Smith Carbine Conicals

[Zouave63]

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.

[Rebel Dave]

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

[Mike McDaniel]

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.

[Muley Gil]

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 started casting bullets in 1969-70 using a Coleman stove, a lead pot, a ladle, and a Lyman Minie mould. Since then, I've bought a couple of different pots and a lot more moulds. I use a push through sizer.

[Maillemaker]

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

[Zouave63]

Steve. Great information ! Thanks.

[hobbler]

What diameter does the Pietta require?

[Maillemaker]

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

[ms3635v]

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.