Guidelines for ammunition to be used with Kirst Cartridge Konverters:

All centerfire Kirst Konverters are manufactured for use in modern, reproduction Cap & Ball revolvers with steel frames; they can fire Standard Pressure ammunition, as well as Cowboy Action and black powder loads. Never use +P ammo or any other high-pressure ammunition. Please refer to manufacturers loading data and follow all safety precautions; we will not recommend any loading data.

Do not use centerfire Konverters in brass framed revolvers, only .22 rimfire Konverters can be used in brass framed revolvers to shoot standard .22 LR, .22 Long and .22 Short ammo.

All .44 caliber Cap & Ball revolver barrels are machined with the exact same bore dimensions (.452″ nominal) as the bore of a .45 Long Colt revolver. Therefore, the barrels of these .44 caliber Cap & Ball revolvers will accurately shoot .45 Long Colt, .45 Schofield, or even .45 ACP ammo. The use of jacketed ammo may cause slightly more wear to the bore of the barrel than using lead bullets.

In 2021, we started machining our .38 caliber Konverter cylinders with .358 throats to match the standard diameter of .38 Special bullets. The.38 Special Kirst Konverter (with .358” diameter throat): will handle Standard Pressure .38 Special, .38 Long Colt, and .38 Short Colt, plus Cowboy Action ammunition and black powder loads.

Note: Will not accept .38 S&W Short cartridges, .38 S&W Long cartridges or. 38 caliber Heeled Base Bullets! A .36 caliber percussion revolver barrel has a larger diameter than a .38 caliber bore; for the best accuracy use .38 caliber, HOLLOW base, lead bullets. Click here to order .38 Special HOLLOW base ammo.

.38 “Heeled Base” Kirst Konverter (with .375” diameter throat), add $30.00 for this option: The .38 Heeled Base Kirst Konverter is also available for those wishing to load and shoot historically accurate Heeled Base lead bullets in their 1851 and 1861 Colt Navy revolvers. (Will not accept .38 S&W). This model Konverter is only needed if you load and shoot .38 caliber Heeled Base lead bullets.