45 Schofield Spencer problems - where to I start?

[Preston County Rider]

Folks, continue to have feeding problems with my .45 Schofield Spencer. Usually, the first round will "jam" when loading on the line - I can usually push it in but not smoothly. Interestingly, it seems to cut into the bullet, right above the crimp line. I can then run the rest of the load (80% of the time) then when reloading, same problem. Also, the carbine will not "routinely" eject the fired rounds - either they hang up in the breech or fall gently into the open breech requiring me to tip the gun or reach up and pull them out.

My problem here is that I don't know where to start to fix this. I've sent the gun to Ron who had it for six weeks, and sent it back with minor polishing and cleaning. While the gun works somewhat better than before, it still does not function in a dependable way. I shoot this beast at our SASS meets - yes my times are slow, no I am not a gamer (obviously) and yes I have fun with it. But I would like to not "hope for the best" with the mechanics when I start to shoot. A fellow Spencer shooter has a .45 LC Spencer which seems to work fine - his is from Taylors, mine from Cimmaron.

All I want to know is where I should start trying to fix this carbine. I don't have a problem trying things but honestly, I am not sure where to start. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks - PCR

[KCSO]

A lotof my feeding problems were cured by a new magazine spring.  To check this take the mag spring out and gently strech it and then try feeding some dummy rounds if the feeding is better order a new spring.  If you are shooting reloads remember that it is the bullet ogive NOT the overall length that matters.  The other thing is learning to work the lever in a smooth continious manner, but if you have been shooting CAS you shold have that down by now. 

[Herbert]

i had same problem with the ejection with my spencers cure was to make a new cartrige guide that was sligtly higher to stop it hiting frame when ejecting you can check this by opening action then put a trait edge across back of frame opening if cartrige guide is lower ejecting cases can hit frame and bounce back into action both my 44 rushion and 56-50 rifle had this problem,made new cartrige guides and they eject realy well now

[Sloan Dodgy]

The one I have in .44 Russian will hang up on the first round out of the magazine almost every time - but only if I stuff it with the max 9 rounds.  When I load only 8, or better yet 7, I get no feeding problems.   


Ejection on mine is pretty much a function of lever speed.  When I throw the lever forward smartly it will pitch the red-hot cases right down my shirt (ask me how I know...)    but if I'm a bit lazy they won't quite make it up the ramp.

[Herbert]

chili mac i think you hit the nail on the head with fist round feeding problem mine does the same thing if bullets are geting cuts from chamber or extractor go to a harder bullet this fixes that problem