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Thread: Navy-Arms Smith Carbine Load

  1. #1
    mgmurray is offline
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    Red face Navy-Arms Smith Carbine Load

    Hey all you Smith Carbine shooters:

    I'm new to shoothing the Smith carbine so, instead of reinventing the wheel, I thought I woud prevail upon some expert advice from those of you who have already blazed the trail. My Navy-Arms Smith is in excellent condition and is tight at the breech and appears to have good rifling from breech to muzzle (barrel date stamp is "BH"). I am using brass tubes that hold about 29-30 grains - I don't know if that is a reduced capacity tube similar to the reduced capacity Maynard tubes but, look very similar on the inside. My mold is a Lyman 515139(C), 340 grains and throws prety close to a .515 bullet. In lubrisizing to .515 which seems to load ok in the brass cases. I have not attempted to dial in the sights yet so am working towards obtaining a good group. I would really appreciate some advice on what load works well in the gun from you all who have been shooting this gun for years. I hope I don't have to have Mr. Hoyt reline the barrel but, if thats a must before proceeding further, so be it...

    Many thanks in advance and cheers,

    Mike Murray
    RVM TW-005
    Last edited by mgmurray; 10-25-2011 at 03:28 PM.

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    Lou Lou Lou is offline
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    IS the bore that small that you have to size down to .512? Have you tried shooting them as cast?
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    Tammany Regt-42nd NYVI

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    mgmurray is offline
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    Navy-Arms Smith Carbine Load

    Lou Lou Lou:

    I'll try that - if it works ok, I'll get the correct lubrisizer die...

    Thanks, Mike

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    mgmurray is offline
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    Navy-Arms Smith Carbine Load

    Lou Lou Lou:

    I spoke too quickly - my lubrisizer die is a .515 afterall...


    Cheers, Mike

  5. #5
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    As said, measure the bore of your Smith.
    NRA Life Member
    Old Dominion Dragoons 1984-1992

  6. #6
    mgmurray is offline
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    Tonyb;

    I slugged the bore and as best I can measure, it is a .507/.508 land to land. I have run tight fitting patches through it and it seems to give me a constatnt resistance from breech to muzzle. When I slugged it, there was a lot of resistance to begin with at the breech and then it began to lighten up towards the muzzle about half way down and remained fairly constant but could be pushed with firm hand pressure... I would assume that the beginning resistance would be more at the breech as the rifling engraves the bullet. How much it should let up towards the muzzle I don't know - just hoping it isn't a goofed up barrel that needs to be relined to shoot properly.

    Cheers, Mike

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    I've been shooting a Navy Arms Smith for about 8+ years. Its always been a terrific hitting gun. I use the plastic tubes so I hold a little more powder. I 'think' about 31 grains, but I'll have to measure to make sure.

    Take it to the range and let 'er rip. Try different loads by 0.5 grains (28, 28.5, 29, 29.5, etc) and see which groups best. You may need a different load for 100 verses 50 yards.

    Like everything, your lube is important. Clean after every 10 shots: How many patches to get the bore clean? If its taking 5-6, you're getting too much fouling. If it come 'clean' after 2-3, then you're spot-on with the lube.

    I recently changed to the Murphy's Oil/Neutragena soap lube. But I used MCM lube for years. After inserting the round into the tube, I smooth out the excess lube around the mouth of the tube to give it some 'extra'.

    BTW: When I slugged my bore with a round, it come out with basically NO lube groove. So I don't know why the hell it doesn't foul more, but it doesn't.

    -Mike
    Mike 'Bootsie' Bodner
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    mgmurray is offline
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    Mike:

    Thanks for the info - I'm currently using a 50-50 beeswax & alox - I'll do as you say and clean after 10 rounds and see what the patch count is to a clean bore. What bullet are you using?

    Cheers, Mike

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    Quote Originally Posted by mgmurray View Post
    Mike:

    Thanks for the info - I'm currently using a 50-50 beeswax & alox - I'll do as you say and clean after 10 rounds and see what the patch count is to a clean bore. What bullet are you using?

    Cheers, Mike
    Does alox work for you? I don't see even how the smoothie shooters get away with it - it creates such a mess with black powder and concrete like residue. I think you will get better success with 50-50 beeswax and Crisco (or similar mix), or commercially available BP lubes. You may find you will get a few good rounds with alox, but then your accuracy will go to heck and you will be scrubbing the barrel to get it out.
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