Fellas in the cowboy side of things they install the custom carriers to allow cycling of the short 44 Russian case in 1873's chambered for 44mag.These are the carriers here.
http://www.thesmithshop.com/cbs45.html
I was thinking for novelties sake and maybe accurate plinking, going one step further and getting someone to cut back the barrel and rechamber the gun for 44 Russian as well. I am no gunsmith so wondering if any gunsmiths could comment as to whether its as easy for a competent gunsmith as I am making it sound?