The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

I have seen a lot of "conversion cylinders" being sold for the popular Italian percussion revolvers. They seem to be limited to "Cowboy" loads which are supposed to be lighter than factory 38 Special or 45 Long Colt. I like the idea of using these cylinders as it is now very difficult to shoot black powder in my area.

This past weekend I was just chased out of a rifle range for trying to shoot a .36 cal Spiller & Burr in the downwind most position. "No pistols in the rifle range" they said. OK, I was willing to pack up my gear and go to the pistol range but of course, they range closed just after recovering my target. I got 20 rounds of .303 in an old No 4 Mk 2 in return for my precious money and a 3.5 HOUR car trip !!!

OK, that really got me thinking about the conversion cylinders. They will allow me to shoot my anti-social revolvers at a normal indoor pistol range with smokeless powder IF they work as advertised and are not more trouble than they are worth. Has anyone tried them? Are some brands better than others? Will factory ammo really not work in them?

I am just getting into hand loads and the first will be 45 Long Colt. I bought 500 cases from Starline, some copper washed bullets and one of those Lee hand loading tools with appropriate dies to do this.

Gee, did I really need another hobby . . .

The only revolver I trust a conversion cylinder in is the Ruger Old Army. That is the only design that I feel confident could take a full house load should one accidentally find it's way in there. I would only recommend shooting black powder loaded cartridges in any of these cylinders. I shoot "cowboy" smokeless loads in the Ruger, it's stainless steel, and built as heavy as my .357 Blackhawk, maybe heavier, it can take it. 150 year old designed open top Colt repop's would have me more than hesitating to pull that trigger, with any sort of smokeless load I would flat out refuse to shoot it. Some BP cartridge loads might run heavy in these as the cartridge could pack more powder than you would put in the original cylinder. These revolvers do take advantage of modern steel, we have a much better idea today of the quality of steel being used than in 1860, but the design itself is not strong, it's just good enough for the use it was put to in it's time. These are not designed with any kind of smokeless powder in mind, even reduced loads could generate pressures at or beyond the original design spec. I get the cold shivers whenever I see the conversion cylinders for sale, some day, someone will put a hot load in there, either by accident, or by ignorance, and then BOOM. The original 1870's cartridge conversions of the early revolvers all shot black powder loads.

Have you looked for black powder or muzzleloader club?
The privet ranges around here won't let you shoot black powder.
We do have a state park range you can use but the shortest distance is 25 yards.

I don't think >45 LC wil fit down that .36 bore.....

The Cowboy crowd uses Trail boss a lot; might be worth looking into.

I'd be a little wary of shooting a conversion cylinder with a Colt-style (1851, 1860) frame. A Remington style frame would be better. (As JYD knows. The Ruger Old Army is a Remington style frame. On steroids.)

We used to have a local muzzle loading club called the Golden Bears that disappeared years ago. I used to shoot with them every month at a local range that was closed years ago. I know of no others. It would be fun to shoot with like minded folks.

That Trail Boss is hard to find! I only see one can of it for sale on GB and that is currently at $46 for 9 oz.!!!!!!!!!!

I did finally find some Unique and have some of that enroute. There are a number of reloading projects "hanging fire" for lack of powder.