Smith Carbine vs Sharps Carbine (Percussion)

last · August 14, 2015, 10:18 AM

For all of you collectors, reenactors and black powder shooters:

Which carbine is more accurate to plink a gong at 300-400 yards?

The Smith is made by Pietta and is .515 cal 22 inch barrel 1:66 twist rate

The Sharps I'd like to buy is a Pedrsoli confederate .541 cal 22 inch 1:48 trist rate

I know about the great quality of pedersoli's barrels and about the sometimes poor quality control of pietta.

By the way the smith would be a lot easier to clean, it's a simple action, no possibility of jamming, also because of the chamber "split" in two is easier to remove the spent brass.

What do you think about these little ladies?

hartcreek · August 14, 2015, 11:45 PM

1:66 pretty much limits you to round balls.

last · August 15, 2015, 06:43 AM

I know the Smith use a 340 grs conical bullet, quite a short one, I'm wondering if the rifling is fast enough to stabilize the bullet.
1 in 66 is the original smith twist anyway

**Mike Irwin** · August 15, 2015, 07:58 AM

The Smith was never known for its great accuracy, so I'm going to think that if it matches the original specifications, it's going to hold true to its ancestor.

mehavey · August 15, 2015, 09:25 AM

That's funny, I shot a Smith for two solid years 50-100yds back in the mid `80s on the A-Carbine
team Team that was always gave the Blues a run for their money.

Back then the Maynard and the Smith were "the" two carbines in N-SSA competition.

But nobody, I mean nobody would consider CW carbines of whatever make as 300-yard plinkers...
no more so than their full-up 3-band `61 Springfields.

last · August 15, 2015, 04:06 PM

well I already "plink" long range (400 yds) with a Enfield artillery muzzleloader.... if 2 shots a minute can be plinking

mehavey · August 15, 2015, 05:26 PM

Well.... I admit I have the 45-3¼ Sharps for the stuff at that distance.
2-Liter soda bottles at 100yd/offhand are my Civil War battle rifle limit.

last · August 16, 2015, 05:09 AM

my gong is gonna get bigger and bigger or I'll have to shorten the distance... damn old cowboy's eyes

August 14, 2015, 10:18 AM	#1
last Member Join Date: February 4, 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 25	Smith Carbine vs Sharps Carbine (Percussion) For all of you collectors, reenactors and black powder shooters: Which carbine is more accurate to plink a gong at 300-400 yards? The Smith is made by Pietta and is .515 cal 22 inch barrel 1:66 twist rate The Sharps I'd like to buy is a Pedrsoli confederate .541 cal 22 inch 1:48 trist rate I know about the great quality of pedersoli's barrels and about the sometimes poor quality control of pietta. By the way the smith would be a lot easier to clean, it's a simple action, no possibility of jamming, also because of the chamber "split" in two is easier to remove the spent brass. What do you think about these little ladies? __________________ 45 Cult - Guns & shooting tees

August 15, 2015, 06:43 AM	#3
last Member Join Date: February 4, 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 25	I know the Smith use a 340 grs conical bullet, quite a short one, I'm wondering if the rifling is fast enough to stabilize the bullet. 1 in 66 is the original smith twist anyway __________________ 45 Cult - Guns & shooting tees

August 15, 2015, 07:58 AM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	The Smith was never known for its great accuracy, so I'm going to think that if it matches the original specifications, it's going to hold true to its ancestor. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 15, 2015, 04:06 PM	#6
last Member Join Date: February 4, 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 25	well I already "plink" long range (400 yds) with a Enfield artillery muzzleloader.... if 2 shots a minute can be plinking __________________ 45 Cult - Guns & shooting tees

August 16, 2015, 05:09 AM	#8
last Member Join Date: February 4, 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 25	my gong is gonna get bigger and bigger or I'll have to shorten the distance... damn old cowboy's eyes __________________ 45 Cult - Guns & shooting tees

August 14, 2015, 11:45 PM	#2
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	1:66 pretty much limits you to round balls.

August 15, 2015, 09:25 AM	#5
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,883	That's funny, I shot a Smith for two solid years 50-100yds back in the mid `80s on the A-Carbine team Team that was always gave the Blues a run for their money. Back then the Maynard and the Smith were "the" two carbines in N-SSA competition. But nobody, I mean nobody would consider CW carbines of whatever make as 300-yard plinkers... no more so than their full-up 3-band `61 Springfields.

August 15, 2015, 05:26 PM	#7
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,883	Well.... I admit I have the 45-3¼ Sharps for the stuff at that distance. 2-Liter soda bottles at 100yd/offhand are my Civil War battle rifle limit.

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