.56-50 Spencer has arrived!

[Sloan Dodgy]

From temptaion to delivery, just over five days!  Got brass, 365 gr .512 bullets, dies and FFg ready, let's hope the smokin' lamp is lit for the weekend! 

[Sloan Dodgy]

First range report, at last!  Since today we had temps in the 60s, though a bit
windy, I managed to get in a bit of range time with the .56-50.  First group at
25 yards from sitting position was about 1-1/2 inches and a bit right of point
of aim.  A bit of tapping on the rear sight moved a second slightly smaller
group 'zactly to point of aim - woo hoo!

The load was Starline brass, a 365 grain 3-groove flat-nose bullet lubed with
SPG, Federal LR primer and 32 grains FFg compressed about 1/16 inch with a
separate compression die to give the .400" space needed in the case to just
cover the grooves of the bullet.  No wads, just bullet over powder.  Seemed to
feed well, too!  Very satisfactory. 

[Dakota Widowmaker]

Who were your bullets from? Is that the Lyman mould?

I got around 4-6" groups, depending on ammo, at 50yards.

But, I suck... it will take me several 64rd boxes of ammo before I am comfortable with how I shoot the thing and get groups like what you described.

My other repeating rifles took me several rounds to get aquainted to.

My other problem is that I am in a friggin cold state (MN) and my TK-Day wine froze last night in the garage.
(makes casting impossible and shooting is almost as bad)

[Sloan Dodgy]

It was a bit warmer here the day before Thanksgiving when I shot these - probably over 60!  Anyway, the bullets were store-bought from MidwayUSA and cast by Montana Precision Swaging, by the looks of them from Lyman's 515139 mould.

The sorta bad news was when I went to reload those fired cases, the Lyman .56-50 dies don't seem to reduce Starline brass enough to grip the bullet well.  With a compressed load of BP under them I don't think I'll need to worry about bullet setback in the magazine, but it makes me nervous.  Will investigate further.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy,

I know what you mean.  Mine tend to twirl in the case mouth.  I solved the problem by making a really tight crimp by trimming some off the bottom of the crimp die.  The tight crimp also helps consistency with BP.  Maybe .515 bullets would work better.  I suppose I should slug my barrel and see if .515s would work.

[Lars]

I bought some 0,520 pure Pb bullets from Patrick Kaboskey (cwbulletman@aol.com) to use in a 50-70 with oversize chamber and 0,518 bore in first 30 cm of barrel. They are hands-down the best in my gun. They were intended for use in Lee-Smith. His pure Pb bullets are as well cast as most 20:1 Pb:Sn bullets. Should I ever get a Spencer in 56-50, I would try Patrick's pure Pb bullets first.

Lars

[Harve Curry]

Howdy Chili Mac,
Maybe the Rapine 520350 mold would work for you.
Mine casts exactly what the mold number says: a 520" dia. and 350gr. with wheel weights.
It has a flat nose, safe for central fire magazine. Looks like a big Kieth type SWC. I think it's advertised as their Smith carbine bullet but it feeds in my Spencer carbine.

I hand lube them with SPG or the 50/50 stuff. A friend made me a die for my Lyman lubrisizer at .520", but it does'nt seem to make a difference in accuracy whether I wipe lube on with my fingers or use the proper tool.

I take it yours is an original?

[Sloan Dodgy]

No, mine is not an original, it's one of the new ones from Taylors.  I haven't slugged the bore, but since BP is pretty forgiving about bullet diameters I would like to try some fatter bullets instead of getting a smaller size die.  Several years ago I sold all my casting equipment  (OK, it was a dumb move) and at least until now I've been able to find sources of bullets to fill my needs, or swage my own for a couple of Black Powder Express rifles here and there. Anybody know of another source for .515" diameter flat point bullets in the 340-360 grain range?