Kevin Tinny - Part 7: Modern Centerfire 56-50 Ammo & Cartridge Cases

[Two Flints]

Modern CENTERFIRE 56-50 Ammunition and Cartridge CASES:

Hopefully, some cartridge collectors will add to this.  Thanks.

Rim-fire 56-50 ammunition has been reportedly produced IN the U.S, Brazil and possibly Belgium into the 1920's and a bit longer in Canada. Even though there ARE 1870 era CENTER-FIRE Spencer's and C-F ammunition, it seems that the CENTER-FIRE 56-50 round was dormant for almost eighty years until revived on a custom basis during 1960 – 1990, perhaps because of Civil War Centennial and re-enactor activities. 

Starline and others such as the BATFE and Buffalo indicates that NO modern-era centerfire 56-50 ammunition was produced by ammunition companies in the U.S. or Canada UNTIL TEN-X Cartridge and later Buffalo Bullet Company (and a couple short-lived others) got going with STARLINE, Jamison and Berry brass. 

Modern 56-50 CENTERFIRE cartridge CASES and Bullets:

Two WW1 era center-fire CASES (having NOTHING to do with SPENCERS) are presented in "DESIGNING AND FORMING CUSTOM CARTRIDGES FOR RIFLES AND HANDGUNS" by (Dr.) Kenneth E. Howell of Stevensville, MT in 1995. 

The information is included so when encountered it will NOT link these two cases to SPENCERS.  They are ONLY CUT-DOWN's for Trapdoor Springfields, per a Trapdoor expert, who immediately recognized the "50 Crum" designation as a "LIGHT LOAD alternative".

With NO elaboration, Dr. Howell includes on pages 404 and 405 of his book:

.50 Carbine (".50 U. S. Carbine") from a "Winchester drawing 1912".  The bullet is .515". Case OAL 1.3".

.50 Crum 
This case is essentially the same as the .50 Carbine, but for a .512" bullet. 
Its mouth OD is slightly larger than the .50 Carbines and it is NOT a Winchester drawing. 

I have been unable to locate ANY commercial, centerfire 56-56 or 56-50 ammunition produced between approximately 1880 and 1990.   
If anyone knows something, PLEASE let me hear from you.  Thanks.

1996 era ROMANO 56-50 Spencer cartridges used altered BELL 50-70 Sharps cases.  Another source was BERTRAM 50 caliber brass.  Shortening left the case wall excessively thick and more apt to crack so it was reamed, NOT BORED, thinner and an internal shoulder was created. They had to be PROPERLY annealed at 1,000F to avoid neck cracks in use.

Larry shared that he never measured the CAPACITY of the two cut-down Sharps cases because they held both 35 to 40 grains.  Also, that CASE dimensions for the standard 50–70 cut down case for the 56–50 and RMC's 56-50 cases, made for him, are so close to each other that there should be no issues using them as described above. 

In the mid-1990's, Kenneth P. Howell, the gunsmith, and Larry Romano SEPARATELY developed their 56-50 CASES by modifying the 50-70 Sharps or BELL/Bertram BASIC 50 cases.  Then, Romano linked with Dave Casey, who was Rocky Mountain Cartridge and placed the FIRST large order for custom turned "Romano chamber dimensions" CENTER-FIRE 56-50 cases.  RMC (and its predecessors: "Gain Twist ..." and Ballard Rifle & Cartridge "BR&C") also made 56-50 center-fire cases to fit ORIGINAL, insignificantly larger Spencer chambers. 

One "lot" of BR&C 56-50 cases pictured on the INTERNET has a label showing Lot Number 022101 being "FOR ROMANO .510-Bore".  NO OTHER Ballard/RMC labels with Lot Numbers have "Romano 510-Bore" notation.


There have been at least TWELVE MODERN "commercial" producers of 56-50 CASES:

First, in George Layman's book, A GUIDE TO THE MAYNARD BREECHLOADER, page 103, is that
the ORIGINAL modern producer of brass 56-50 center-fire cases was "Gain Twist Barrel Company – Rifle Works & Armory of Cody, Wy.  The owner was Don Barker. 

