Original Rogers & Spencer target version

[Hedning]

I now have the most unusual original Rogers & Spencer in my hands. It has several improvements compared to the standard R&S. The frame has been flattened to fit a better rear sight. Front sight is better too. The cylinder is fluted, the hammer configuration is totally different. The grip is narrowed down towards a Remington 1858 kind of grip. The real strange thing is that it does not have the standard leaf hammer spring. It has a spiral spring. And the only markings left on it is the B`s Bannermann put on them, and 3 mysterious digits on the right side of the frame. 45, 35 and 210, probably caliber, load and bullet weight... The screw that retains the loading lever is also an improvement on this one.

The cylinder chambers has been made sligthly bigger. A 457 ball is to small. A 460 ball is a minimum. The barrel however is a standard R&S. To make things work properly the forcing cone is wider than normal.

The suggestion of some people is, among them the late C.W Slage, that this is a prototype. However, I would like to find some more data on this old iron. Anyone ever heard of "civilian" R&S? Any documentation, pictures of variations or rebuilds would be great. Reference to books...whatever...

Here is a couple of pics it.... serial number is 43xx

Did some test shooting today. Range 25 meters...

Its remarkable accurate...

 

[denster]

Darn good shooter. Definetly not a prototype though.

 

[Tomahawk674]

That's a wild makeover. Was it cheaper or more expensive than a regular original R&S?

 

[sltm1]

What load were you using?

 

[Oyeboten]

That Revolver is just so nice and interesting to boot.

Good shootin' too!

I really love old Nickle, especially when worn and flaked a little...wow...wish I had one!

 

[Hedning]

It was less expencive compared to an "original original".

This one has seen little use. The chambers and the bore is more or less mint.

The load I used when testing it was 24 grs Wano PPP, a 40 S&W casing full of something we call "semulegryn" as filler. Thats a kind of meal made out of wheat. A .464 ball on top of that, and some homemade grease. Caps where RWS 1075 plus.

OOoo how I wish I could use it in the Colt class. Gonna be a tuff one to pass the weapons check.

 

[bonza]

....something we call "semulegryn" as filler. Thats a kind of meal made out of wheat.

Pretty sure that would be "Semolina" in English. Very similar to Cream of Wheat in the USA. Nice revolver, by the way, you must be a MLAIC shooter.

 

[BHP FAN]

saweeet! Back in the day [1950's ] replicas hadn't hit our shores yet, so muzzle loaders used originals that were available and in good shape. And, since most of the R&S were never issued, but sold by Bannerman's as surplus, they were cheap, and in magnificent shooting condition.

 

[Jaymo]

Nice revolver. It always pains me to use a perfectly good breakfast cereal for fire forming brass, or filler with BP.
Why, oh why can't we use garbage like Fruit Loops, instead?

 

[mykeal]

Fruit Loops might be just the thing to use with Pyrodex pellets.

 

[Jaymo]

Yeah, they definitely have enough fat and starch in them to prevent chain fires. Drop one or two in between the pellet and ball/conical. Hmm, maybe use Cheerios.
I've thought about trying 777 pellets or Pyro pellets, but just can't seem to get my head around paying that much for that little propellant.
I can completely understand the convenience of them for a hunter who won't fire that many shots in a season. I can also see where they'd be great for making cartridges for C&B revolvers, as per the article in the newest issue of Backwoodsman.

 

[Hedning]

Yes Im a MLAIC shooter. In the revolver department I like the Remington Navy better than anyone else. Rifle department is a ton of different stuff, but the Springfield Trapdoor is my favorite by far. That rifle is more fun than getting stuck on a deserted island with Jenna Jameson as the only inhabitant.

That R&S I got is a pain to shoot. Grip should have been let alone. If Ill continue to use it I just have to do something about it. Its like holding 3 pounds of iron with one hand, and that hand is full of snakes and oil. Cant hit the barn from the inside.

 

[bonza]

In the revolver department I like the Remington Navy better than anyone else.

I'm with you, I switched from a R&S to a Remington '58 in .36 caliber for my competition shooting. Where you in Portugal for the World Championships? I didn't make it this year, but will be at the Pacific Zones in 2011, & hopefully the Worlds in '12.

 

[BHP FAN]

+ 1 on the Trapdoor. It's my # 1 fun gun!

 

[Hedning]

No I didnt make it to Portugal. I shoot for a club called Kongsvinger Black Powder Team. Goofy name, we are going to change it. However, two friends in the "neighbour" club made it down there. Their club is called North & South. You might find them on the list from Portugal.

I havent been able to shoot good enough with the percussion revolver yet. Round grips just dont work with me. However, the Remington Navy works. But mine is an old worn almost "relic" original Navy. Mechanicaly its in good shape, I mean trigger index wise. Cylinder/barrel gap is almost as big as the Atlantic. Nipples so spacy they knock the hammer back. Half of my load goes straight through the chambers. Had to replace the cylinder pin or else the ball would come out as a half moon. If I hadnt made a bushing between the cylinder and the frame in front it would not index. It shoots pretty good anyway. Bore looks like the tailpipe of an old T-Ford. Im pretty darn sure it still holds the 9 at 25m. Ill set the bore back a bit, to make the gap reasonable, and change the nipples. Front sight looks must be 0.5" high or it shoots way to high.

I shoot a Pietta Remington 44 in the Mariette class. Im in the 88 points area.

Remington original.. I use the Trapdoor, nothing else. Usually I get between 91-94 points. Its a bit hard to get the first shoots where they should be. Its funny, but the 1888 model is easier. Atleast mine is. However, I like the 84 better. The 88 has a too modern trigger guard...lol.....

Feel very free to post your experiences and loads you use in the Trapdoor. Ill soon start a new thread comparing Feinwerkbau and Pedersoli manufactured firearms. All I can say right now is.. dont spend extra money on the Germans. You will not buy points, and comparing the price between them you dont get that much extra.

Have a great one

 

[BHP FAN]

I shoot an original '84 cut down rifle [Faux officer's model] and an H&R cavalry carbine from the '70's.I load 60gr. 2F Goex,a grease cookie over a cork fiber wad [to keep the load waterproof, and keep the grease cookie from contaminating the powder] and a 385 pointed bullet from a Saeko mold [not mine, I WANT it] or some of my home cast 405's, over 55 gr. 2F Goex or Elephant.

 

[Hedning]

Interesting. I use various bullets in the 500 grs area. Load is always 70 grs of Swiss no 4. With a cardboard wad on top. I just got a mold from BRP this week. Its a 510 grs bullet with a pretty long nose. Its promising. I want the heavier bullets because we shoot relatively often at the 600 meter range. A friend of mine has a remarkable accurate 84. Using the Buffington sights he manage to get 3" groups at 300 meters. Concidering the sights, that is remarkable.

What kind of groupings do you get with that relatively light bullet? Ever tried them through a chrono?