Smokeless in Spencers: I Vote No

Started by Eggman, January 27, 2013, 09:53:13 PM

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Eggman

I am very uncomfortrable with using smokeless powders in any Spencers, original or reproduction, or in any other arms specifically designed for black powder. The guys that designed and built the originals had specific tolerances in mind which the smokeless powders exceed. In my mind this is precarious ground there is no need to walk upon.
I am prejudiced. Here's where the prejudice came from.
Around 1980 a good friend bought an original Trapdoor, I believe an 1879 model. He also went to a gunshop and bought a box of .45-70 ammuition. I asked him to let me test fire the ammunition first in a modern made reproduction Harrington-Richardson Trapdoor of mine. I took the H&R to the range, loaded one of the store-bought rounds, and fired it. It created a huge report and recoil, popped the breachblock open, and reset the hammer on full cock. Thankfully the cartridge case stuck in the breach rather than exiting out the back through my head. Thus I'm here writing this. Of course with the owner's approval I disassembled and removed the smokeless from all of the rest of the rounds and reloaded with black powder.
Use black powder or black powder substitutes folks.

Herbert

In original Spencers I defintly agree that BP only should be used ,and then FF or slower.

the 1860-65 spencers are very weak in the chamber suport due the cut for the long extractor,the 1867 modle with the Lane extractor partialy fixed this problem but not compleatly ,the NM with the short blade extractor fixed the the problem but it is still made from metal that is not up to smokless presures.

the AS Spencers are proofed for moderat smokless loads and the twin blade extractors or the early 44 Russian and 45 Scofield caliber Spencers ,the cartridge suport is as good as any modern revolver meant for the same caliber,the Lane extractor ones I would class as safe for moderat smokless loads but not for hot rod loads.

All the modern Spencers rounds work very well with Trail Boss which can not be easly overloaded in these cartridges.

But for me BP is what these rifles are all about.

Oregon Bill

Eggman, I generally agree. Even Shiloh Sharps, when asked, says they can only recommend black powder ammunition as was originally used in these rifles. I stick with BP in my 1884 Trapdoor as well. However, I'll admit to using Trail Boss in the AS .56-50 I used to own.

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