SECOND: "Gain Twist" was purchased by an Illinois businessman and renamed THE BALLARD RIFLE & CARTRIDGE COMPANY.  The General Manager was Steve Garby and Don Barker remained with the new company as Production Superintendent.  The Gain Twist company is believed to have MADE DRAWN brass cases for centerfire Maynard's, but THE BALLARD.... Co. only made TURNED BRASS cases. 

BR&C was owned by Ron Long and a financial partner, from Chicago who sold BR&C to Don Barker, who renamed the THIRD company, Rocky Mountain Cartridge Co ("RMC").   

Don Barker sold out to Dave Casey, who maintained the RMC name for the FOURTH entity. 
Dave sold RMC to the Outlands, with Kody operating the machinery, the FIFTH owners.

When the Outlands bought RMC, Dave Casey said he and perhaps his predecessor were the ONLY ones to use lot numbers on its boxes of cartridges.  Kody Outland said they received NO other information on "lot numbers".

RMC makes TWO 56-50 CASE sizes, one for ORIGINAL chambers and one for the slightly different Romano chamber.  THEN, FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, WITHIN EACH OF THE TWO MAIN GROUPS, MINOR, INSIGNIFICANT, "half-thousandth here and there", BATCH-TO-BATCH VARIATIONS ARISE.
Any MINOR differences in the ID's of the MOUTHs can be managed during sizing and loading.

The only significant difference between the RMC cases for original 56-50 vs. Romano seem to be the bevels on the edges of the Romano rim.  The presence of the bevels is preferred for cycling.  The cases interchange.

There is NO headstamp indication on the RMC cases denoting WHICH IS WHICH.  Only measuring them and CLOSELY examining the RIM BEVELS will reveal which is for ORIGINAL chambers. 
RMC denotes Larry's dim's as "Romano Spencer" 56-50.

In September 2015, Terry Schultz of Buffalo advertised 43, 56-50 cases by Ballard Rifle & Cartridge Company for sale.  All were head stamped: "BR&C 56-50 Spencer".  ONE of the 43 was NEW, unfired, unsized and displayed the annealing coloration inside the case neck.  These BR&C head stamped cases are .020" shorter, with a tighter mouth than the "Romano" and have NO BEVELS on the rim!

CAD drawing of both cases are available from RMC.  They are a bit LIGHT-colored and do not photo or print well.  Best to ask RMC to email you copies.  Here is a summary of the two drawings:

Per Kody at RMC, the main differences in its 56-50 case dimensions for ROMANO Spencer's are:

Romano rim and case body diameter AT the rim are .005" larger than the Standard Spencer.
Romano and Standard Spencer case MOUTH diameters are the same at .548". 
Romano case mouth INTERNAL diameter is .512" and the Standard is .518". 

THESE internal mouth diameters are set for either a .510" ROMANO OD bullet or larger standard one.
The differing mouth ID's with the same mouth OD's combine to produce a thicker sidewall on Romano's.
Primer flash holes are .080" for Romano and .082" for the Standard.  No idea why the difference or if matters.
A KEY difference is the ROMANO RIM is 45-degree beveled on BOTH front and rear edges and the Standard is only beveled on the REAR edge.
The internal WEB area of the Romano is slightly thinner with less radius for more capacity. 
Both cases have .065" THICK rims.
The OVERALL LENGTH of the Romano case of 1.165" is .015" longer than the Standard at 1.15".
Romano prefers LESS bullet jump to the rifling.
Romano case TAPERS from base at rim of .565" to .548" at mouth for taper of .017" total or .0085" a side.
Standard case TAPERS from base at rim of .560" to .548" at mouth for taper of .012" total or .006" a side.
So, there is a TOTAL of .005" or .0025 a side MORE taper in the ROMANO case.   
This CASE taper aspect is separate from the taper IN the chambers.

The visible identifying characteristic of the ROMANO case is the inside rim bevel.

BOTH "Standard" and "Romano" RMC case versions are in circulation and can be MISS-IDENTIFIED when being sold.  If it matters, examine one or ask about the inside rim edge bevel.   

