Remington Conversion Obsessive disorder! 1863 .31 Remington

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Arg, I have it BADDDDD!!!!!!!

Just ordered a steel frame 1863 Remington pocket .31 from Dixie (on sale for $275!) and a Kenny Howell R&D cylinder for it in .32 S&W for $220.  I have a SASS legal pocket pistol, an 1890s production Harrington and Richardson .38 S&W top break, but I can't his a barn door with it.  Besides, it is too late a time period for my persona, i.e. around 1875.

Anyone else have this combo?  I could have gone with the Colt 1849 .31 pocket and an R&D, but I am a big fan of the solid frame on the Remmies.

I also ordered some faux-ivory checkered grips for my 1858s.  They will look badd @ss!

[Tuolumne Lawman]

For those who are not familiar with the 1863s...  Found on the web.  This is the Pietta 1863 Remington .31 caliber and the R&D .32 S&W conversion cylinder.  Not really a man stopper, but they are fun to shoot.  I had a loaner 1849 Colt for an article years ago. I'll post an actual pic of mine in the future when I get it.  I thought I had two boxes of .32 S&W ammo in the safe from when I did the article on the Colt 1849 pocket with a Kirst cylinder, but I must have sold it.  Local Guns shops didn't have any (surprise, surprise!) so I ordered two boxes from Midway USA at $23/50, and $11 shipping.

[Cowtown]

Nice! Any chance you'll be posting a pic with the conversion cylinder in? I'd love to see that too.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I will when it get it.  This is a picture from the web.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Well, the 1863 .31 Remington, the R&D .32 S&W conversion cylinder, and the 100 rounds of Magtech .32 S&W all arrived today. 

Sweet little piece, but, "Boy Howdy, it sure is a little feller.."  Anyway really nice trigger pull, and everything fits and indexes properly.  The front and rear sights are WAY better than the pitiful sights on the .38 S&W top break H&R I have been using.  Maybe I can actually hit the target in a side match now!  LOL  My H&R is minute of Volkswagen at 7 yards. This will go great with my two 1858 Remmies with .45 Clt R&D cylinders!

[mtmarfield]

   Greetings!

   THAT is a cutie! I may have to call DGW...

                 M.T.Marfield

[Professor Marvel]

Wowsers!

I had heard the triggers were awful, glad yours is good!
looking forward to your shooting report...
yhs
prof marvel

[dusty texian]

That is one slick little rig!  I like it ! ,,DT

[pony express]

That's cool. Now if someone would just produce a 36 Remington with the proper size frame, a person could collect all three sizes, with conversion cylinders.

[Cowtown]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiice!

Thanks for posting the pics. It is certainly an intriguing idea... might hafta contemplate this myself.

I know what you mean about "the bug". I had it last year. I wound up buying 6 or so BP revolvers from Cabela's.

Now I am eyeballing that 5 1/2" 1860 from Pietta.

It never ends.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Found some period .32 S&W labels on the web.  Resized one to some period correct pasteboard ammo boxes I bought 20 years ago from a sutler that went the way of the Dodo bird years ago.  Printed and rubber cemented them on.

[Cowtown]

Very nice touch of authenticity and great photo!

Keep 'em coming.

I'm curious... have you have a chance to handle each of the 1863 pocket Remmie and the 1849 Colt pocket revolver and compare the two? The 1849 looks a might larger although it still only loads 5 total. Just wondering what your thoughts would be on each?

Does your conversion cylinder allow 5 to be loaded safely with a notch between chambers for the hammer to rest on?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I have handled and shot both Colt and Remington .31s, with both percussion cylinders and R&D conversion cylinders in .32 S&W.  The Colt was a little bigger and easier to hold and shoot.  Even though I preferred the Colt just a smidgen, I went with the Remington 1863 because I shoot the 58s with R&D cylinders. 

For the full size guns with R&D cylinders, I prefer the 1858s.  If money were no object, however, I would have a pair of 1872 Open Tops or Richards Mason's in ,45 Schofield. I have a soft spot for them. In California, however, that would have meant an about $400 more between the two pistols, and an additional $300 spent on the  attendant FFL and DROS fees, which were irrelevant the the 1858s and R&D cylinders.

Next year I hope to get some Open Tops, too...

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Well, I took the 1863 Remington .31 with the .32 S&W R&D cylinder to the range to see how it did.  Sweet shooting (like a 22).  Only one problem... IT SHOOTS 12-14" high at 7 yards!!  Guess I need to fabricate a taller front sight from some brass, LOL

[Cowtown]

Does it shoot high as a C&B gun with the BP cylinder?

Heck, it's a card table gun. Aim at the cheatin' players' cards.

[nativeshootist]

damn photobucket, i can't see the gorgeous pistol!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Yeah, I can't see it either. I guess you have to sign up for a paid account to see photobucket images. I use Imgur these days because of that.