Taylor and Company spencer Carbine

[RWMC]

I am seriously considering purchasing one of these new Italian replicas of the Spencer Carbine in caliber .56–50.

If any of you have any hands-on experience with current production guns made in the last two years, I will be very interested in seeing what you have to say. Not wanting to hear about “what you read “ because I can read, and have done so.

We are talking about a firearm that is going to cost real close to $2000 and I just want your input on if you think the quality is up to the price they are asking.

thank you for your input.

 

[.455_Hunter]

A Spencer is on my "get sometime" list. Good luck in your quest. $2000 towards a Spencer is way more interesting than $2000 towards some "Tier 1" Silverplate AR-15 or weird Sig Cross rifle and a Tactical Ted scope.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

If any of you have any hands-on experience with current production guns made in the last two years

My best friend's 56-50 carbine was bought when they were first introduced by Taylor's.
My 56-50 rifle was bought three years ago and the only difference part between them (functionally)
is that his follower plug is black and mine is orange.

Neither is under two years old , so... hope you are able to track down a new owner.

JT
I'll still post a photo of my rifle and the bullet we both shoot because I like looking at the pictures.

 

[RWMC]

A Spencer is on my "get sometime" list. Good luck in your quest. $2000 towards a Spencer is way more interesting than $2000 towards some "Tier 1" Silverplate AR-15 or weird Sig Cross rifle and a Tactical Ted scope.

Yes sir, I agree with you 100% about the interest levels. I own both and AR-15 and an AK-47. Even though I enjoy shooting both of them, it’s nothing compared to when I shoot guns that are at least 100 years old, or are replicas thereof.

 

[RWMC]

My best friend's 56-50 carbine was bought when they were first introduced by Taylor's.
My 56-50 rifle was bought three years ago and the only difference part between them (functionally)
is that his follower plug is black and mine is orange.

Neither is under two years old , so... hope you are able to track down a new owner.

JT
I'll still post a photo of my rifle and the bullet we both shoot because I like looking at the pictures.

View attachment 1098454
View attachment 1098455

Thank you for adding the pics. What type of accuracy do you get with your rifle? Do you ever have any problems with the feeding mechanism when you are cycling a new round into the chamber? I am looking at probably selling my 1911 Schmidt Rubin with its bayonet and my 1880 Springfield trapdoor with the triangular rod bayonet in order to hopefully make the Spencer purchase. ( just hope I don’t kick myself later for doing so .). Thank you!

 

[Remington1911]

After getting my trapdoor, I have been really looking hard at their, and others sharps. There is just something so mechanical about them.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I congratulate your willingness to consider the centerfire .56-50 version rather than the .45 Colt -- authenticity over convenience. Respect brother!

 

[NorthBorder]

All respect aside, I do have one in .45LC. That is what was sitting in the LGS at $1900, consigned. The lady who was consigning it had lost her husband some time before. She didn't want to budge on the price. A few week passed and I won a $100 gift certificate at the LGS so I went in there to look around. The rifle was still sitting on the rack, and as I was looking around the store the lady came in and dropped the price to $1700. So I knew how I would spend that gift certificate. Fate.

The rifle is beautifully made with really nice wood/metal fitment.Color case hardening is really nice (I am sure that it is actually acid washed, but anyway...). And it is heavy for its size.
Shooting the rifle is a bit of work. Of course, it is tube fed from the butt of the rifle, and that works smoothly. It has no problem chambering my reloads. I haven't had a problem with it loading bullets that may be a bit long so far.

Extraction is positive but the rifle doesn't eject the empties. You either have to forcibly use the lever to throw the brass out or turn the rifle up side down to clear the empty brass. Hickock 45 has a video on this and basically he would turn it up side down to eject the empties. Since the lever doesn't have a loop like a regular lever action to have to change your hand position so that you are grasping the lever with your palm up, or possibly just hook your thumb inside the lever to pull it down. Together with the weight and short LOP it is something you will have to practice at.

Hope you can make it happen.


Come to think of it I believe I will take that Spencer to the range today.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

Do you ever have any problems with the feeding mechanism when you are cycling a new round into the chamber?

No issues other than one should remember to work the action a bit smartly as North Border mentions.
My rifle does not like to be babied for smooth magazine operation.

Shoots 3" above the POA at 50 yards with the sights centered and it meets my expectations with 2 1/2" groups.
I did widen and deepen the rear sight notch as the factory cut is a bit too fine for my taste.

I cast and shoot Accurate Molds Tom's 51-335S.
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 4759 and either Austin 'R' or GOEX 2F.
I also use a milk carton card wad under the bullet. Homemade black powder bullet lube.
Black is added with an 18" drop tube. Turned down the radius face of a 50AE bell die that I use as a compression die when seating the card wad.
This load chronos at 1064 with an SD of 16 (PACT at 15 feet).

I confess to also using my shooting pal's smokeless load of 5744 (no card wad) on occasion.
I prefer not to give the 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 roll crimp.

Is the gun (and caliber) worth it?
Sure is to me every time I touch one off and go to work with the lever!

As to caliber? I'm hoping they''ll come out with a 56-56 heel bullet version so I have an excuse to get another.

JT