Conversion Cylinder for Uberti .36 1858

[Patrick Henry Brown]

I would love to hear from any of you that have practical experience with the installation and shooting of the Kirst or R&D conversion cylinders in a Uberti 1858 "Navy" .36 cal C&B revolver. I have one that is dead accurate in C&B, but am toying with a conversion cylinder for SASS matches. How accurate are these conversions without relining the barrel? I also have a SS 1858 Uberti in .44 that I'm thinking about as well.

And as a totally off the wall question, are there any events in SASS that I could use my CW Smith Carbine in?

[Flint]

I shoot Kirst 38 cylinders in Uberti Remingtons, and they shoot very well.  Since both Uberti and Pietta use the 44 frame for their "Navies", the backplate will serve either 38 or 45 caliber cylinders, just be careful which revolver you put it in!!!

I use 148 gr Hollowbase Wadcutters in the 38 Special case, it could be loaded in the 38 Long Colt as well.  Other hollowbase bullet designs are available, but the wadcutter by Speer, Remington or Hornady is more commonly found in gunshops.  I prefer the Remington 148 gr bullet, but it's harder to find, it doesn't lead as much as the Speer, which doesn't lead as much as the Hornady.  Follow that?

The Hollowbase bullet expands to fill the rifling of the 375 roundball bore of the 36 quite well.  Early 38 conversion rounds used heel base bullets to fill the bore, but modern inside the case bullets at 357 must be holl based.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

(Here I come, sounding like a broken record:

I use 148 gr Hollowbase Wadcutters in the 38 Special case, it could be loaded in the 38 Long Colt as well.  Other hollowbase bullet designs are available, but the wadcutter by Speer, Remington or Hornady is more commonly found in gunshops.  I prefer the Remington 148 gr bullet, but it's harder to find, it doesn't lead as much as the Speer, which doesn't lead as much as the Hornady.  Follow that?

edited for specific content


If ya use Black Powder, ya won't have ANY leading with ANY bullets!