Point of aim / impact of the 1851 and 1860 replica conversion models???

[MissouriReb]

Hello, I'm new to CAS and had a couple questions.

I own remington cap and ball revolvers but have an interest in colt style revolvers. I would like to go in the direction of the colt open top conversions by Uberti/Cimmaron. I am undecided on the caliber but it would be either a 38special or 45lc.
I would also be looking to dovetail the front sights so that the guns would shoot the same.

From lurking on the forum, I understand the 1851 38special tends to shoot pretty close to the point of aim. Is this correct? Obvouisly it depends on ammo, but if they are off do they tend to shoot high or low from the factory?

Same question with the 1860 (which has the higher front sight). I didn't see any posts on the point of aim/impact.
With either 38's or 45's, where does this model tend to shoot from the factory?

Thanks

[Joe Lansing]

    My .38 OT shot high and to the left from the factory. As for .45 OTs, there have been some serious issues with barrel cracking,etc. You may want to check the posts " 45 cal. OT 1871-2 barrel problems " and others relating to 45 cal open tops.

                                                                               J.L.

                                                                           

[Fingers McGee]

My MWNN conversions in .38 spcl shoot POA at 12 yds using a variety of BP Sub and smokeless loads.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I have a pair of Richard Mason '51s in .38 Spl.  Out of the box, they both shot to the left with the RCBS 38-140-CM bullet and 18 gr of GOEX FFFg.  Trouble was, the amount of excess windage was different.  I had small dovetail front sites made so I could file & drift to have both at POA/POI.

[Montana Slim]

My R-M 1860s are .44 calibre and must shoot close to POI, as I don't often miss with them. Oly adustment I've made was to deepen/enlarge the notch in the hammer.

Regards,
Slim

[River City John]

My '72 Open Top in .38sp shoots POA with 158gr. bullets over a case full of either BP or sub.

(As an aside, I'm going to shoot for the first time this weekend at the GAF Muster my Uberti Remington conversion in .45lc, with a 250 gr. bullet and a case full of about 21 gr. of BP.)
I expect, like Major 2 reports, that this will be one sweet shooter. Rolling this out for the long range pistol side match.

RCJ

[Major 2]

My R&M Navy shoots dead center but high @ 10 yards... a smiggion taller front sight would bring it POA

My 1st model Richards however are both custom ( different Smirhs made them ) and both shoot POA , though only one has a dove tail front sight.  


RCJ ...you will love the Remy ... mine at 50' cuts black in about 2 1/2" or less (punching paper) off hand and diliberate with 250 gr. Black Hills...more that good enough to hit closer steel at ...say  Half fast  
It's  a 7 1/2" and gets a bit heavy one handed after a fashion, compaired to Colts though.

[Long Johns Wolf]

Welcome to the Uberti Colt-type conversions and OT's MissouriReb: I have a .38 RM Navy 51 and .44 Colt Army conversions and OT's. FWIW I'd like to share one suggestion & one observation:
As JL pointed out there is an issue of barrel cracking of the Army conversions in .45 cal. If you go the .44 Colt route you will have lots of fun. It's my favorite CAS round since 2002 for pistols and rifle.
Currently the only factory conversions & OT's come from Uberti. Out of the box they tend to shoot high at bulls eye distances of 25 yards/m and slightly to the left. This comment refers to my pistolas but others have confirmed that. One reason is the PC but (too) low front sight. However, they are also known for too short arbors. Among others this can lead to an "erratic" pattern of the hits on the target. I had the arbors bottemed on my open top-type pistols. Two effects were observed:
# no more erratic but closer pattern (if I do my part) but standardized POI
# the average POI after the optimizing of the arbor had changed compared to the POI before.
On newly acquired Colt-type C&B, conversion or OT revolvers I have the arbor bottemed before I start working on the sights.
Long Johns Wolf