We here in New Zealand can have just about anything provided we have the correct endorsement of our Firearms Licence.I have 2 Kirst Converters for my 58 Pietta and my 51 Navy Pietta.The 51 I have grooved for the loading gate and it has the ejector from Riverjunction as well.Both the converters go perfectly.45 Long Colt in the 58 and 38 Long Colt in the 51 with hollow based bullets.
Buenes Suerte
Canyon

[.43 spanish]

Hello, Canyon: Spanish gun laws are very restrictive.  There are several types of authorization The handguns of central fire have a special license and needs to renew every three years and the owners of them must pay the federation of Olympic shot and pass an exam. The weapon of black gunpowder does not need these requirements providing that they are "muzzle-loaded" only with black powder and the authorization is for five years. If you have a  muzzleloanding weapon only for black powder and buy this cartidge konverter, now you have a central fire revolver what could be dangerouse for your authorization because can be suspended by the authorities.
Moreover, this "new weapon" must be verified whit the spanishTest Facilities Proofmarks (over 250 euros) People in spain say: "For this paella the rice is far more expensive than the chicken"

Sorry for my bad english

Regards

[Pappy Hayes]

Here is a picture with my 61 Navy with a Kirst Konverter. It is the bottom one. I plan to purchase the ejector rod soon for it.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f191/Pappy_Hayes/OpenTops007.jpg[/IMG]

[piebiter]

Thanks for the pic Pappy, that's a nice looking collection. I like the looks of your Kirst conversion. Post a pic when you get the ejector rod.

[Black Powder]

Here is a picture with my 61 Navy with a Kirst Konverter. It is the bottom one. I plan to purchase the ejector rod soon for it.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f191/Pappy_Hayes/OpenTops007.jpg[/IMG]

That's like looking at a July centerfold. 

Fine collection.

BP

[piebiter]

Has anyone in this forum converted a Colt?