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Thread: Anyone use brass smth tubes?

  1. #1
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    Anyone use brass smth tubes?

    Does anyone use brass cartridges in their Smith carbines? What do you think of them? I see Lodgewood makes a reloading tool.

    How do the cases accommodate different diameter bullets? Do they act as a sizing die to the bullet? Would you need to get the case mouths machined to a certain bullet diameter to prevent sizing the bullet?

    Has anyone tried loading a bullet in an empty brass case and using compressed air to pop the bullet out and measure the bullet size to see if the case is sizing the bullet?
    Steve Sheldon
    Commander
    4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
    NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructor

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    J davidson is offline
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    I used brass in one of my original smith's and I actually found a load that worked well with them. The bullet was an accurate mold 350-v but the problem I had was that bullet when seated against the "shoulder " inside the case made that bullet seat so far out that it was a struggle to close the gun.I have pulled bullets out of the case and measured them the brass sized my bullet down from. 517 to .515 where it was held by the brass. I also had to lightly tap the bullet using a loading tool into the case with a small hammer, something I was not really keen about.

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    Lou Lou Lou is offline
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    I had great success with brass tubes, back in the day. Still using them. I deteriorated, they didnt
    Lou Lou Lou Ruggiero
    Tammany Regt-42nd NYVI

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    Dave Fox is offline
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    Brass

    My original Smith wouldn't chamber plastic tubes. Have had good luck with Lodgewood's machined brass. A nominal .515 lubed bullet thumb-seats and, as a casual shooter, I'm satisfied with the accuracy. 20 rounds, no cleaning, 50 yards....
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    Dheisey#7003 is offline
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    I use brass cartridges in my pietta Smith. The plastic ones never worked well for me. I use a small arbor press to seat the bullets in the case. Did not need a loading tool.

  6. #6
    Lou Lou Lou is offline
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    I have been using metal tubes for 40 years. My latest batch of brass tubes for about 20 years. Reduced capacity, 25 grs FFFg and thumb seated
    Lou Lou Lou Ruggiero
    Tammany Regt-42nd NYVI

  7. #7
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    Thanks I ordered 5 to try them out.

    Steve
    Steve Sheldon
    Commander
    4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
    NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructor

  8. #8
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    Got my 5 tubes in from Lodgewood today.

    Some questions:

    The case only holds 27 grains of 3F powder. Can I drill out the case to increase its internal volume? The case wall is 1/8" thick so I would think this would be no problem. I have found 32 grains works well.

    .515 bullets fit snugly and need to be seated with the bullet seating tool.

    My original likes a .520 bullet. Can I ream the case mouth open with a drill press and a reamer like this:

    https://drillsandcutters.com/54-hss-...hucking-reamer

    Steve
    Steve Sheldon
    Commander
    4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
    NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructor

  9. #9
    MR. GADGET's Avatar
    MR. GADGET is offline Moderator
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    Yes and no!

    You would really need some good tooling or a CNC mill to make sure each one is the same.
    If not you will end up with a mix of case volume and no two loads will burn the same.
    MR. GADGET
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    Steve, for one thing that reamer is .055 diameter. You might have to get it closer to the right size before you final ream it to keep the reamer from skipping around on the end of the tube.
    John Hamilton
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    3rd Georgia
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