Uberti "Cartridge Conversion" 1860 and 1851 revolvers.

I was wondering if anyone had one, had a chance to shoot one or knows much about them?

I really don't need one, but there's a beautiful 1851 in .38 special at a local store and for some reason it is just dang appealing.

Not really worthwhile, I wouldn't carry it for work (ranch, Always carry a handgun for whatever) because of the sights, so 99% of it's use would be plinking.

But just looks nice and danged if the thing ain't got really nice balance

So, any users out there? .

Hiya...I have a pair of 1860 .38 Special conversions, 8 inch barrel..and they are sweet...they shoot nice groups, have very slick actions...I have put new grips on them, they handle great. getting used to taking them down for cleaning is way different than my Glock!

I have several Uberti and Cimmaron replicas, mostly 1873's, but I have picked up a few open tops in the past year. I have an 1872 "Open Top" in .45 Colt which handles very well. In order to correct the windage, I had to file the rear sight notch, which is intentionally left very small to allow correction. It is an amazingly accurate revolver for what it is now, and with the enlarged rear sight, which is on the rear of the barrel, just in front of the cylinder on the 1872, it's quick to acquire now, too.

Then there's my 1860 Richard Mason conversion in .38 Special with a 5-1/2" barrel. The windage was perfect from the factory on this one, but, like the 1872, the rear sight notch on the hammer is left extremely small. I used a small, triangular file to open the notch up on the hammer and it is now very quick to acquire and is very accurate. I haven't shot it very seriously beyond 25 yards, but I'm getting about 3" groups at that distance with my cast bullet reloads. With the very mild recoil, it's actually more fun to shoot than the 1872 Open Top, too. Not that the recoil is harsh with the .45 Colt, but the .38 is just plain fun to shoot.

When working out back by the river, I've tossed the 1860 RM Conversion under the seat of the truck before in case I ran into a coyote or fox. It's plenty accurate and with my truncated cone cast bllet handloads, it will be enough to punch a hole through a coyote if it wanders onto my property.

Don't let the sights turn you off from the 1860. Just file the notch in the hammer a little wider and you'll be able to pick them up quickly. If it's shooting off to the side a little, just file the notch off to the side to correct it.

They are so much fun that I usually leave my Glocks at home and shoot these now.

Ok cool. Thanks guys!

I was a bit worried about correcting windage, but it sounds good. I've always been a more "modern" type shooter, but these are just appealing. Let's me shoot a black powder revolver without the black powder

Your missing half the fun. Boom and smoke.



Cleaning up BP guns is far easier than most people think. You do not have to take the pistol completely apart. I use moose milk (10% ballistol and water) and regular cleaning tools. In 20 minutes I have two Opentop .44 Colts cleaned and oiled.

I had a Traditions 1851 or 1860 conversion, IIRC. The doggone .38 brass stuck in the chambers, even with black powder loads. I tried polishing them, but it didn't help. I don't know if they were tapered or what, but I hope it isn't a problem inherent to that design.

And what ^^ he said about the balistol and water. I used 50/50 and they clean up like any other gun. After drying, I lube with 100% solution.

The brass usually falls out of my .38 RM 1860 and my .45 Colt 1872 Open Top. I don't have any friends who have any cartridge firing open tops, so my experience is limited to only these two, but the chambers have been problem free.

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