Reaming Smith Cases?

[Earl Burlin]

Anyone ever ream out the thick bottoms of the repro black plastic Smith cases to hold a period correct service load of powder? I know you guys don’t care about period correctness but just wondering if anyone has tried and the results they achieved.

[MR. GADGET]

It can be done. You just need to set a jig up and get the correct tool. I did some long ago used a cutter I got from a tool house. Took high speed and a good press.
I found out after my work that they had full charge tubes years back and some were floating around.

I know you said black plastic but that is not period correct.
Also if you wanted to look and work along with hold powder look at custom aluminum and have the black painted or anodized. Some of the coatings really last to the heat and shock.

It will give you a tube that looks correct black or white and hold charge yet work for years.
I remember seeing some that were a white ruber tube at some museums.

[RaiderANV]

I reamed a brass case back in the 80's for deer hunting so I could max out on powder. Then I messed up and took my N-SSA loads by mistake. Had to use then as I was 275 miles from home. I hit a doe in the shoulder. It went through that should bone and out the other side leaving a small hole and dropped her right there. Good size doe at that. I had 30 grains of 3F and hit her at 55-60 yards.

[Earl Burlin]

It can be done. You just need to set a jig up and get the correct tool. I did some long ago used a cutter I got from a tool house. Took high speed and a good press.
I found out after my work that they had full charge tubes years back and some were floating around.

I know you said black plastic but that is not period correct.
Also if you wanted to look and work along with hold powder look at custom aluminum and have the black painted or anodized. Some of the coatings really last to the heat and shock.

It will give you a tube that looks correct black or white and hold charge yet work for years.
I remember seeing some that were a white ruber tube at some museums.

The black plastic ones look and feel close to the original gutta percha/rubber cases. Not perfect but theyre the closest we’ve got to originals. But the ones made now dont replicate the old 50 grain service load due to the extra thick bases. I know NSSA shooters like the reduced loads, I do not, I care about the history and to me shooting mouse pharts is not a true recreation of the history.

[MR. GADGET]

The black plastic ones look and feel close to the original gutta percha/rubber cases. Not perfect but theyre the closest we’ve got to originals. But the ones made now dont replicate the old 50 grain service load due to the extra thick bases. I know NSSA shooters like the reduced loads, I do not, I care about the history and to me shooting mouse pharts is not a true recreation of the history.

Im with you. I shoot 85 grn in my SB and 50 to 60 in my musket.
You will never see me shooting those light loads.
When a gun goes off I want to feel it.