SIXTH, was S&S of GLENDALE, NY that had a small run custom made at a local machine shop. 
These were the SAME ones Lodgewood bought from a machinist "out-East".  That person also made Burnside cases, but retired.  In a thread on the N-SSA Forum by Mike Davenport of 10AUG18, "Spencer Stuff for Sale", Mike indicated he had around 83 empty and loaded 56-50 centerfire cases for sale.  It turned out that he got them from S&S Guns, of Glendale, NY.  These have NO headstamp, are TURNED from solid brass for LARGE RIFLE PRIMERS and the owner of S&S emailed JKT that they were custom made by a local shop for them. 

SEVENTH, Starline "commercial" cases that were designed SPECIFICALLY for the Armisport chamber. Starline introduced head stamped 56-50 cases in late 2004-early 2005.  These CASES were used by Buffalo and others to produce/market "commercial" ammo.  "Marketers" include The Old Western Scrounger and Ten-X. 

STARLINE 56-50 cases have a nominal rim diameter of .630" that can lead to less distinct extraction in ORIGINAL and ROMANO chambers designed for the BLADE extractor and rim diameters of .650". 

EIGHTH, the FIRST batch of ROMANO altered cases came from BELL 50 BASIC brass.  These ARE "B.E.L.L." 50-70 Sharps cases that were cut down and inside reamed, NOT BORED, to make them 56-50 CENTERFIRE cases.  These WERE top quality, DRAWN CARTRIDGE BRASS ALLOY, Australian cases.  Fred Huntington Custom Dies bought the inventory almost 15 years ago and these are now collector's items. 

NINTH are cases from 50-70 Sharps brass with slightly different dimensions from other case vendors. 

These NINE do NOT include Dixie cases designed for 56-56 that take a 22 blank in an offset primer pocket. 
That "conversion" rimfire case is now, 2020, made by Roberson Cartridge Case Co. of Amarillo, TX.
It is headstamped "RCC" and is WIDELY exported, particularly to ENGLAND, per Jeff Roberson.
Makes me wonder WHY I don't seem to sense many Brit's on CAS/SSS. 

TEN is BUFFALO Arms Co/Buffalo Bore Ammunition, Salmon, ID, via converted 50-70 brass.

ELEVEN is Jameson for TEN-X.

TWELVE is Roberson Cartridge Company, Amarillo, TX that uses C272 yellow brass alloy for its TURNED cases that are warranted to be SIGNIFICANTLY more durable than those turned from another less strong, commonly used alloy.  READ RCC's website info.  As of late Feb 2020, Roberson has NOT produced ANY 56-50 or 56-56 cases.  It can easily do so, but it is best to FIRST KNOW YOUR chamber dimensions.  It has produced a stretched custom 56-56 case for a single-shot hunting rifle and the skilled gunsmith is pleased with the cases.

The dimensions for the ALTERED BELL BASIC, 50-70 case are:
Rim OD:                        2 @ .649" and 1 @ .652"
OAL:                              1.172", 1.174" and a shorty at 1.110"
Base OD at rim:             .565"
Mouth OD:                     .546" - .548" deprimed and possibly sized.
Mouth ID:                       .508" - .510" deprimed and possibly sized. "Reamed" to this size to FIT .512" bullets!
Flash hole diameter:       .079" off tip of 5/64" drill bit.  A bit TIGHTER than BR&C, RMC and Starline.

NOMINAL UNFIRED and UNSIZED dimensions of different 56-50 C-FIRE cases are:

