44-40 brass

[klw]

Taylor imports a really crappy line of Spencer replicas. I'm sure about that I owned one.

Fortunately for Taylor, however, the one fellow who could make a really excellent Spencer replica, Romano Rifle, has decided that they are just too much work to bother with.

Currently Taylor's guns are in 56-50, 44 Russian and 45 Schofield. All are carbines. Taylor, however, has announced a rifle in 56-50 and 44-40.

My question is this. The 44-40 brass I've seen in pretty weak. Anyone make a VERY stout 44-40 case?

 

[30Cal]

I get the impression that they're uniformly delicate from one mfgr to the next.

Ty

 

[Jim Watson]

Starline .44 WCF brass is stouter than Winchester, but it still ain't a magnum.

I have some Remington that is out of spec and won't run in my sixguns, so I keep it for the rifle and if it gets lost or stepped on I am not out much.

 

[Harve Curry]

KLW,
I am sorry to hear that Romano Rifle is no longer making a Spencer copy. Larry was always helpful to me keeping an original shooting.

44-40 brass is all thin walled cases, for me they don't last long enough and are more trouble to load for then a straight case like 44spl/mag, 45Sch/LC.

Since 45 Schofield brass is made now that would be my 2nd choice.
My 1st choice is the 56-50, but that is expensive to load for.

 

[klw]

56-50

My Taylor spencer was in 44 Russian. Didn't work at all. I understand that the 45 Schofield models were trouble prone as well. See no reason why the 44-40 would do any better. The best chance to get one to work would have to be the 56-50 as the size of the action has to match the cartridge. Taylor copied, sort of, a 56-50 action.

 

[Harve Curry]

KLW,
I'm curious about Taylors choice of cartridges. From "Cartridges of the World":
the 56-50 is OAL of 1.632" , & case length is 1.156"
" 44-40 1.550" """""""""""""""""""""" 1.305"
"" 45 long colt 1.600" """"""""""""""""""" 1.290"

To my thinking the 45 long Colt would be a good choice if you want a lighter cartridge and easy to find ammo in these heavy guns.

My reloads 56-50 OAL= 1.57", case= 1.128"

An original rimfire sample, OAL= 1.60" , case= 0.885"

Maybe if you wait a little a 45 long colt might be offered?

 

[klw]

45 Colt Spencers

Three firms have attempted to make Spencers and actually gotten something to market.

Romano Rifle produced guns in 56-50 and 45 Colt. Think that there may have been one in 38-40 but I'm not sure about that. Very few in 45 Colt. Though true works of art, they cost more than an original and have just recently been dropped.

Dane Piper is still trying to make guns. He has made a few in 56-50. His second caliber was to be 45 Colt. He's been attempting this for at least 10 years.

Why Taylor picked the cartridges they did I really don't understand, 56-50, 44 Russian, 45 Schofield and 44-40. Maybe they hoped that these would appeal to the Cowboy Action shooters.

Romano understood that these guns took a LOT of very skilled handwork. He was up to the job and did it but at a high price. The other two have tried to avoid this aspect of Spencer production. Doesn't work very well.

Taylor will ultimately win out because Romano has dropped the gun and Piper couldn't make them in any numbers. Still the Taylor has quality problems. Certainly mine was unfortunate. The newer models aren't apparently doing any better.

Sad! These are an interesting gun. If you want a shooter you'd be better off to find an original and get a centerfire conversion kit.