Spencer rifle .56-50

It's required by HIGH ROAD law. Failure to comply is a capital offense.

In other words, please continue!!!!

Lets . . .

Cool rifle, congratulations!

My BPC experience is mainly 45-70 and 38-55. Slugging bore is the best first step. Rule of thumb says 45 cal and above are best with 1.5Fg, but with powder hard to find these days, starting with Ffg and seeing how you get on should be fine. A pure lead bullet will be best unless you are using a bullet with a very long ogive/nose where the unsupported lead may want a little more stiffening to avoid slump. Then, BHN 8-10.

Usual starting point is powder fill to get contact with bullet base (I like touching or loading into the lands with soft lead) after @ 1/10” compression, a compression stem being preferred to using bullet seating to achieve compression as it can cause bullet slump.

Pics of cool new rifle would be welcome! Good luck.

Shortgrub said:

Is it ok to discuss a Spencer rifle that will only be shot with black powder here?

Click to expand...

The Spencer IS a black powder rifle so of course it should be discussed here. I always want to see more threads about BPC so welcome!

Dave

@Tommygunn left out one half of the requirements: PICTURES! Please post some asap!

Interested in the upcoming discussions...

My 56-50 is also a Chiappa rifle, I like the longer barrel.
No issues other that at the bench, one should remember to work the action a bit smartly.
My rifle does not like to be babied for smooth magazine operation.
Shoots 3" above the POA at 50 yards and it meets my expectations.

I cast and shoot Accurate Molds Tom's 51-335S. Will try to get a photo worth downloading.
Had him maximize the grease groove on the 51-350S to come up with it.
They drop .515 and weigh 340 grs. with 30-1 alloy. My pal casts his (identical bullet) at 20-1 for his Chiappa carbine.
My .50 Lyman sizer is a .512.
On that great big list of shooting projects that we all have - accuracy test the bullets sized and un-sized.

My load is duplexed (makes cleaning both the breech and especially the brass simpler) with Austin 'R' or GOEX 2F and 4759.
I also use a milk carton card wad under the bullet.
This load chronos at 1064 with an SD of 16.

I confess to also using my shooting pal's load of 5744 on occasion.
I prefer not to give load data for it since it is not in a manual.
Chrono's at 1061 with the same SD - 16.

One last, I do like to slightly crimp the bullet for cleaner burning black and better burning of the 5744.
Had to shorten my crimp die with a chop saw (Lyman seating die) to allow for a proper crimp.

JT

Here's a picture of the gun, along with my .54 Shiloh. 30" barrels on both.
Added a photo of Tom's bullet alongside a case for perspective.

I use an 18" drop tube and turned down a 50AE bell die that I use as a compression die when seating the card wad.




JT

Many years ago, I collected ACW carbines. I had all of the common ones and most of the uncommon ones. I shot most of them. The loose powder and ball guns were no problem nor were paper cartridge ones. The Spencer, being rimfire, I had to buy. Got seven of them, loaded the magazine and made a lot of smoke! A heavy carbine for what it was.


Kevin