Don't fuss over these dimensions.  They are close enough to show differences.  People measure differently.
                                           Not Romano                                                         
Dimension                            BR & C    RMC 1201     RMC 1205    RMC 2018     S&SN        S&S      S'LINE
Case WEIGHT:                        183gr.          209gr           Loaded            185gr.          161gr.        183gr       182gr.
OAL:                                       1.147"         1.167"            1.170"            1.167"         1.159"       1.160"      1.148"
Rim OD:                                   .646             .650                .650                .650             .643           .643         .630
Rim THICKNESS:                   .067             .069                .069                .068             .065           .065         .062
Body OD at rim/base:              .560"           .5655              .565                .563             .564           .563         .560
R's chamber base OD:                                       .568" for .003" clearance
Body OD at MOUTH:             .543"             .544                .544                .534              .541           .541        .545   
R's chamber NECK OD:                                    .548" for .004" clearance
Body Taper:                             .017              .021                .021                .029              .023          .022         .015
Primer pocket OD:                  .205"             .205                .205                .204              .204           .204        .207
Primer Pocket DEPTH:           .127               .128               .128                .131              .123           .126        .128
Flash Hole OD:                        .081               .080               .080                .080              .080          .080         .080
Case MOUTH ID:                    .508" *          .509**         Loaded            .509              .510***    .510***   .515
Case MOUTH wall:                 .016"              .0185"          Loaded            .125              .016          .016         .015                                                   
* = TIGHT on .512" bullet.  ** = OK for .512" bullet *** = Slight internal shoulder at .360" depth.
These primer pocket DEPTHS coincide with ONLY large RIFLE primers seated .003" below flush.

The BR&C .508" case mouth is TOO TIGHT to HOLD a .512" sized Romano bullet!  This case may be for
a LARGER, original 1865 chamber BECAUSE Larry's chamber MOUTH diameter AHEAD of the case rim is .568".  The BR&C case has .559" OD at the SAME spot, which is WAY less than a good fit in Larry's chamber.  Watch for BR&C and other cases with a flash hole larger than .081" for BLANK reenactor loads.

CASE RIM "rounding" or as described in other posts, "beveling", seems important to cycling/feeding the 56-50 round because of the BLADE extractor.  SSS posters have indicated the SAME issue and noted that RMC's cases HAVE this rim edge rounding in place, but that EARLY cases such as BELL BASIC brass used to convert cases to 56-50 or 56-56 and the BR&C head-stamped ones DO NOT have the outer or inner rim edges rounded. 




















MODERN, "COMMERCIALLY produced" CENTERFIRE 56-50 ammunition:

The FIRST RULE OF THE RANGE IS --- SAFETY FIRST!  ALWAYS think about SAFETY.

Using "smokeless" powder in 56-50 and 56-56 centerfire cartridges includes a WIDE RANGE of commentary on the INTERNET and FORUMS. 

For the Record:

I am firmly against using smokeless powder loads in any firearm NOT SPECIFICALLY WARRANTED FOR THEM BY THE MANUFACTURER based on the following:

Here is what manufacturers of reproduction Spencer rifles and carbines presently recite in their ammunition information about smokeless powder 56-50 loads:

a.   Nothing by Ken Howell about smokeless in his single 56-50 Spencer.  None were produced for sale.

b.   Larry Romano's single page of INSTRUCTIONS requires the shooter to KNOW that smokeless powder loads are "within black powder limitations".  So, how DOES the shooter know?

c.   Fletcher-Bidwell recites "black powder only", and requires COMMERCIALLY loaded ammo, but allows handloads of traditional black or PYRODEX and Black Canyon substitutes. 

d.   Armisport/Chiappa is specific about using ONLY COMMERCIALLY loaded ammo that meets SAAMI and CIP pressure specifications.  This eliminates handloads. Since NO commercially loaded ammo manufacturer indicates it USES smokeless, any smokeless use HAS TO BE FROM handloads!


More below, but the practical issue is advocates of smokeless IN 56-50 centerfire rounds do report satisfactory performance with no issues, BUT HOW DO THEY know the PRESSURES?  Yes, they can estimate, extrapolate, compare, etc, but so far NONE have shared that THEY HAVE THE EQUIPMENT to accurately measure pressures.  Review of posted smokeless 56-50 loads indicate TO ME that the charge is quite small in VOLUME relative to the 56-50 case capacity.  If a case is doubl-charged with some of the smokeless powders suggested, the results could be significantly excessive pressure in the SAME way it happens with modern rifles and handguns.  A double charge of Bullseye, Unique and others in a 56-50 case and KABOOM.  Please, don't ignore this and rationalize that YOU are a careful reloader.  I have seen countless examples of just this happening with modern guns.  Sooner or later ....



