While I had the Oehler 35P all set up this morning I also fired my 50 caliber Maynard carbine through the screens.   I was somewhat curious about the velocity and how it compared with the 56-50 Spencer round.   My load for the Maynard is 42.5 grains of GOEX FFFg and I was using CCI "multi purpose" musket caps.  I fired 14 rounds and ended up with a mean of 1019 fps; and extreme spread of 19 fps, and a SD of 13. That  compares pretty close to the 56-50 round fired in the Spencer.

One thing I have to say about this carbine is that I have never seen anything shoot so "clean" with straight black powder.  After 15 rounds it looks as clean a duplex load.  A couple of wet patches, a couple of dry ones, and a light coat of oil and the bore shines.   I've often wondered if it shot so clean because there is a bunch more priming in the musket caps than in large rifle primers.

George

I have often wondered why the Maynard burns so clean.   My 56-50 loads are almost the same except for the primer and they don't shoot nearly as clean.   Thought maybe a magnum primer would help on the 56-50 but didn't really make any difference, except for a slightly lower velocity.   That didn't make much sense to me either.   My older brother swears by his Smith carbine but I can't ever get him to comment on how clean it shoots.

George

Yes, that has been my experience with the Maynard carbines too.   Pretty much can shoot all day without cleaning or loss of accuracy.     I could probably talk myself into getting a Smith just to se what my brother thinks is so good about them.   He still shoots actively with the N-SSA and uses the Smith in the carbine matches.

George

I use 42 grains in the 50 Maynard and it shoots mighty clean.  In the 56-50 cartridge with 40 grains and the same bullet used  in a Spencer and a Peabody, I get typical black powder fouling.  The only difference being a large rifle primer vs a musket cap.  Third a magnum primer in the 56-50 also, but didn't burn any cleaner.

George

In N-SSA events, I shoot a Romano reproduction First Model 50 cal carbine using reduced capacity brass cases with 28 grains of 2f GOEX.  The Lyman/Ideal mould I use is touted as being suitable for Maynards or Smiths.

My Model 1873 in 40-40 gets “conical” or “cylindrical” bullets from moulds recreated from a period catalog picture and spec’ed to my bore diameter by Barry Darr.  The bore of that original barrel is not quite up to target condition, but is great for plinking out to about 50 yds. Brass is made from shortened 30-40 Krag donors with adaptor rings by Deadeye Bly. Like the percussion carbine, it shoots clean and is easily cleaned up after use.

Froggie