Pietta 1851 Navy .22 LR

[Sharps40]

Parts left over from various projects and a Kirst .22 LR conversion kit. Was gonna put the conversion with one of the 45 ACP revolvers already done, then saw all the stuff on the bench and figured, what the heck, a dedicated plinker is always appreciated.

So, an all brass pietta 36 action, orphan 36 barrel (already pulled the pin front sight and fitted a new old stock Marble Adjustable front sight with large brass and orange bead), engraved pietta brass grip from another project that's still ongoing, and as usual when working with parts only, Metric holes have been retapped to 8x32 and 8-36 and appropriate gun screws jinned up. About all I am missing is a mainspring assembly.

 

[Sharps40]

Once all the frame holes are retapped metric to 8-36 (so I don't have to call Cimarron/Taylors/VTI and order way to expensive screws) I simply trim and clean up 8-36 gun grade screws to start assembly. Here the trigger guard in place and a very nice fit for mismatched parts.

And in the other photo, the engraved backstrap and very plain walnut grips (both from another project) are fitted to the frame. Additionally, the two piece, ingeniously designed Kirst 22 LR cylinder is slid into place on the arbor. The front cylinder can be unlocked from the rear ring, without disassembling the gun to load and unload the weapon...the loading port rotates with the cylinder when shooting and remains locked in place to load or unload, firing pins either side of the loading port are offset to the side while the remaining pins are centered in the hammer window of the frame...even if it don't shoot worth a damn, I love the 25 lbs of brains it took to come up with the design.

 

[Sharps40]

A scavenged .36 barrel from an 1851 and to the left, the Kirst rifled barrel sleeve and one of three spacers to adjust the cylinder to barrel gap. It just slips into the 1851 barrel.....we'll see if its accurate enough to roll a wild hare.

I think down under the barrel, in place of the loading lever, I'' make up a swing down ejecton rod that's spring loaded so it'll latch securely in place after punching out the empties.

 

[Sharps40]

And that's it....pending a main spring (coil or leaf) about all I can think to do is open the rear v notch a bit. Heck, I even put the sight on before I got a hankering to saw the barrel off short.

 

[basstracker89]

Sweet!!

 

[Sharps40]

With adjustable front, the rear can be configured for utility.

 

[Sharps40]

Almost ready for a range day with this one. Installed the lightened factory spring from the 1851 Engraved 45 Colt project in this one. It's heavier than a wolff reduced power mainspring and I want to be sure we have sufficient smash wack since some .22s are hard to ignite.

A couple things to check and work on yet.

1. Make sure it'll load .22 long rifles, occasionally on these the frame will need some clearance to insert and remove ammunition longer than the .22 short

2. Probably need to remove about .010 or so from the hammer nose so the cylinder doesn't bang forward with each fall of the hammer.

3. Might need an endshake bushing and I'm sure to experiment with fixing the liner insert a bit more accurately within the factory .36 bore.

4. Make up that removable loading lever than can serve as a push rod to eject shells from the chambers.

 

[Sharps40]

It loads federal automatch....don't know if it'll unload unfired rounds as the rims stick when trying to punch out empties and it has to be turned window down to get it done.......we'll see what to do there.

It fires, though there ain't much impression of the pins on the case rims.....I suspect the 1/4 mile the cylinder is moving forward and back with each shot allows the pin indent to smooth back out. We'll see, but I'm positive i'll have to tackle all that endshake first.

But, though it shooting super low (8 inches or so), the couple shots I managed to put on the steel at 10 yards were less than 1.5 inches apart...so, its got potential.....

Real pain in the Tucastal Foliage to load and unload.....did I mention that already?

 

[Sharps40]

One can insert loaded rounds....one can eject fired rounds.....one can not eject loaded rounds without disassembly.

So, just like a center-fire conversions, room has to be made in the recoil shield. See photo 2 for the rough in.

After that, they fall out of the chamber nicely.

 

[Sharps40]

Works one handed while shaking the heck out of a camera....

You get the idea.