Spencer Feeding

[Eggman]

I'm a new member and have been making my way through the various posts. Feeding problems with both originals and repros seem common so here is what some might think is a bizaar solustion. I shoot flat nose bullets about 1.6" long in my rescued from the scrap heap original (see Spencer Bug post). They will tend to hang up in feeding UNLESS I tilt the muzzle UP about 45 degrees --- at this attitude all six or seven in the magazine tube will feed slick as whale blow hole snot.

[Herbert]

Weak or broker cartridge guide spring

[Eggman]

No when it hangs up the bullet guide just sits there like a weasel with his head down a gopher hole. It doesn't move and no amount of pressure will move it. Tilt the gun up and it feeds like the carbs on a well tuned Chevy (love those mixed metaphors). When I installed the replacement bullet guide spring I worked it to match a primo show Spencer I looked at so I'm pretty confident it's about right.

Notice the world champion quick draw guy is named Spencer. COOL!!

[Herbert]

The bullet lenth is right so it should not be haning up feeding from the magizine,when it does hang up have you checked whether the block is diging into the bullet,cycle the action with no rounds in it to check for any hang ups,somtimes the slot in the centerfire block is not the right shape and can cause hang ups,another cause is the upper block not sitting square with the lower block(due to the tenon cutt in the conecting rod not being square to the block,this causes the leading edge of the block to dig into the side of the reciver when it is being closed(look for scratch marks on the inside of the reciver were the top leading edge may be contacting the reciver),from your dicription of a tight lock up I belive this nay be the problem,a little filling will fix this.Spencers with the right OAL cartridge should feed butter smooth even upside down,the problem will be something very simple

[Eggman]

Thanks Herbert. I think you're right on the money.

[Eggman]

Herbert,
Did what you said. It's now loading smooth as glass from any angle, HOOOO AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jim

[PvtGreg]

Out of curiosity - which issue or set of issues was it?  Also is this an original?

Thanks

[Eggman]

This is a "beater" original I completely rebuilt (see Spencer bug string). I installed an S&S centerfire block which is a perfect fit. I rounded the top forward edge of the block slightly as it was digging in. This cured the problem.

[Herbert]

Some of the S&S blocks have the tennon cutt for the leaver not square with the block,for propper operation the upper block fitted as a unit to the lower block and leaver .the upper block should be square with the lower block.to check ,this looking from the front of the asembeled unit ,twist the upper block it should rotate just enough so it is slitly proud of the lowere block on booth sides as it is twisted,when the tennon is not square with the upper blocks outer fase it will be forced one way and rub on one side of the inside frame,then when the action is cycled ,on the up strock the sharp leading edge of the upper block can dig into the incide of the frame jaming it up,the proper fix is to file the tennon square with the outside edges of the block.I had this happen with the early S&S blocks so I now just check ever block before fitting,in the new blocks this has not been a problem but I still check