Civil War Carbine Question

[Southron]

The reproduction Smith Carbines are just plain "Fun, Fun, Fun" to shoot. They are also easy to reload as you can purchase nylon "cartridge cases" for a decent price from Lodgewood Manufacturing [you can Google their website.] The cases are good for a hundred or so reloads.

Reloading is simple for a Smith, simply drop a little piece of toilet paper in the case to close the flash hole at the bottom. Then dump the black powder in and push a lubed lead bullet in the case with your thumb and "Presto" you have a loaded round!

The "Rolls Royce" of all reproduction carbines are the Pedersoli replica of the New Model 1859 Sharps Carbine. Off the bench at 100 yards mine will place 5 bullets in one hole in the target. They are extremely accurate. Their sight is also superior to the Smith as you can tap the rear sight back and forth in its dovetail to adjust "Windage." For "Elevation" you have a flip up ladder.

The only problem is that making ammo is a hassle. I prefer to make my paper cartridges out of Ladies Hair Curling Papers as they are cheap, cut to the right size and burn up completely without being nitrated.

Most Pedersoli Sharps Carbines will "lock up" from powder fouling after about a dozen rounds are fired. I did an "O" Ring job where one grinds down the rear projection of the Lawrence Gas Check Plate so you can place a Neoprene "O" Ring behind the projection. That seals the Gas Plate Check and the rest of the breech block so well that you can fire 75 to 100 rounds before fouling becomes an issue.

Check out:

www.n-ssa.org/

The North-South Skirmish Association conducts both Individual and rapid fire,Team Matches using Civil War Carpines.

[Southron]

The most accurate replica CW carbine out there is the Pedersoli New Model 1859 Sharps Carbine. The two hassles are that you to make up combustible, paper Sharps cartridges out of Ladies Hair Curling Papers takes time, plus you have to do a "Neoprene O Ring Job" to the breechblock to prevent fouling from locking up the action.

Romano makes high quality replicas of the Maynard Carbines (and others) that are accurate:

http://www.romanorifle.com/

[Southron]

Having shot both original and replica percussion Smith and Sharps Carbines in N-SSA competition since the 1970's, I highly recommend the Pedersoli replica New Model 1859 Sharps Carbine with the "O Ring" job to the breech block. The "O Ring" job will allow you to fire between 50 and 75 rounds rapid fire before the breech block gets difficult to operate due to a build up of black powder fouling.

Both carbines can be exceptionally accurate, but the Sharps has the "edge" in accuracy. Especially when you make combustible paper cartridges using Ladie's Hair Curling Papers.

One of the most FUN, FUN, FUN at N-SSA Skirmishes are the Carbine Team Matches. The rules are simple-your carbine must be either an original military issue arm or a replica that is a single shot and is ignited by a percussion cap. The two most popular replicas are the Smith Carbine made by Pietta and the replica 1859 and 1863 Sharps made by Pedersoli and other manufacturers.

Most Regional Skirmishes use a 5 man carbine team but at the Nationals, eight man carbine teams are used. The object is simple-your team must clear all of the targets on your target frame IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME. Scoring is by time elimination. The targets are "Breakable" targets like clay pigeons hung on a frame at 50 yards, clay pots, hanging, water filled Styrofoam coffee cups, etc.

Just scroll down the page below to learn more about the N-SSA Carbine Team Matches:

http://www.n-ssa.org/n-ssa-shooting-events.html

[musketjon]

I shoot an original Smith Carbine in CWSA competition. My ex- loved her Burnside. The worst part of shooting the Burnside is the cost of the brass casings. They're $4 a pop and that adds up and gets expen$ive in a very short amount of time.
Jon

[mhb]

than that.
The best of the type is the Erma-Gallagher repro, originally made in Germany, but now discontinued.
It has the fastest rifling pitch of any of the original or repro CW carbines (1 in 16"), and the barrels were made from surplus 13.2mm machinegun barrels.
The brass cartridge cases are readily available, and the best bullet I've found for it is a modified .54 maxi-ball, with a rebated rear band. the bullet diameter is .540", which is perfect for the bore, wide grease grooves, and fits snugly in the case mouth.
The Erma-Gallagher is the most accurate of the repro CW carbines I've shot, and more accurate than any of the originals I've shot - which is most of them.
If you can find one of these, I think you'd be more than pleased with its accuracy.

mhb - Mike