How Do you Go About Slugging a Spencer Barrel?

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

SSS member Nowonder mentioned in a recent thread he started that he slugged his Spencer barrel, "My original Spencer is 56-50, and slugs .518". 

I am very interested in hearing from any members of SSS on how they slugged their original Spencer barrels.  Would you explain the process involved in slugging your Spencer barrel?  How did you do it?  What's involved?  Complete details, please. Don't leave anything out, and explain what you do and how you do it COMPLETELY!

It would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Two Flints

[Harve Curry]

I used *Cerrosafe* from Brownells to do a chamber cast that extended into the rifling about 1 inch and then measured that with a micrometer. Cerrosafe chamber cast can give you detailed spec's of the chamber, throat, rifling. You will have to decide how deep you want the casting to be into the rifling, I wouldn't go more then 1 inch, block the bore at this point with florist foam or other sutable easy to remove material. It just has to hold the cerrosafe a few seconds while it solidifys. Instructions come with the stuff. Use a ladel with a small spout to pour with.
(*Cerrosafe* looks like lead but melts much lower temp then lead, I think at about 180 degrees F. Do not confuse it with lead and keep it marked & separate from where lead is stored.)

For "sluggin" ;
You can also use pure lead round balls of a larger diameter then the caliber you are "slugging".
Starting with open action and a clean lightly oiled barrel, tap it into the muzzle with a wood/plastic mallet, tap it down flush with the muzzel of the barrel, then with a aluminum/wood rod centered on the slug continue tapping  past the muzzle ( a ring of excess lead will form) now you can push it through by hand or tap it, till it falls out the breech. As the slug goes down you can FEEL the resistance and the slug could get looser or tighter depending on the interior of the barrel. Then measure the groove and depth of lands.
(Somewhere I read that Spencer's had a bore taper making it narrower at the muzzle, don't know?)