As previously mentioned, I recently picked up a new Pietta Smith after a 30-year N-SSA layoff (wherein I shot an original).
After digging out all my old equip/molds/etc, I began casting the old Lyman 515139(30:1), loading 27gr 3Fg under cornmeal filler in Lodgewood's black plastic tubes. (I have the old white ones somewhere -- just can't find them)
Lubed with standard 2:1 Crisco/Beeswax, I've played with (1) as-cast (.520-.524"); (2) sized to classic 0.515"; and lastly (3) 518"
- The unsized (which I shot in the original Smith) expanded the
tubes to where they were tough to chamber -- but gave "decent"
accuracy at 50yds
- The 0.515" sized made for easier chambering, and also gave
"better"-than-decent accuracy.
- The 0.518" were Goldilocks perfect, and gave me just one
ragged hole at 50:
Then... THEN, like a dummy I slugged the bore: 0.508" max
Anyone else shooting a repro Smith where shooting this much oversize still does well ?
After digging out all my old equip/molds/etc, I began casting the old Lyman 515139(30:1), loading 27gr 3Fg under cornmeal filler in Lodgewood's black plastic tubes. (I have the old white ones somewhere -- just can't find them)
Lubed with standard 2:1 Crisco/Beeswax, I've played with (1) as-cast (.520-.524"); (2) sized to classic 0.515"; and lastly (3) 518"
- The unsized (which I shot in the original Smith) expanded the
tubes to where they were tough to chamber -- but gave "decent"
accuracy at 50yds
- The 0.515" sized made for easier chambering, and also gave
"better"-than-decent accuracy.
- The 0.518" were Goldilocks perfect, and gave me just one
ragged hole at 50:
Then... THEN, like a dummy I slugged the bore: 0.508" max
Anyone else shooting a repro Smith where shooting this much oversize still does well ?