Colt Navy 1851 .357 Mag Conversion...

[MasterWithNoName]

Hello all folks!

 

I just wanted to share my opinion on a theme that really few people talk about, and It's that I think we need a Cartridge-Conversion Colt Navy 1851 (Modern Reproduction), but chambered in .357 Magnum.

 

You might be asking, Why? Simply beacuse would be fun to shoot, and I don't think that the design should be too modified for it, just a longer cylinder (and slight frame changes to accomodate it), and be made with modern materials (metals/alloy) to make it handle that Magnum round. I'd like to see it in the Good, The Bad in The Ugly fashion, more like the "normal" revolver converted to fire these metal rounds, without the ejector rod (I know for what it's that, but I mean for not ruin Its aesthethics), you may argue it's not historically accurate, but come on, Pietta has made Colt Navies 1851 chambered in .44 BP...

 

I've seen some other people on the internet ask for this, so I doubt It would be a commercial failure or a bad business.

 

I think that Standard Manufacturing would be a good option to make this product idea (I've sent a letter to them, but they didn't response), however, if Uberti/Cimarron come up with this, a modified Colt 1851 Navy GBU Style Cartidge-Converted .357 Mag, I would totally buy it, It's a personal dream that's waiting to happen, so I kinda need support for this, and from this community.

 

What do you people think, ladies and gents?

[Sedalia Dave]

Open top frames are not strong enough to stand up to .357 magnum loads.  

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

I agree with Sedalia Dave.  The modern '51 conversions are already made of modern steel, and even hot .38's will shoot it loose.  

[Lucky R. K.]

I also agree. Open Tops will not take the extra pressure of the .357.

Lucky 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

PLUS ONE for The Above Replies.  357 Magnum pressure levels would rapidly beat an Open Top frame loose.  NOT specifically the "frame."  It must be remembered, the 1851 is only held together by the Arbor being threaded into the frame.  There isn't enough material strength in those threads to withstand the forces generated by the 357 Mag.  To chamber an 1851 Percussion gun to 357 Magnum would be a fools errand.

[watab kid]

i have a conversion for 38s in one of my 51s that i cant shoot my low velocits 38 cowboy loads in because i made mine up with 158 bouuets and set them to work in my rifle as well as my revolvers , while low velocity the length is just a tad long gfor the conversion , i refuse to shoot anything but my downloads in it and so far im not wanting to mess with mu OACL so ill have to set up anothe set of dies to do them for it , - but i do want to shoot it some , 

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

9 hours ago, watab kid said:

i have a conversion for 38s in one of my 51s that i cant shoot my low velocits 38 cowboy loads in because i made mine up with 158 bouuets and set them to work in my rifle as well as my revolvers , while low velocity the length is just a tad long gfor the conversion , i refuse to shoot anything but my downloads in it and so far im not wanting to mess with mu OACL so ill have to set up anothe set of dies to do them for it , - but i do want to shoot it some , 

If this is a Kirst then I believe the max OAL is 1.42" .  My regular 125gr TC ammo is 1.44", so I just turn in the seating die stem 1/2 turn, then label that box of ammo "For Kirst"

 

Back to the OP's question, Mike Bracket has said something about conversions able to shoot hotter ammo after he does his thing to them, but I don't recall which conversions and don't recall him mentioning .357.  I'm thinking it might be possible to design a gun without a top strap that could handle .357, but it wouldn't look like a '51 Navy.  Some people who don't really know guns might like it and think it "looks cowboy" without a top strap and want one, but I doubt there would be enough interest for a company to go to the time and expense of designing it.  People wanting a .357 that "looks cowboy" right now can just buy an SAA replica.