Cimarron's 1862 pocket police conversion update

[Abilene]

Keep in mind that you never have to pay MSRP (unless you buy the gun at Texas Jacks  )

I don't think this gun would be main match legal because it is a legal as a pocket pistol.  But if it slip-hammers okay (with the new safety hammer, not so sure), it could be very fast for pocket pistol sidematch.

[Coffinmaker]

I realize there are going to be "some" who find this offering from Cimarron to be ..... appealing.  I personally find it annoying.  With so small a potential customer base, I would find it difficult to think they could amortize the investment to bring it to production.

By the same token, I have absolutely NO idea what it's appeal is going to be in Europe.  There, it may actually be a really big deal.  I personally don't find it of any use.  Not even as a plinker.  Much more fun to roll cans with a .44 loaded light (my opine).  "Others" may well find it just the ticket.  Rather a BIG ticket for such limited use.

[Abilene]

I shot today with Joe from Cimarron and asked him the pocket conversion update.  He said the first six came in and the cylinder chambers had been reamed too large, so ammo shot expanded too much and didn't want to eject, so that has to be remedied.

[Wymore Wrangler]

I emailed Pale Wolf Burnelle, and with a 3 inch barrel, they would be a SASS legal pocket pistol, I don't know anyone who would want that gun in with a six inch barrel....

[Galloway]

The barrel length isnt my preference either but the 380 chambering is what really has me confused. If someone would just make a quality remington deringer clone that shot to the sights we'd really have something to be exited about imho. That would be ideal for side matches.

[ammodave]

I know this is an old thread but did this ever come to fruition?

[Abilene]

I think a first shipment came in a while back and sold.  Seem to recall Oklahoma Tom reported getting one somewhere in these pages?

[Johnson Barr]

I got one from Bryan (Okla Tom) at 3B Shooting Supply. We've been working on a project to modify .38 Short Colt brass to operate in the .380 ACP cylinder chamber. Length of the .38SC was cut down to match the .380 case OAL and the .38SC rim was turned down just enough to chamber in the cylinder. Effectively we created a .380 Auto Rim case from .38SC brass. I've had a few successions at the range and used it in a couple of main matches. Still fiddling with getting the point of impact lower. Current mods included replacing the itty-bitty front sight with a Pietta 1851 cone sight and opening up the hammer notch rear sight. It's a fun little shooter and pretty damn sexy with the long 6" barrel. Kind of has Patterson lines. I like it!

[ammodave]

Forgive me for being a newb, but what is the advantage to creating a .380 auto rim case?  I really like this little revolver,  have you considered shortening the barrel to 3"?

[River City John]

It looks great with that 6" barrel length.

Too bad the .38sc couldn't be used without modification. It'd be a much simpler solution. My next project is to open up the hammer notch on my Police. Not sure about changing out the front sight post, though.

RCJ

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Why not .38 short colt. Case only .003? different than 380.  Load a 90 grain .355 and a grain or two of trail boss, and there you go.  If the rims were a little too big, just scallop them on one side to interface with the other rims.  I saw someone do that with 44 Russian brass in a .44 Colt ASM.  Maybe run the 38 colt brass through a.380 sizing die, then chamfer the cylinder for the slightly oversized base that doesn't go into the die.

[pony express]

Why not .38 short colt. Case only .003? different than 380.  Load a 90 grain .355 and a grain or two of trail boss, and there you go.  If the rims were a little too big, just scallop them on one side to interface with the other rims.  I saw someone do that with 44 Russian brass in a .44 Colt ASM.  Maybe run the 38 colt brass through a.380 sizing die, then chamfer the cylinder for the slightly oversized base that doesn't go into the die.

The .38 Short Colt is longer than .380, if you ream the chambers for the SC, then .380 won't work anymore. But you can just trim the .38 SC to fit, since they're mostly a handload only caliber anyway.

Now if VTI or somebody would just start carrying barrels for it, you could have a whole set, 6", 4", 3" and maybe a "Coffinmaker Special" cut off just in front of the barrel wedge.

[Tinker Pearce]

I think .38 S&W would be a better candidate- Brass is Easier to come by.

[Drydock]

Case and rim diameter even larger on the .38 S&W.  Just no room in these things for conventional revolver cartridges. Good marketing demands you chamber something folks can buy off the shelf and shoot as is, even most handloaders don't like modifying cases.  Folks like us are "special".  That and .380 is a hot Self Defense round right now, which possibly expands sales appeal to other than the Cowboy niche.

[Tinker Pearce]

Good points. I think on reflection, being that kind of special, a good choice to shorten for this might be .38 Special.

[Drydock]

And that would be .38 Short Colt!  RIght back were we started.   

[Drydock]

If one really wants a rimmed cartridge for this, Cimarron needs to chamber it in .32 H&R.  THen you could shoot all manner of .32s in it.

[Johnson Barr]

.380 ACP isn't on the Approved Cartridge List for NCOWS match shooting. Turning the .38SC rim is just a chuck-up in the drill press and a couple of swipes with a mill bastard file. Case trimming is most likely rocket science to those that don't reload but it too is no big deal. But then complaining about new ropes has been around for a very, very long time.

[Coffinmaker]

  Well, Shiver me timbers.  Back when this Wundergun was first announced, the whole world was drooling and slobbering wanting to get one.  Then, there was the teeth gnashing whining because it was taking so long to materialize.  Now that it's here, the general consensus seems to be the 380 is the "wrong" cartridge so let's make it something else and make the Mongrel into a Frankenpistol.

So how 'bout I gen up a pattern marked with a dotted line and "cut here" instructions.  Might also be tempted to have a hardened guide clamp for a hacksaw made to keep the cut square and rent it out soz that ugly extra 3 inches of barrel can be removed with a square face.  Since nobody can decide what cartridge it should really be, I' ll just have to wait before cook up a jig to turn cases in quantity.

Or, perhaps we should come to the conclusion, the final product is of no real use other than as an oddity.  Really 'pensive paper weight.  And, since we have progressed to a more or less paperless society, not much call for it there either.  Not that I'm opinionated.  Nah.  Not real opinionated.  Not me (Snicker Snicker Snort).

Oh wait.  Bestest idea yet.  Before you order one, send the check for the purchase price to ME.  That way, at least one of us will be happy with yer espenditure   

[Professor Marvel]

Ah My Good Coffin

don't hold back, pray tell, what do you really think?

Personally I think it's kinda cute, and .380 will take DIY .38 short colt so nicely....

Mrs Marvel kinda wants one....

yhs
prof mumbles