Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Harper's Ferry Arms Maynard Carbine

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Huntsville, AL
    Posts
    285
    Region:
    Deep South - Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas

    Harper's Ferry Arms Maynard Carbine

    I bought a gently used Harper's Ferry 2nd Model Maynard this past weekend at the Memphis Civil War show. The bore looks new and I will slug it, but does anyone know what the bore size is on these guns? I'm new to Maynards. Can bullets be thumb pressed into the brass cases or are these sized and reloaded similar to modern center fire ammo? Are the plastic cases any good? Thanks, sorry for so many questions!


    Name:  28424684_2014888418734420_1962584987931389684_o.jpg
Views: 1002
Size:  110.0 KBName:  28379390_2014888392067756_905784213693367005_n.jpg
Views: 1157
Size:  58.0 KB
    Mark Hubbs,

    Eras Gone Bullet Molds www.erasgonebullets.com

    Visit my history/archaeology blog at: www.erasgone.blogspot.com

  2. #2
    mgmradio is offline
    Team:
    Visitor (non-N-SSA Member)
    Member
    NA
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    126
    Region:
    Visitor
    Not sure what your Maynard will slug out to but my original is .518-.519. Your Smith mold bullets are just right for the brass cases and push right in.

  3. #3
    Chris Sweeney is offline
    Team:
    44th NY Volunteer Infantry
    Member
    11847
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    450
    Region:
    Northeast- New York
    the Harpers Ferry Maynards have a larger-than-original chamber and require a unique case. the brass cases frequently split and the black plastic ones will blow apart. The cases that came with the un were hard white plastic. There is also a minimum serial number, below which they are not approved for NSSA.
    Last edited by Chris Sweeney; 03-06-2018 at 11:59 PM.
    Chris Sweeney

  4. #4
    Lou Lou Lou is offline
    Team:
    Tammany Regiment, 42nd New York
    Member
    4869
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Lung Island, New Yawk
    Posts
    1,965
    Region:
    New England - New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts
    I'm not a machinist, but couldn't the Chamber be sleeved to proper size?
    Lou Lou Lou Ruggiero
    Tammany Regt-42nd NYVI

  5. #5
    Kevin Tinny is offline
    Team:
    Tammany Regiment, 42nd New York
    Member
    13667
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    North Florida
    Posts
    573
    Region:
    New England - New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts
    Hello:

    Suggest that you please contact John Bly at 540-869-2411, about your chamber.

    Respectfully,
    Kevin Tinny

  6. #6
    John Holland is offline Moderator
    Team:
    44th NY Volunteer Infantry
    Member
    00973V
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    2,871
    Region:
    Northeast- New York
    The HF Maynards with the 1976 date were supposed to have an acceptable chamber diameter. The examples without the date were all intentionally made oversize. This was a marketing ploy by the owner of the company, who intended to market a product where you were forced to use only the cases he provided. That was one of the reasons they were originally rejected by the Board.

  7. #7
    rflmskt01 is offline
    Team:
    10th Virginia Volunteer Infantry
    Member
    5597
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    3
    Region:
    Visitor
    Quote Originally Posted by Eggman View Post
    I have a hard time getting respect from anybody. Thank goodness for Kevin Tinny.
    I concur! Kevin is a great asset and a true gentleman. Almost in a class with the esteemed John Holland...lol

    Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Huntsville, AL
    Posts
    285
    Region:
    Deep South - Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas
    I was finally able to slug the bore of my Harpers Ferry Maynard. It looks like it is about .505 - .507. With three grooves it is hard to get a good reading.

    The bullet I hoped to use is the same one that I use in my Smith and it is .516.

    With soft lead, is it still safe to shoot these? If not, I may consider having molds made with the correct period style Maynard bullet.

    These are the bullets that I had hoped to use. These are from the Smith molds that I had made at Eras Gone Bullet Molds.


    Thanks

    Name:  IMG_4713.jpg
Views: 907
Size:  424.0 KB
    Mark Hubbs,

    Eras Gone Bullet Molds www.erasgonebullets.com

    Visit my history/archaeology blog at: www.erasgone.blogspot.com

  9. #9
    Kevin Tinny is offline
    Team:
    Tammany Regiment, 42nd New York
    Member
    13667
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    North Florida
    Posts
    573
    Region:
    New England - New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts
    Hello:

    Only way to determine optimum bullet diameter is to try different diameters.

    Your pictured bullet might benefit from a slightly wider and deeper lube groove.
    Not much more and try to keep the base band at least .010" high to eliminate chamber pressure from distorting it.

    If you are saying that your GROOVE diameter is .507" ish, then your .517" bullet diameter will need a lot of sizing. Usually a final diameter of between .001" and .002" over GROOVE diameter will be good. More than .002" of diameter reduction via sizing is too much sizing. Excessive sizing reduces lube capacity and can distort the bullet. Trying to seat too large PURE lead bullets in metal Smith cases can distort the nose profile.

    In pure, yours should be ok for an initial test with its fatter diameter IF you can load it. Look for tipped/oval bullet holes. If any tippage, then something is wrong with bullet fit/length.

    I use 33gr Swiss 3F and a Bly modified (shortened onelube groove) Lyman 515141 with .516" OD in PURE lead. It is loaded, unsized and dip lubed with either John Dewald's "MDM" or Rebel Tradong Post's LEN'S LUBE.

    But that is in an original with roughly .504" land and .515" groove diameters.
    Shoots the "golf ball" groups of 1.5" center-to-center at 50 yards OFF A BENCH when my eyes are working.

    My cases are custom that match my chamber and bullet diameter.

    My original, unaltered Smith Second Model's chamber is .6595" at rifling end and .6615" at breech end. So there is approximately .002" of chamber taper.

    A better contact number than my earlier HOME posted one for John BLY
    is his CELL at 540-550-3850.

    Would be WISE to speak with him BEFORE doing test firings.
    If your HF needs work, he can do it!

    Please keep us posted. All the best.
    Kevin Tinny
    Last edited by Kevin Tinny; 03-17-2018 at 07:59 AM.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Sherman's Kitchen, GA
    Posts
    980
    Region:
    Deep South - Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas
    One of my team members had a Harpers Ferry Arms Maynard that he lent to me to shoot at the first Nathan Bedford Forrest skirmish held at Union City, Tennessee, in July 1977 or 78. The skirmish was held at a local city park on the edge of town, where was a large open field, in which the host team had erected hay bales about 8 feet high (and about the same deep) for a backstop. Being held in July, it was blazing hot, and I had bought a brand new pair of doe hide cavalry gauntlets from Dixie Gun Works, which I wore while shooting the HFA Maynard. By the time I was done, the left hand gauntlet was cooked, the barrel being so hot to hold, I swore off Maynards and bought a Yeck Smith.
    First Cousin (7 times removed) to Brigadier General Stand Watie (1806-1871), CSA
    1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles | Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation 1862-66

Similar Threads

  1. WTB/WTT - 1803 Harper's Ferry Rifle
    By Walt-MT in forum Wanted/For Sale Items
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 09-05-2013, 07:26 PM
  2. Harper's Ferry bullet
    By tmont in forum Small Arms
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 07-12-2013, 04:05 PM
  3. For Sale:Harper's Ferry Maynard
    By david eye 10882 in forum Wanted/For Sale Items
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 05-16-2013, 04:19 PM
  4. leaf sight harper ferry maynard
    By david eye 10882 in forum Wanted/For Sale Items
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-10-2013, 10:00 PM
  5. HARPER'S FERRY MAYNARD
    By Will in forum Wanted/For Sale Items
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 02-01-2010, 08:16 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •