Using standard jacketed .45 ACP in 1858 pietta

[sirdutch]

I have a "used" Pietta model 1858 Remington revolver that I purchased some time ago at a gun store that is now out of business. It came in it's original pristine Cabella's box and has never been fired as far as I can tell. It came with what was listed on the store sales tag as a R&D .45 long colt conversion cylinder. The gun is blue steel and the conversion cylinder is stainless steel. I found that odd but the price was too good to pass up. The stainless conversion cylinder looks kinda funny when installed though.

I decided to try the conversion cylinder out at a gun range prepared with some cowboy .45 long colt with lead bullets when, lo and behold, I find out that the conversion cylinder is actually .45 ACP! .45LC ammo doesn't fit!

I'm not sure if they sell .45 ACP cowboy ammo appropriate for this gun and would like to use standard .45 ACP ammo as I have a good supply and it's got to be cheaper than some specialty ammo. I occasionally reload so I suppose I could buy the dies and load some up.

Is it safe to use standard copper jacketed ammo in my 1895 Pietta Remington?

Does having a stainless conversion cylinder a plus if using standard jacketed .45 ACP ammo as far as pressures go?

As it is California, I was surprised that the owner of the store insisted that this BP handgun had to go through the DROS process and almost didn't complete the purchase. He said that as I was buying it with a conversion cylinder and that he had no choice. Who knows for sure. But I figured it was priced right.

Thanks!

[4DSJW]

Pretty sure that if you buy the gun with the center fire cylinder installed it has to be DROS'd, with the original cylinder installed and the center fire cylinder in the box, not sure. The BP pistol in its original configuration and the center fire cylinder separate you should be able to walk out of the store with it.

As far as pressures, there are only a few manufacturers of those cylinders. Find out who made yours, look for a name or do an image search on the web, and ask them what you can use.

[Staticsouls]

Nice find! Shoot it and let us know!

[davidb]

Maybe try asking in or having this moved to the c&r/bp section for better results

Sounds awesome though, and if it's a go I may be buying a conversion cylinder in the future lol

[sirdutch]

The R&D cylinder was not installed at the time of purchase. I figured the store owner was just being careful. I suppose if I was to be questioned at a range for some idiotic reason I would be covered as it is registered.

I'll try the other section. Thanks!

[The Gleam]

R&D Conversions specifically recommend ONLY using cowboy loads with their conversions, no matter the caliber or type.

I would NOT shoot standard .45ACP through that gun, especially as the barrel is not meant for it. You definitely want to reduce the powder charge. R&D makes these in mind with re-loaders, particularly the cowboy-action set that are used to reloading.

If you don't re-load, talk to someone who does, to see if you can buy some reduced-load .45ACP.

By the way, that .45ACP option is quite odd; most are in .45LC .

[sirdutch]

.45 ACP cylinders do seem odd but would be cheaper to to buy or reload. My cylinder is a 5 round one instead of a 6 round one. Have you heard of this before? Odd that the cylinder would not be marked for caliber or maker either.

Thanks for all of your responses so far.

[CALI-gula]

Someone was just asking about conversion cylinders last week or so.

Here: https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/...php?p=15796144

LOOKS LIKE THIS ONE FOR .45ACP IS STILL AVAILABLE:

http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=162987&CAT=3787

And then here for ammo:

http://www.buffaloarms.com/45_ACP_Ammunition%20_it-1080901.aspx?CAT=4439

Then see here:

http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/cartr...cylinders.html

http://www.buffaloarms.com/r_and_d_c...s_pr-3787.aspx

.

[Staticsouls]

that is pretty cool though if you can fire centerfire out of that 1858. take it to the range and ask the range master to test fire that baby for you.