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

**Smokepole50** · 10-25-2016

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** · 10-25-2016

Not giving up on the Sharps are ya?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Smokepole50** · 10-25-2016

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** · 10-25-2016

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** · 10-25-2016

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

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

**george7542** · 10-25-2016

It wouldn't be a national without some rain

**jonk** · 10-26-2016

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?"