Time to get a Spencer 56-50 or 45LC????

[rbertalotto]

I'm ready to order, find, search, locate a Spencer carbine.

I have over a dozen firearms that load the 45LC. I'm extremely familiar with the ways of this cartridge in both smokeless and Black Powder.

I've never even had a 56-50 in my hand. Know nothing about it.

Pros and cons to what you folks think...................

And if anyone knows of a used Spencer FS...........let me know.

Thanks!

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Without a doubt, .56-50s are COOL.  With that said, components for .56-50 are extremely expensive and supply chain is iffy.  On the other hand, 45 Colt brass is much cheaper, and use less lead and less powder.  If I were going to use it in CAS as a main match rifle, I would go with the .45 Colt, especially if you use it at an annual match with a high round count for rifles.  If you are a reenactor, 45 Colt or 44-40 would allow you to use Starline 5 in 1 blank brass.  There are no easy options for 56-50 blanks besides the plastic one tha use a shotgun primer and about 8 grains of BP.

If not using it for CAS or reenacting, then I would go with the .56-50, especially for hunting.  Members here have killed deer and wild pigs with the .56-50.  75 or 100 rounds of brass would be enough, and the additional expense of the ammo would not be a factor.

[rbertalotto]

THANKS!

Great info.............Leaning toward a 45LC....If I can find one!

[Preston County Rider]

Let me jump in here - the Lawman is dead on about the more famliar cartridges with the Spencer - I shot a 45 Schofield Spencer at our local SASS club - got a lot of "hourglass" timing kidding but also a lot of "that is so cool" from the shooters. Tons os style points - which never seemed to add up to anything lowering my times......I sold the 45 Sch because I determined I wanted a "real" Spencer -
56-56 or 56-50. So a couple of months ago, I got one - converted to centerfire, 56-50, serial 98XX so historic. I will be shooting it for cowboy and the 32 gauge blanks for reentacting -. Yes, 56-50 old Spencer shooting is not as easy as "regular" cartridges (I load all my own 44 Rus, 44 Colt and 44-40 - all BP - not the smokeless stuff (just a fad, that smokeless)) but it is a true Spencer round. If you want the history, suggest you go 56-50 - if you want the fun of shooting a unique style rifle, go with 45LC or Schofield. Either way, you will enjoy the experience (and amass those style points!!)

PCR