How to fit a .45 conversion cylinder to a Ruger Old Army black powder?

Take it to a gun smith.





First he needs to check the gun to make sure it can handle the loads. A gun designed to shoot black powder may not be able to handle modern nitrate based powders found in cartridges. If your gun has a brass frame, forget it. If he says it can be done, the you got the issue of actually installing the cylinder.





It is not just a case of removing one cylinder and sticking in another, contrary to what the advertisements say. You have to ensure the gap between the cylinder and forcing cone on the barrel is correct. You have to regulate the cylinder, meaning when you c.o.c.k the hammer the next firing chamber must line up exactly with the barrel. This must be done for all six otherwise if one does not line up, too much of the bullet will ';miss'; the forcing cone and the gun could blow up in your hand. The drop in units go on the assumption that all the Rugers are exactly the same in measurements.





Also, just how are you planning on ejecting the cartridges? Take a look at the design of the conversion units. You will have to take it out of the gun, remove the back, remove the cartridges, reload, put the back back on, put it back into the gun. All giving rise to the potential of doing something wrong and/or causing damage to either the frame, firing mechanism or cylinder. A speedy system it is not.





There are also the legal ramifications. A black powder gun built according to a design of the 1800s does not have the same limits set by law as does a modern cartridge revolver. In some locations a black powder gun is considered an ';antique'; even if recently built and you do not have to register the gun. But if you convert it, suddenly it is a ';modern'; gun and you have to register it. You also may be taking a gun that is legal under the black powder laws and making a gun that may not be legal under the cartridge laws. A gunsmith in your area would know the proper way to legally convert the gun and what paper work is needed.





Lastly, the liability ramifications. If you modify the gun, Ruger will not stand behind its product. Will the company that supplied the cartridge cylinder? Or will they claim in small print that it has to be installed by a gunsmith? If you install it yourself, are you willing to accept full responsibility for someone getting hurt as a result of your conversion?





Considering all issues, it would be far cheaper for you to sell the gun to someone who wants a black powder gun and then go out and buy a new cartridge gun to your liking. Or take the money you were going to spend on the conversion and go buy a new gun. There is no law (yet) that says you can only have one gun.





Consider your guns as a collection. Gun collecting is almost as much fun as shooting. You got a cap and ball revolver. Get a new revolver showing the next step in the evolution of guns, like a Colt Peacemaker or a Ruger Blackhawk. After that get a quality double action revolver like a Ruger Redhawk or Smith and Wesson.





(I am partial to Rugers. They are built quite a bit tougher than the Smith and Wessons.)How to fit a .45 conversion cylinder to a Ruger Old Army black powder?
The Ruger Old Army never came brass, so that shows off the bat what you know about the subject. The Taylor cylinder is wonderful, ready to run out of the box. If there is a problem, send the gun and cylinder to Taylor's and they will fit one for you at no charge. Could not be easier.


The ATF has d Report Abuse
How to fit a .45 conversion cylinder to a Ruger Old Army black powder?
The ATF has declared this to be an antique, as cartridge conversions were common after 1865, and this is a replica of one of the types of conversions. This is why they say to fire black powder loads, as black powder loads are not readily commercially available, as per ATF ruling. Report Abuse

Taylors includes a letter from the ATF o.k.ing the conversion. I wish people would think before they open there mouths or keyboards. Bad info will hurt us all. Especially in the shooting sports.


John Duncan


Professional gunsmith for 25 year


Pistolsmith 15 years.


member PGCA, GGCA,OGCA,AGA, Report Abuse

You have to be quite knowledgeable about revolvers to do that. The hand and cylinder rotation notches would have to set right just for starters. Such a conversion is way beyond the ability of an average tinkerer. It may not even be possible for a pro, without extensive milling and machine work.
There are drop-in cylinders that require little or no gunsmithing. Google Kirst Kartridge Konverter, the site will tell you where they sell them. They go for about $250 per, but if that is the way you want to go, they are the cheapest and easiest I've seen.
Depending on who you are getting the cylinder from, fitting it properly may require the services of a gunsmith.
I bought 'R%26amp;D' brand conversion cylinders from MidwayUSA for both of my Old Army's, and they were simple 'drop-ins', requiring no fitting and they both worked GREAT first time out!
It is not wise to discuss such subjects on here.