I am looking to get into shooting a civil war era reproduction carbine. Since I don't reload; making the cartridges is an issue that rules out the 56-50 spencer. I was wanting feedback on the smith or Sharps carbines. Looks like the Smith cartridges are easy to make. Thanks for feedback.
Smith vs Sharps reproduction carbines?
- Thread starter DavidB2
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Arkansas Paul
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I love Sharps rifles and carbines.
That's the one I would get, but it doesn't help you very much because my only reasoning is that I think they're so cool.
That's the one I would get, but it doesn't help you very much because my only reasoning is that I think they're so cool.
Texas Moon
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- Dec 13, 2004
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- 483
I have one of the Pedersoli 1859 Sharps Carbines.
For just regular range shooting you can load/fire the weapon with loose bullet and powder. It's real easy to do. You do not need to make cartridges.
I've found that making the complete cartridge is very time consuming but I like to do it for the historical factor.
For just regular range shooting you can load/fire the weapon with loose bullet and powder. It's real easy to do. You do not need to make cartridges.
I've found that making the complete cartridge is very time consuming but I like to do it for the historical factor.
J.E. Walker
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- Mar 19, 2015
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- 49
DD4lifeusmc
Member
Speaking of Smith Carbine and the 1859 - 1863 model Sharps
Both will shoot bulk powder paper cartridge or their own special brass cartridge.
But these brass cartridges are not like modern center fire.
These are much much thicker walled.
The Smiths protrude farther out of the chamber than the Sharps making it easier to grab them.
These never need resizing, so they would last just about forever,
Bulk the rifle will hold about 80 gr of powder. the brass shells only about 50 to 60 grains.
But because you can slightly compress the powder in the brass case, you get an equal and maybe even bigger bang with them.
Both are fun to shoot.
The Smith is slightly smaller, more compact.
On the sharps be careful where your fingers are when closing the breech. That lever can really hurt when it snaps down in the locked position.
Both will shoot bulk powder paper cartridge or their own special brass cartridge.
But these brass cartridges are not like modern center fire.
These are much much thicker walled.
The Smiths protrude farther out of the chamber than the Sharps making it easier to grab them.
These never need resizing, so they would last just about forever,
Bulk the rifle will hold about 80 gr of powder. the brass shells only about 50 to 60 grains.
But because you can slightly compress the powder in the brass case, you get an equal and maybe even bigger bang with them.
Both are fun to shoot.
The Smith is slightly smaller, more compact.
On the sharps be careful where your fingers are when closing the breech. That lever can really hurt when it snaps down in the locked position.
Erwan
Member
IMHO, the Sharps paper cartridges are the simplest to do and they contain between 80 and 90 gr FFFg BP (swiss 2), in the first time the knot is sometime not so easy to do but you'll learn it easy...
About tubes it's really easy but they are too thick and you can only be between 60 and 65 gr...
If you are 50m shooting' it can do for more it's not enough then you see what is good for you...
Other problem: sometime the tubes do not age well and split: they are too thick they have crack.Absolutely not dangerous but you must buy news..
In my opinion paper or linen cartridges are much better...
I'm just talkin' about Pedersoli Sporting: I'm too poor to buy a Shiloh Sharps ...
About pauper, excuse my poor English or American: this is not my language ...
About tubes it's really easy but they are too thick and you can only be between 60 and 65 gr...
If you are 50m shooting' it can do for more it's not enough then you see what is good for you...
Other problem: sometime the tubes do not age well and split: they are too thick they have crack.Absolutely not dangerous but you must buy news..
In my opinion paper or linen cartridges are much better...
I'm just talkin' about Pedersoli Sporting: I'm too poor to buy a Shiloh Sharps ...
About pauper, excuse my poor English or American: this is not my language ...
Last edited:
Funny thing about that. Your English is in the top five percentile here. Your cartridges are above standard too.
This is what I got from both a few years ago:
S.C Robinson Carbine Cartridge 395 Grain .544" Bullet
Dixie product #bu0903
80 Grains Goex FFg
Velocity979 Fps Energy 766 ft/lbs Extreme Spread 82 Fps
Group 7.5" Offhand at 75 yards
Smith Carbine
Cartridge 360 grain .. 515" Bullet
(dixie product number ba0206
30 Grains Swiss FFFg
Velocity 929fps Energy 690 ft/lbs Extreme Spread 27fps
3.8" Seated resting over knees at 40 yards.
With 30 Grains Goex FFFg
846
572
49
3.8"
With 30Gr/Vol. Pyrodex P
799
510
27
3.0"
This is what I got from both a few years ago:
S.C Robinson Carbine Cartridge 395 Grain .544" Bullet
Dixie product #bu0903
80 Grains Goex FFg
Velocity979 Fps Energy 766 ft/lbs Extreme Spread 82 Fps
Group 7.5" Offhand at 75 yards
Smith Carbine
Cartridge 360 grain .. 515" Bullet
(dixie product number ba0206
30 Grains Swiss FFFg
Velocity 929fps Energy 690 ft/lbs Extreme Spread 27fps
3.8" Seated resting over knees at 40 yards.
With 30 Grains Goex FFFg
846
572
49
3.8"
With 30Gr/Vol. Pyrodex P
799
510
27
3.0"
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