Looking at the conversion cylinders I see there are 2 types. One requires gunsmithing and has a loading gate on the cylinder. The other has individual firing pins on each cylinder and, I assume, must be removed from the revolver before it can be loaded.
Now, the foregoing observation has absolutely nothing to do with my question, but I've already typed it so it's staying.
And speaking of my question, in researching it I found the answer.
As a handloader, I had wondered about my '61 Navy's .379 dia. bore and the .357 dia. bullets used in the .38 Long Colt cartridge the cylinders are reamed for. I found this:
"This cylinder converts it to shoot the 38 Long Colt cartridge loaded with hollow base or heeled bullets. You can also use 38 Special hollow based wadcutter ammunition." Okay, it seems like the choice of projectiles is limited and handloading may involve some
creative aspects.
As an aside, I believe this bore/bullet diameter incompatability issue should not be a problem with the 44 caliber handguns since I think they are true 45's.
But, back to the 36's. The Uberti 1851 Navy Factory Conversion notes that it is chambered for the .38
Special cartridge. This begs the question, do they manufacture the barrel for the '51 Navy Conversion Model to different spec's, i.e. a .357 bore, then those used in the standard 1851 Navy, which has a .379-.380 bore ?
Anybody got one? Anybody ever slug one?
