New Remington Conversion- Made my first Cylinder!

[Tinker Pearce]

I've been doing cartridge conversions as part of my amateur(ish) gunsmithing hobby. It's a sickness that started with using Kirst Gated Conversions and progressed to boring out C&B cylinders, then lining them for smaller calibers. Recently though I got my hands on a chunk of 4340 H/H round bar and had a go at making my first cylinder for a reproduction Remington 1858, just to see if I could.

I turned it down on the lathe, then cut the sprocket for a five-shooter because the standard cylinder isn't large enough for six rounds of a .45-caliber cartridge. Then I located and cut the locking notches and timed the cylinder. With that done I line-bored the cylinder, then ran a chamber-reamer in from the other end.
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I chambered it for .450 Adams, since I already reload that for some of my antiques and it's a nice, low-pressure load. I made this for a conversion I had done previously in .44 Colt (original.) Results have been good; makes for a nice, soft-shooting gun that is accurate and a pleasure to shoot. The .44 Colt conversion has moved on to a new home in another gun, BTW; waste not, want not and all that.
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This opens a whole new world of possibilities- I've already turned and timed a new cylinder for a Colt 1851 reproduction, a six-shot that will be chambered for .38 S&W (I line the bore with .357 liner.) Anyway, it was a fun and interesting project and I thought I would share it.

[Nueces]

Tres cool. If you lived closer I'd have a drone outside your shop window filming your procedures. :mrgreen:

[Tatume]

Wonderful! Thanks for posting, and welcome to the forum.

[johniv]

Good work sir!

[EMC45]

WOW! That is a cool little beast!

[DougGuy]

That's nice looking work but have you given any thought to Osammy's Executive Order 7/22/2016 making your hobby gunsmithing work into manufacturing? It carries a hefty $2000.00 fee and is retroactive by BATFE. That's the reason I quit taking in conversions, because it clearly enhances the capability of the weapon beyond what the manufacturer's original product did. No way out of that one, the language is specific.

[Four-Sixty]

Can anyone cite the EO number?

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Nice workmanship and an interesting project. Is the rammer functional on that short of a barrel? Seems like the handle on the rammer is a bit short to grasp for sufficient ramming force -- just the impression I get looking at the photo. Of course, one doesn't need to ram a ball into a cartridge cylinder, and so that makes me think, like on the Richards Mason conversion, why retain the rammer on the modified design?

I think it's still legal for one to make a gun for their own use.

By the way, another "welcome to the forum". Always glad to see new people with knowledge and talent join the club!!

[dubber123]

A very cool project, one I would love to own myself, well done!

[bedbugbilly]

Beautiful work and I greatly appreciate the machining and thought put in to it. Well done!

Doug - your comments bring up a good point. In my ignorance, I'll ask . . . if a person buys a Kirst conversion and converts a handgun - with a gate, installed back plate, etc. - does that also fall under that regulation? I'm assuming if I buy a Howell cylinder and throw it in to a Remington, it doesn't because nothing has been done to the original handgun as it can easily be converted back to C & B?

I haven't called the powers that be here in MI yet to find out how they work it since cartridge handguns have to be registered in this state. Technically, I can go in and buy a C & B, put cash down and no paperwork because the reproduction is considered an "antique firearm". However, if I put a Howell conversion cylinder in it it becomes a cartridge handgun. On your own property, no biggie - but if on the way to a range and stopped, with the Howell cylinder in it it would be considered an "unregistered handgun".

Not to detract form the OP's post though - Tinker, you did a great job on it and be proud of your work! Since you obviously have access or have nice machinery to work with - have you done any cartridge conversions (change calibers) on single shots or relined any rifle barrels or does you equipment limit you to handguns?

[lar45]

Excellent work and very nice little beast.
I'd love to shoot that one.
Welcome to the forum.

[mwhite49]

From what I've heard that executive order was rescinded by Trump. I'll see if I can find it. They originally wanted all gunsmiths to pay for the more expensive 07 license. I need a new cylinder for a 1875 Remington in 44-40.
Mike

[mommicked]

Nice! I love 1858s, I have a pair of them now. One I mainly use for bp, the other with a conversion cylinder. I think they're pretty versatile in 45 colt, and even though I have a Glock, a Ruger, a Rossi, a few S&W's and some others, the 1858 Pietta 'Sheriff' model is fast becoming my favorite handgun for plinking and knocking around in the woods. Nice job.