Uberti Open Top vs Conversion And VTI gun parts

[pluto2]

Hey guys new to the forum! I am on the fence between the cimarron 1872 open top army and 1860 Richards-Mason Conversion. Whichever I get I plan to get in 45 Long Colt

At the moment I am leaning towards the Richards-Mason. I was looking at also buying a .38 cylinder and barrel from VTI gun parts. So i could shoot both 38 and 45.

I need some help on a couple questions that I am having trouble finding the answers to. If I buy the conversion model I am assuming that I can buy the cylinder and barrel from VTI gun parts, but am confused about the way they list the models. For example If I want parts for the 1860 conversion I assume I should go to the "Uberti Richard Mason" page and all of those parts would fit the revolver. However the barrel I like the most which is one of the octagon barrels, is on the page but it says its for a 1872 Richard Mason, which to my understanding doesn't exist.

My main question is will the "Uberti Barrel .38 7 1/2" Octagon (1872 Richard Mason)" and the 38 special cylinder from this link fit onto a 1860 Richard Mason Conversion by Cimarron?

http://www.vtigunparts.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=30&cat=Uberti+Richard+Mason


Link to the gun I am talking about
http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/co...on-army/1860-richards-mason-45-colt-8-in.html

I know its a long post, And thank you guys for any help you can give me, when looking for these answers I saw that CraigC and Strawhat might be able to shed some insight.

-Pluto

 

[StrawHat]

I am not one for swapping barrel too much. Cimarron imports Uberti made revolvers so the barrels could swap with no problem, or...

I would recommend you buy one, your choice of cartridge and shoot it for a while. Then if you think you need a different cartridge, buy a second revolver. Much easier to deal with and you wont find yourself with the one cylinder and a different barrel!

Kevin

 

[Cocked & Locked]

What StrawHat said. Go ahead and get your .45 version. Then if you like it get one in .38 special/.38 Colt.

I've got the .38 one and love it. Fun shooter and accurate in spite of the microscopic sights.

 

[CraigC]

Got your PM. I love all these guns but don't yet have the Richards-Mason. I seem to recall that the .38 and .44/.45 versions of the 1860, while pictured as the same, actually are quite different. Unless I'm mis-remembering, the .38's are actually built on the 1851 receiver that does not have the stepped water table, which would make swapping parts impossible. The picture below would seem to support that. Not sure if you could put the 1851's octagonal barrel on a .38Spl 1860 or not.



However, I do believe what you want to do would work, theoretically, with the Open Top model because they all use the same receiver and cylinder diameter.

 

[CraigC]

Here you can see how the cylinder/water table are stepped for the larger cartridges.

 

[pluto2]

Well thats a bummer, I saw that the water table + cylinder were stepped on the 45 colt for the 1860, but I assumed that as long as I went with the .45 that the straight cylinder on the .38 would work. Only fear is that the overall diameter on the .38 cylinder might be less than the 45, and that is might be shorter. Which from CraigC's picture apears to be the case. I'll call VTI and ask, hopefully someone working there might know.

But seems that people think that the open tops are interchangable? The hope is to one day own multiple firearms but other members of the family don't engage as much in the gun fun and buying one firearm is sometimes passed easier than multiple.

Also saw a couple sites selling 45 and 38 special cartridges filled with black powder instead of smokeless, any worries about shooting these through open top style revolvers from a strength of the weapon perspective?

https://www.buffaloarms.com/Black_powder_cowboy_ammo_pr-4438.aspx

thank you for all the help and getting back so fast

 

[Coffinmaker]

Unfortunately, your not talking about two different apples here.
The Richards Mason frame and Conversion rings are cartridge specific. You cannot swap between Large Bore and Small Bore cartridges. You will need individually chambered guns.

The 1871/72 Open Top is an entirely different story. ALL the available calibers are built on the same frame and cylinder. You can switch between .38 Cylinder/Barrel to .44, to .45. there will be some fitting required. I normally describe the Open Top as a precisely manufactured KIT. Well made, precise parts that normally don't quite fit. Expect to have some problems to solve. The first problem will be the Barrel to Arbor fit, which is never correct.

Good Luck

Coffinmaker