New and old Pietta 58's?

[Goody]

What are the differences between the old and new 58 Remington's by Pietta? Specifically, I have an older model and once bought a R&D cylinder that would not work. I didn't take the time to find out why, simply sold the cylinder for what I had in it and was happy. This older model is a stainless model, and I just purchased another conversion (you'd think I'd learn) that is stainless and fluted. This time I want to make it work as I envision an "Avenging Angel" type scenario for it. So what needs to be altered to make a current R&D six shot 45 conversion work in this older model revolver?

[Blair]

Goody,

At one point in time, R&D produced four drop in cylinders for the Remington revolvers.
This was because there were slight differences in the arms made by ASM, Euroarms/ASP, Pietta and Uberti in regards to the ratchet at the rear of the cylinder and the bolt stop location on the cylinder.

Some of these manufactures cylinders were pretty close, but, It may require internal fitting to get the new conversion cylinders to work. (if the wrong cylinder was ordered for that revolver)
If one did this sort of fitting for the cartridge cylinder... then the timing would not work well for dropping in the percussion cylinder.
Another words, you no longer had a convertible Cartridge to Percussion or Percussion to Cartridge revolver.
I hope this helps answer your question?
My best,
Blair

[Goody]

well, maybe somewhat. But what I am talking about is dimensional differences in Pietta made guns. Somewhere along the way they have changed that revolver, so that some parts don't fit the older guns.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

The only change I know of is larger bolt notches on the newer Pietta cylinders. It would require a new locking bolt to be fitted.

[PJ Hardtack]

Aside from any other differences, they have changed the grip shape, making it larger behind the trigger guard to accommodate larger hands.

No more jammed fingers when shooting full loads!

[Goody]

OK, the cylinder actually fits fairly well. The problem is that the cylinder does not rotate enough to lock the bolt, you have to advance by hand after cocking another 1/8 -3/16 of an inch. If you cock agressively it skips the lockup entirely, rotating past and on towards the next chamber.

[Lucky R. K.]

Sounds like the hand is not turning the cylinder far enough.

Lucky

[Flint]

See my reply in the Dark Side section...

[Goody]

Thanks for the reply, Flint. I ordered the hand and bolt, and then thought about it. Cabelas has the 5 1/2 inch Pietta's on sale for $199 right now. Sold the stainless and ordered a new one. I still think that the stainless would have made a neat belly gun, but I know me and finishing projects!

[Lucky R. K.]

I want to make it work as I envision an "Avenging Angel" type scenario for it. So what needs to be altered to make a current R&D six shot 45 conversion work in this older model revolver?

The only thing I had to change when I put an R&D Conversion cylinder in my Avenging Angel was to shorten the hand just a bit.  I do not know how old it is because I bought a 5-1/2" gun used on Grunbrokers.com.  I made it a project to see if I could make an Avenging Angel.

It works great with .45 Cowboy Special loads.

Lucky

[Flint]

Especially with the barrel that short, I would replace the loading lever with a latch, since you are converted and don't need to seat a ball....  Photos of one I made...