56-46 Feeding Questions?

[Herbert]

has anyone had any experince loading and shooting 56-46 spencer sporting modle i read a artical that stated it wasent a sucess because of feeding problems ,i thort a botleneck cartrige would feed smoother in a spencer

[Glenn]

I can only relate to you my experience with feeding with a 56-50 but I see no reason why the 56-46 should be any different.  As long as the overall length is correct it will feed just fine, it is pretty picky about length.  The problem should be to get a mold for that long 350 grain bullet.  If it would help, I can mike my 56-46 round.
Someday, I want a Spencer Sporter, the 56-46 looks like a really interesting cartridge.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Original link to the photo and description appearing below provide by Fox Creek Kid.  The original link is http://www.oldammo.com/january04.htm

Thanks Fox Creek Kid     Two Flints



A variation of the .56-46 Spencer cartridge...

These are .56-46 Spencer cartridges made by C. D. Leet & Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, and intended to be used in the sporting version of Spencer's repeating rifle. The cases on these measure .938", making them the short-cased variation of this cartridge. While they are not headstamped, they show characteristics that positively identify their maker. A three cannelure flat nose bullet was used by other makers of these short-cased .56-46 Spencer cartridges, including Crittenden & Tibbals and Fitch, van Vechten & Co., however, the cannelures of the Leet bullets are deeper and wider than the others. The two marks on the base, highlighted with chalk on the upper head in the picture, are also typical of cartridges made by Leet, as are the ocassional impressed ring patterns shown on the lower head. These marks were caused by the tool that held the case during the process of turning the case mouth crimp. On the lower case, the tool slipped during the crimping operation and 'chattered' around the head, digging into the surface of the soft copper.     

[Arizona Trooper]

My personal opinion is that the 56-46 was ahead of it's time. In an era when most folks bought their ammo as lead pigs and powder cans, rimfre ammo was very expensive, and good for only one shot, pluse 56-46, not being a US Army round, was hard to find, especially out west. Once reloadable 44-40s came out, with lots of rifles and pistols chambered for it, the resistance to cartridges faded, but that was 10 years after 56-46.

An acquaintance of mine found hundreds of rounds of 56-46 in an 1870s era barn in Washington. The guy that homesteaded there was NOT going to run out of Spencer ammo!

[Fox Creek Kid]

Two Flints, please post the LINK back up as there is more info on that site.

FCK, Here you go, Here it is and also in your original post

http://www.oldammo.com/january04.htm