Carbine Loads - Plastic vs Brass

[Reverend Sayer Prayers]

I'm considering the Pros and Cons of plastic vs brass cases for carbine loads.  If you have any experience with both, let me hear your opinions.  Thanks

Rev.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy,

I am assuming you are speaking of blank loads!  The plastic 56-50 rounds are only for blanks, and as made hold only about 20 grns FFFG.  Brass blanks for the 56-50 can be made from 348 Win. brass, buit VERY expensive if you loose them at a re-enactment in the grass.  Plasitc are about 30 cents a piece.

As for the other calibers, 44 Russian Spencers work with the 44 Mag crimped and stepped brass described by another in the list (Major?).  The 44-40s SPencers can use 5 in 1 brass, but I haven't tried them yet, so I don't know how they feed.  The 5 in ones cost about the same as the plastic 56-50 brass, but hold more powder.

[Reverend Sayer Prayers]

I've seen references to carbine loads using a plastic case.  More specific, I have seen the reference to them being used with the Smith Carbine.  Since I have yet to purchase either a Smith or a Spencer, I am interested in carbines in general and the pros and cons of those that can use either a brass or plastic case. 

I've seen references to some brass cases that can be cut down for use, but I'd prefer to keep it simple and if possible as economic as possible for shooting from the bench.

[Grizzle Bear]

The Smith carbine used a gutta-percha cup as a cartridge.  You filled it with powder and stuck a lubed bullet in the end.  The other end has a small touch hole.  The modern reproductions are made of polyethelene.  There's no rim or anything like that, so while you might get one to chamber in a Spencer, it wouldn't eject.  Wouldn't fire, either, as the Smith used a regular musket cap.

The Smith also uses a .512 bullet, same as the Spencer.

Is this answering your questions?

Grizzle Bear

[Reverend Sayer Prayers]

Grizzle Bear,

That gives me a lot more information than I had to start.  So, then considering that I could use a plastic cartridge, rather than brass in a Smith, is there any major con to doing so?  Will brass give me better accuracy, less fouling or some other benefit that I won't get with the plastic? 

Cost of shooting being what it is today and thinking about going to a carbine, I am wondering if being able to shoot with a plastic cartridge will save me all that much.  How long will the plastic cartridges last vs the brass?  I wonder about accuracy and cleaning.  I also wonder about being able to purchase what I need, when I need it, plastic vs brass.  If I am going to spend good money on a rifle, I want to be able to shoot it as much as I want withoug going broke, but I want it to perform and not be a pain either.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy,

Fall Creek Sutler has brass cases for Smiths, though the replicas have been in short supply.

[Grizzle Bear]

For the Smith carbine, yes, they make some brass cartridges, they are expensive, and don't hold as much powder as the plastic ones.  Don't recall what the plastic ones cost, but they're fairly cheap.  Some of mine have been fired a dozen or more times, and I don't see any wear.  You will probably lose more of them than you wear out.

The Smith is a fun gun to shoot, the Spencer is even more so!

Grizzle Bear

[mtmarfield]

   Greetings!

   You can get the Smith Carbine plastic and brass cartridges from Dixie Gun Works, as well; I don't recall offhand what I paid for the plastic, but they were reasonably cheap. You can order online & they're good folks.

                     Be Well!

                                          MTMarfield
                                            8-28-06

[BobM]

Reverend I shoot an origanal Smith carbine in NSSA comp. I use the plastic case's because they worked better and sealed in the breech better than the brass ones. The load I use is 30gr. 3f Goex. .7cc lee dipper of COW topped by a Rapine 515365 lubed with SPG. The Plastic tubes run approx $27-100 and the Brass ones are $120-100. Lodgewood Mfg has them Their website is www.Lodgewood.com .   Dixie wants $4 apiece for the plastic and $3 for the brass.

BobM

[Reverend Sayer Prayers]

Thank you everyone.  I think I got my answer. 

[Steel-eye Steve]

Reverend I shoot an origanal Smith carbine in NSSA comp. I use the plastic case's because they worked better and sealed in the breech better than the brass ones. The load I use is 30gr. 3f Goex. .7cc lee dipper of COW topped by a Rapine 515365 lubed with SPG. The Plastic tubes run approx $27-100 and the Brass ones are $120-100. Lodgewood Mfg has them Their website is www.Lodgewood.com .   Dixie wants $4 apiece for the plastic and $3 for the brass.

BobM

+1 for Lodgewood

[mtmarfield]

   Greetings!

   Dixie plastic Smith Carbine Ctgs are ten for $4... Looks like Lodgewood gets the nod, though! How do the Lodgewood Ctgs compare to Dixie for fit, capacity, etc.?

                    Be Well!

                                         M T Marfield
                                            8-29-06

[BobM]

M.T.  Sorry about that your right they are 10 for $4.