Loading speed in a Smith Carbine..........

[Smokepole50]

I am new to the Smith and setting up my first rifle. I have a 100 or so black plastic tubes that came with the rifle but I am wondering just how easy these slick plastic tubes are to remove from the chamber once there is some fouling in the gun and lube on the fingers.

I've been looking at the brass cases and and like the finger groove concept for extracting the cases after firing. However the grooves may be necessary due to the brass fitting tighter in the chamber after firing thus rendering any mechanical advantage over the black plastic case null and void.

What say you about the advantages of the brass cases less of course the obvious longer life benefit of brass. As well, is there any load advantage to having the brass case mouth enlarged to accept a .515 or so bullet, thus making a uniform shoulder for the bullet to be seated against?

Thanks, Randall

[P.Altland]

Not giving up on the Sharps are ya?


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[Smokepole50]

Definitely not.......just running into a bit of a road block with bore diameter and bore condition.

I gotta get this Smith barking before Statesville.

[george7542]

Just put a rag on your belt to wipe your hands ever once in a while and carry a pair of pliers with you in case you have a stuck tube. You shouldn't have to use them to much unless it raining

[Smokepole50]

Raining,........you mean like it did at Nationals

It was a chore to keep drips off my hat from fouling my nipple.

[george7542]

It wouldn't be a national without some rain

[jonk]

Here's the funny thing...

I started with a sharps. Relined Pedersoli. On a good day, I'd run in the high 40s, low 50s with it in terms of hit time.

Saw a Pietta Smith that was a sleeper on gunbroker. Used, snagged it for $400 shipped, which I thought was a pretty fair price.

That stock gun will, on a good day, run in the mid 30s for me. All I did was add a higher front sight.

The sharps feels better to me, in terms of balance and weight. It loads faster. From a bench it shoots slightly better. I just shoot the smith better.

Now as to the stuck cases, I haven't had one; the main issue with the plastic tubes is eventually they develop a burr at the mouth. Meaning they are hard to chamber, but not extract. Being a thrifty sort, on cold winter nights in the off season, I use a razor knife and remove that burr, and only chuck the cases after they crack or the flash hole opens up.

This said: I would carry a pair of pliers to the line with ANY breechloader that has a case to extract.

I can fire about 18 rounds in a 5 minute event with the smith if we go full time, and 22 with the sharps. Smith IS a little slower, but it's a case of "what do you shoot well?"

[Smokepole50]

Well I guess I will have to try and dig up some CW period pliers. Some how blue handle channel-loks would not seem correct on the firing line.

[henrymstr]

The blk tubes expand upon ignition and seal the chamber better than brass. Good luck.

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[Lou Lou Lou]

Metal tubes are much easier to extract. Brass or alum

[Smokepole50]

Has anyone ever worked up a heavy load that shot well in there Smith. It seems most people shoot 20-25 grains of powder with there loads. I am sure these rifles should shoot a hot load as well as a cap gun load with equal accuracy. I thought it might be nice to shoot a deer with it some time in the future. I guess I will need a few of the brass cases for that reason if nothing else.

[Joe Plakis, 9575V]

The Black Tubes do have a shelf life. The first thing that usually begins to effect accuracy is the flash holes. They begin to burn out, and distort, and the easiest way to slow this process is to install the brass rivets that a few of the sutlers sell. The other thing is to make sure your chamber is parallel, and that the front edge of the chamber is not rolling into the chamber. My father has a Smith that has the edge rolling into the chamber and it makes pulling black tubes very difficult. The other thing is to make sure you always wash your tubes in cold water, remember it is plastic... hot water distorts plastic.

Hope this helps

[Smokepole50]

Well I shot the rifle a good bit the other day. The black plastic cases extracted easily but some of the newer cases were a bit tight going in. Hopefully that will get better when I size my bullets to .515 from.517

[Michael Bodner]

Randall,

If you're having any problems starting the tube into the chamber (verses just tough to push them all the way in) then take a small half-round file (very fine) and lightly deburr the rim all the way around. I discovered that mine was as sharp as a knife and all it took was the slightest of bevel (not even visible) to make it 300% easier to start the cartridge....

If its starting OK and just tough to push home, then you're correct that it should be easier with the slightly smaller .515 bullet. You still want some snugness, because that will only help with getting a good seal.

-Mike

[Lou Lou Lou]

You can shoot a deer with the Smith. Just don't do it during Muzzle loading Season.