R&D Conversion Cylinder-Ammuntion Question-Now fixed

[Mogorilla]

Hey,
For my 40th birthday, my wife bought me a conversion cylinder for my 1858 Army 5.5" pistol.  I quickly bought 100 rounds of Ultramax cowboy loads in 45 Colt.  I have shot a friends R&D cylinder before in this very gun with no trouble.   I have never shot Ultramax loads.  I don't want to turn this into a bash this brand or other, but I would like some advice from what other shooters are shooting.  I ask because of the 100 rounds, 82 chambered beautifully, the other 17 would not go into the cylinder.  It did not matter which chamber of the cyinder, they were just too big.  Several of the shells were sitting nearly an 1/8" above the rim, others were not noticeably high until you tried to put the firing pin shield on and try to install the cylinder into the gun.  It was royally frustrating.  Especially since I had an audience while shooting.  I have tried several brands of 44-40 in my Henry, all with no problem, but maybe the Uberti Henry is more forgiving than the tooling behind the cylinder.  Anyway, I am getting to buy some more ammo as part of a continuing part of my birthday and unless someone tells me otherwise, Ultramax is out.  Help please.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

First off, Happy Birthday, pard.

As to ammunition, I have only shot my own reloads in mine. I use Starline brass which, I'm told, is thicker than most. I size it and it always fits after being reloaded with .452 diameter bullets. I never measured the outside diameter, but from what you're describing, the stuff you got isn't sized correctly. Any reputable manufacturer will stand behind their products. Perhaps a call to Ultramax would be in order. Possibly you got a bad batch. At any rate, you may want to see what they say.

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

Another thought.
I have the same problem and it's due to leading and fouling.

Were the 17 after you had shot awhile or were they intermittent in the box?

If they seemed to be after you had shot the majority then you may have lead and fouling build up at the case mouth area in the cylinder.

I shoot BP cartridges in my Kirst's and after a couple stages I have to clean the cylinder chambers due to leadingand fouling at the chamber mouth. My cartridge are sized after crimping so it isn't the cases, it's the fouling.

I use that spun twisted wire bore cleaner attachment for my cleaning rod.

[Cincinnati Slim]

Howdy Y'all,

I 've got a couple of R&D conversion cylinders, one for a Colt 1860 and one for my 1858 Remmie.
I'm suprised to find you had trouble with Ultramax "Cowboy" loads. I've had better luck with Ultramax than several other brands.
The percussion cylinders seem to have some built-in "slop" to allow for funk and crud build-up. One thing about these R&D cylinders is that they are really TIGHT in compairison.  Chambers are snug and overall length and diameter is a little on the large size. End shake and Barrel-cylinder gaps are nearly always much smaller than the original percussion cylinders. This is great for accuracy but you really have to keep things CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN. Make sure the little recesses for the cartridge rims are free of crud or grease build-up.

One brand I've had bad luck with is Winchester. The case rims are just a little too THICK. You can see a slight gap between the cylinder and the end-plate even with the cartridges fully seated. Makes overall cylinder length too long and makes Colt types bind up solid if the wedge is driven in even a bit too far. I suspect Winchester did this to make their .45 Colt loads work better in their lever guns. Ultramax makes both 200 and 250 Grain "Cowboy" loads. My sixshooters seem to like the heavy bullets a LOT better ! Don't know why.

Try different batches of ammo and a couple of different brands. If the problem persists your cylinder may need to go back to R&D.
Their quality is quite high but if there is a problem I'm sure they'll make it right.

Good Luck Pard !

Cincinnati Slim

[Mogorilla]

Thanks for the advice.  There were a two rounds that would not go in, fresh out of the box.  I did do a thorough cleaning before I shot, but I will hit it hard again.  Thanks for the B-day wishes Marshall.  I miss getting in here, it used to be I could log on every day at lunch from work. they cracked down, now I get on periodically at home and man is my connection sssslllllllooooowwww.   I will keep you posted on how it goes.

Mo

[Mogorilla]

Well,
I cleaned the gun after shooting on Monday, then again tonight.  The cylinder is so clean, you could eat out of it.  I tried all 17 of the rounds that did not fit on the range, still don't fit.  I am going to meet up with a buddy who has a cylinder in two weeks and am bringing the questionable ammo.  I will let you know if they fit his and if his ammo fits mine. 

[Ransom Gaer]

Mogorilla,

I have a pair of 58 Remmies with the R&D conversion cylinders and I have found that the chambers on them are very tight.  I use them as a tool to make sure that my reloads are good.  If they will fit in the R&D cylinders they will fit in anything.  Even then I have just a few rounds typically that are a tight fit, but they do fit.  Kind of like you are describing, but to a lesser degree.  And this is when they are clean.  I can't comment on store bought ammunition of any kind with them.  I have used nothing but BP reloads in them since I got them.  And I have not had any trouble loading the cylinders at a match.

Those Ultramax rounds may just be a hair oversize for the R&D cylinders, but I bet they'll work fine in other guns.

Ransom Gaer

[Mogorilla]

Well,
Met with my friend.  His cylinder would accomdate about 8 of the 17 that would not chamber in mine.  He was shooting Winchester Cowboy ammo and I had no trouble with those.  As a continueing part of my birthday, Mother-in-law bought me 150 rounds of Black Hills Cowboy Ammo.  All 150 chambered and fired beautifully.  I now know I have a picky eater in my cylinder.  My afore mentioned friend is doing some reloading, I gave him my ultramax spent rounds and we ar going to try those out in the spring.   Now I am off to make a new holster for my Remmy. 


Good Shooting.

[44caliberkid]

I too have found the R&D cylinder chamber dimensions to be absolute minimum.  After I reload 45's, I try them all in the cylinder, any that don't drop in (usually about 10 -12%) I run back through the sizing die with the decapping pin removed (of course) and then they are OK.