Breathing new life into an oldie: Model 1858 .44 caliber revolver

[Write Winger]

I've had this Pietta Model 1858 New Army .44 caliber revolver for about 15 years. It's always been more of a display piece, being a black powder functioning replica, and I never got into black powder muzzle loading. However, with the craze lately I decided to give this old piece a second look.

http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n498/ken_bergman/4E83EE7D-7526-4CFA-BD38-E292FD0E85B1-15895-00001A53D097B574.jpg

You can pick one up from Cabela's (without having to go through an FFL) for $230.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Black-Powder/Pistols-Revolvers|/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/104503680/Pietta-Model-1858-New-Army-44-Caliber-Revolver/731695.uts?WTz_l=DirectLoad%3Bcat104503680

I'd love to still do black powder, and I know there's a specific C&R/BP section here, but in my research I discovered something I never thought existed that might be better suited for the handgun section.

There are conversion cylinders that you can drop in to fire cowboy loads (slightly weaker loads) of 45 Long Colt. The standard blued cylinder is $240. These are only considered a part and do not require an FFL either.

http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/cartridge-conversions/1858-remington-conversion-cylinders.html

This particular company is the only one that makes 6-shot cylinders. Cowboy loads are nothing to sneeze at, it's just these old guns can't handle the loads of modern cartridges. They can also be fired at indoor ranges, where black powder loads cannot.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1657151333/magtech-cowboy-action-ammunition-45-colt-long-colt-250-grain-lead-flat-nose

Anyway, I figured this was a little different, but a fun way to try something "new". I'll be ordering the cylinder and as soon as I get some 45LC cowboy loads I'll take it to the local indoor range, do a little range report. Wish me luck. Can't wait to see how it does and looks next to all the modern gear :D

[aghauler]

I'm "thinking" about black powder again also. Had a 1836 Colt replica I never fired and sold and a 58 Zouave I did shoot occasionally and sold also, both years ago. I like the Remington 1858 better due to the quick change of cylinder capability though, always though it was a better idea than the Colt system of knocking out the wedge and separating the frame to exchange loaded cylinders.

[knucklehead0202]

i imagine the cowboy loads you speak of will be lower pressure and ideally with a cast bullet to be gentle on the old girl. that's really slick and would definitely turn some heads at the range. good post.

[aghauler]

i imagine the cowboy loads you speak of will be lower pressure and ideally with a cast bullet to be gentle on the old girl. that's really slick and would definitely turn some heads at the range. good post.

Plus the steel framed M 1858 would fair better than the brass frame for the "cowboy" loads also.

[Write Winger]

After doing some investigating, mine isn't the Pietta, it's actually the Uberti. Either way, still looking forward to shooting it lol.

[The Soup Nazi]

So how much of a PITA is it to reload a cartridge conversion if there's no ejector rod?

[Write Winger]

I guess I'll find out :D

[rsmorgan]

For a drop-in cylinder conversion of an 1858, it doesn't take me that much longer than it does to do a normal reload a Colt SAA. With low-pressure "Cowboy" loads, most of the cases will just drop out of the cylinder, so that is typically faster than the "poke-em-out" of the SAA.

To avoid any mix-ups with full-power .45Colt loads, I do my .45 "cowboy" reloads in .45 Schofield cases which are noticeably shorter than the "Long Colt."

[Write Winger]

Ermagerd!!!! It comes with a vertical forward grip!

http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n498/ken_bergman/0AAC5396-C810-4917-8C35-6A5AC467B928-17719-00001CCF565416EE.jpg

[gotshotgun?]

Lol!

[aghauler]

So some of these BP pistols were "cut" for stocks. Would there be a legal issue using a stock with one of them now?

[Write Winger]

http://www.berettausa.com/assets/item/large/1858-New-Army-Carabine.jpg

I'm not a lawyer, but maybe a black powder version wouldn't be classified as an SBR, but perhaps one with a Centerfire conversion would be? Fun to ponder...

[MrOrange]

BP gets all kinds of passes from the regulators, witness the Howdah double-barreled 20 ga pistols, and the short-barreled shotguns from Pedersoli. They'll even sell you a clamp-on stock for the Howdah. The 1858 Rem. carbine is a carbine. Or is it Carabine?

OP, don't know if you've seen them but you can also get conversion cylinders with a loading gate, so after you whittle a bit off the recoil shield you can load-n-fire just like a Colt SAA.

How cool is changing cylinders on an 1858 to reload? Ainchoo seen Pale Rider?

While BP equivalent rounds are slow by magnum standards, they're fully capable of putting a half-inch hole through both sides of an attacker. I wouldn't feel nervous using them for SD.

[Write Winger]

http://www.kirstkonverter.com/remington.html

I see a lot of these conversions out there, along with some factory models that already come this way.

[Old Scribe]

Have fun with it. I bought a 250 round container sever years ago of "cowboy" .45 LC and have enjoyed shooting the 1858. With a bit of practice it doesn't take long to reload the conversion cylinder :D

[Tom-ADC]

I have a Uberti 1858 in stainless with a R&D conversion, shots great, I use Trail Boss powder for cowboy loads.
If you shoot it a lot keep a eye on the hammer face some are subject to peening

[Write Winger]

Those stainless ones are purdy :D

[BigJ]

I've been bitten by the BP bug, and would love to score one of those conversion cylinders for my 1858 Rem too.

Especially when stuff like this is out there to play with:
Lo-y3lC5864

[Tom-ADC]

I've been bitten by the BP bug, and would love to score one of those conversion cylinders for my 1858 Rem too.

Especially when stuff like this is out there to play with:
Lo-y3lC5864

Check out Howell they were R&D good stuff good prices.

[Write Winger]

Are there conversion barrels too, that can handle modern loads?