Reloading for an Original 1863 Spencer

[spencer_pa]

Hello,

Complete newbie here with some questions about reloading for my 1863 Spencer carbine (52 cal, .515" bore, 22" barrel).  I have had the gun checked by two local gunsmiths, one of them converting the breech block to centerfire and installing an appropriate magazine follower. I was told it is in firing condition, but it has not been test fired.

Since I'm only doing this as a hobby, I was hoping to be able to purchase commercially-available 56-50 ammo, but the only two companies I could find online that do this (Buffalo Arms and Ten-X) could not be coerced into loading for me (I called and tried).  Seems like it's not worth it for them cost-wise, which I understand.  As a result, I have taken an NRA reloading class and am looking to purchase the equipment to do it myself.

I've been reading online articles for a while (mostly from this forum, thank you!), and the SORI has been really useful for answering some questions, but a lot of the information is specific to the replica Spencers and seems a bit dated.  I would greatly appreciate any recommendations for equipment and supplies for reloading, as well as any other relevant advice/information:

* Cartridges - starline 56-50 are designed for replicas, and I've read they don't extract well in originals; RMC appears to be out of business and/or back-ordered for 3-4 months and Buffalo Arms is out of stock of most spencer related items. I'd rather not have to cut down 50-70 as this seems like an advanced topic and I am a beginner.  S&S seems to have some 56-50 cartridges, but there's no information as to if these are the starlines (https://www.ssfirearms.com/proddetail.asp?prod=CC11)
* Powder - Black powder suggestions are welcome
* Primer - I have read Winchester large rifle or Federal large rifle magnum
* Bullet - I assume .520" 375 grain will work fine (https://www.buffaloarms.com/520-375-grain-fn-soft-cast-56-50-spencer-lead-bullets-20-1-alloy-spg-lube-box-of-50-520375)

This link (https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,2891.0.html) has some good load info but is a bit over my head. I was hoping someone could make a good recommendation, perhaps from that page, that's simple enough for a beginner.  The loaddata.com article on 56-50 was interesting, but again, specific to the replica (https://loaddata.com/Article/LoadDevelopment/Handloads-for-the-56-50-Spencer-Centerfire/74).

Unrelated to loading, I was wondering for those that have converted an original to centerfire on a Spencer with a stabler cutoff, if you ran into issues with the S&S breech block getting jammed on the cutoff?  If you engage the cutoff and lower the action, it gets jammed and the action cannot be closed.  You have to take the receiver plate screw out, slide out the breech block unit, deactivate the cutoff, reinsert the unit. I called S&S and they said to just file the breech block down, but the gunsmith said this wouldn't help and that the cutoff could never be used with this breech block.  So I have to be careful to have the cutoff disengaged (turned perpendicular to the gun) when cycling the action, which is annoying because it is very easily bumped into the engaged position while handling the gun. Pictures attached.



Thanks in advance all!

[Jan Buchwald]

I use starline cases, with a bullet from a cut down Lee mould, large pistol primers, black powder is easy to ignite, and as much blackpowder it can take, which is not as much as the old rimfire cases could hold, as i remember, 35 grs. You could chose swiss black, it is a bit more powerful. You cannot overload it, as long as you stick to blackpowder.
Spencers are a bit sensitive to cartridge length

[Dave Fox]

I'm presuming your Spencer, with a Stabler cut-off, 22-inch barrel, and in .50-56 is perhaps an M.1865. I, too, had to remove the Stabler lever to function my breechblock, this one sourced from Buffalo Arms. I've a gunsmith friend who likely can relieve the block where necessary to address the problem. I've only run perhaps forty Starline-loaded .50-56 rounds through the unissued M.1865 I acquired late last winter and the carbine extracted them consistently, although I had to tilt the muzzle up for the cases to fall free. I've used standard large rifle and large pistol primers interchangeably in my Spencers and see no advantage in either. These carbines are not precision arms. I drop tube a lightly compressed load of FFg black powder which is more than adequate for my shooting: 50 or 100 yards at paper, rocks, or gongs. With the issue front sight it shoots about eight inches high at 50 yards. .515 moulded alloyed bullets (good in my Maynard, Smith, and Gwyn & Campbell, too) work well though I'm going to try larger diameter bullets in due course. SPG lube seems adequate for the carbine-length barrel. So far, the fire-formed cases work well with the bullet very slightly crimped in place, no full-length resizing being needed. The 1865 .56-50 is noticeably more accurate than my 1863-produced M.1860 .56-56. Some older posts on this site claim extraordinary 100 yard groups. Regarding my Spencer experience, color me skeptical.