I just bought a Pietta Smith Carbine. I'm going to order some Rapine conicals from Pat Kaboskey. Where are you other Smith Carbine shooters buying your bullets ? I can't cast my own unless I buy all the equipment.
I just bought a Pietta Smith Carbine. I'm going to order some Rapine conicals from Pat Kaboskey. Where are you other Smith Carbine shooters buying your bullets ? I can't cast my own unless I buy all the equipment.
When I had a Smith Carbine (original), I used the Lyman 515139. I shot it with 35 grns of 3fff, with excellent results. I fillled the extra space in the case with creem of wheat.
Thier is also the Lyman 515141, which is the same bullet only longer, and heavier. I never used that one.
Good Luck
Rebel Dave
Past Member 14th Mississippi
If you are going to shoot much, you'll find it cheaper to mold your own. And if you get into musket, that's the only realistic bullet supply.
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Gil Davis Tercenio
# 3020V
34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry
Great, great grandson of Cpl Elijah S Davis, Co I, 6th Alabama Inf CSA
Buying bullets is good for doing load workups before you commit to a mold.
But in this hobby, you are going to eventually want to cast your own.
You can get a Lee 20-pound pot for about $80:
https://www.amazon.com/LEE-PRECISION.../dp/B00162RW52
A Lee 4-20 bottom-pour pot for about $100:
https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision.../dp/B010R91VJW
A ladle with submerged spout is about $30:
https://www.amazon.com/Lyman-Casting.../dp/B001OPLJUU
You can get the Eras Gone Smith bullet mold for about $80:
https://www.erasgonebullets.com/stor.../smith-carbine
So for about $200, you'll be set for casting bullets.
The Lee bottom-pour is known as a "drip-o-matic" due to it dripping molten lead out the bottom, but it's hard to beat Lee products for the price.
Bottom pour works very well for non-hollow-cavity bullets. I find ladle-pouring is pretty much required for consistent-weight hollow-cavity bullets. If you can get away with bottom pouring, do it. Much less fuss than ladle-pouring, and much less loss of lead to dross due to churning the surface of the melt with the ladle.
But as was also said, you can also do it with a second-hand Dutch Oven and a second-hand Coleman stove.
Steve
Steve Sheldon
Commander
4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructor
Steve. Great information ! Thanks.
What diameter does the Pietta require?
I size my kids' Pietta Smith bullets to .515. This seems to be common with people shooting reproductions. My original I size to .518.
Steve
Steve Sheldon
Commander
4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructor
From my experience shooting Smith carbines, I have found that originals like a .518" diameter bullet with 28 grains of 3F. I do not use any filler as the Moose Smith/Maynard bullet (.520" from the mould sized to .518") is long enough to sit directly over the powder charge. My grandson shoots a Mike Yeck reproduction Smith with the same bullet and powder combination. I have also shot the Eras Gone Smith bullet that drops at .518" from the mould with good results.
Mike Santarelli 03635V, Adjutant
Member since 1979
Co. B, 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry, #229
National Inspector General
Small Arms Committee
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