Michael Tinker Pearce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2016
- Messages
- 1,574
Perusing the shelves at Pinto's I spotted a somewhat unusual Pietta 1858 reproduction. It had a color case-hardened frame and handsome checkered grips. As I was looking for a new home for my Kirst gated .45 Colt converter and the price was right it was a no-brainer.
I don't much like shooting long-barrelled revolvers, but I already have two 1858 snubbies. I settled on shortening the barrel to 3-1/2"- a handy length that for some reason I think of as 'gunfighter' length. No, I am not aware of any historic gunfighter who shortened a Remington to this length; it just seems quick and handy. I mounted a bronze front sight, then shortened and reconfigured the loading lever to act as a cylinder-pin retainer. I did this by boring down the center of the rod and installing a spring-plunger to engage in a hole in the end of the cylinder pin. Naturally I had to cut a loading port in the blast shield to use with the converter, but that was the extent of the modifications. Happily the Kirst unit dropped right in and functioned flawlessly.
The result is quick-handling, well-balanced and points naturally for me.
At some point I'll take off the writing on the sides of the barrel and re-blue it, but other than that it's finished as far as I'm concerned. As it turns out it's a good shooter, too. With standard-pressure loads it shoots pretty much to point of aim, and the recoil is a satisfying thump, but in no way uncomfortable.
The first seven-yard target:
Quite pleased with the result, and I wouldn't be surprised if this gun didn't find itself riding my belt in the woods now and again.
I don't much like shooting long-barrelled revolvers, but I already have two 1858 snubbies. I settled on shortening the barrel to 3-1/2"- a handy length that for some reason I think of as 'gunfighter' length. No, I am not aware of any historic gunfighter who shortened a Remington to this length; it just seems quick and handy. I mounted a bronze front sight, then shortened and reconfigured the loading lever to act as a cylinder-pin retainer. I did this by boring down the center of the rod and installing a spring-plunger to engage in a hole in the end of the cylinder pin. Naturally I had to cut a loading port in the blast shield to use with the converter, but that was the extent of the modifications. Happily the Kirst unit dropped right in and functioned flawlessly.
The result is quick-handling, well-balanced and points naturally for me.
At some point I'll take off the writing on the sides of the barrel and re-blue it, but other than that it's finished as far as I'm concerned. As it turns out it's a good shooter, too. With standard-pressure loads it shoots pretty much to point of aim, and the recoil is a satisfying thump, but in no way uncomfortable.
The first seven-yard target:
Quite pleased with the result, and I wouldn't be surprised if this gun didn't find itself riding my belt in the woods now and again.