Years ago, Thompson-Center became frustrated by frivolous, expensive lawsuits alleging product deficiencies.  Jim Smith, an officer of the company, found a chemical test to PROVE conclusively IN COURT if smokeless powder had EVER been used in its muzzle loading guns, regardless of how they were cleaned or if black powder had been shot after smokeless powder.  With the "TEST" accepted by COURTS, T-C would respond to product liability lawsuits involving "blown" black powder guns with a polite letter from its attorney describing the test, the professional, certified laboratory, previous Court decisions, ALL IN FAVOR OF T-C and that IF the claimant continued with its action, T-C would vigorously defend itself with a countersuit.  Not difficult to understand that:  T-C never lost a product liability suit involving blown black powder guns and NO PARTY EVER continued with their action after receiving the warning letter.


Please excuse my assertiveness;  I believe we should recognize and act on our obligation to promote SAFETY.



Modern Spencer reproductions in 50 caliber have chambers and bore dimensions for 56-50 centerfire. 
I am unaware of ANY reproduction Spencer's IN the slightly larger bored 56-56 centerfire,

BUT there are ORIGINALS in 56-56 that have centerfire blocks for centerfire ammunition.

Making center-fire cases FOR 56-56 are detailed in the CAS/SSS "SORI" section.
Adapting and "forming" cases such as the 348 Winchester and others requires tooling and annealing. 
Fire-forming with some is required to "blow-out" the tapered body diameter.
EXPECT SOME CASE LOSS DURING THIS PROCESS. 
Some RIM diameters are smaller and may not work well with blade extractors. 

N-SSA officers shared that the usual BORE SIZE approval specifications allow a MAXIMUM PLUS/MINUS tolerance of .010".  A "correct" bore of .500" could be as small as .490" or as large as .510" and be approved.  This tolerance avoids splitting hairs over normal bore variations. 

With THIS tolerance guidance in mind, the CORRECT 56-56 bore dimensions of .525" LAND diameter and .539"/.540" GROOVE diameter, that would be SAC approved range between:
Land diameter:      Smallest of .515" for .525" to largest of .535".
Groove diameter:  Smallest of .530" for .540" to largest of .550". 

The 56-50 land of .500" / groove of .515" would be .015" too SMALL for 56-50 approval.

I believe that Howell and Romano were NOT sensitive to the N-SSA's Small Arms Committee ("SAC") bore
tolerances for "approval" because both told me that they conceived and built their Spencer for other reasons BEFORE they were N-SSA members.  The Howell was more for cowboy action shooting. Romano shared that the challenge of making one sparked him.  Each independently choose the simplest alternative and adapted the 50-70 Sharps case TO .500" land and .510/.515" groove diameter 56-50 bores. 

ONE expert with LOTS of Ballard experience that is consulted by the N-SSA's Small Arms Committee
shared 56-56 bore dimensions of .540" LAND plus rifling of approximately .008" X 2 for a GROOVE diameter of almost .556".  At FIRST this .556" figure "SEEMS" to be INCORRECT BECAUSE THE 56-56 CARTRIDGE DIMENSIONS SO OFTEN AUTHORITATIVELY SHARED BY MARCOT, ETC. REFLECT THE "SPENCER" 56-56 AS HAVING A .52" (NOT .54") BORE.

Dutcher, in "BALLARD", comments on WHY the KY's BALLARDS were gov't. rejects, but others not sold to KY were NOT.  He recounts that NOT ALL 56-56 three-band rifles went to KY, and that it IS possible that the KY ones were refused by the Federal Gov't due to being too LARGE in bore size:  .540" Land and roughly .560" GROOVE diameter even though CHAMBERED for the 56-56 cartridge with .539" OD bullet! 

So, there WERE way oversized bores in those days that DID accept and fire the standard size 56-56 cartridge.
The 56-56 "BALLARD" used the SAME cartridge as did the 56-56 Spencer!

The excessive variations in case dimensions IN Chapter 12 of Marcot, clearly show .52" NOT .54", even at the largest extreme of ORIGINAL cases.  Another confirmation involves a .560" bullet NOT matching Spencer bores, let alone fitting into a case and FEEDING into a Spencer chamber!

Today, with more consistent application of the N-SSA's bore approval guidelines, the 56-50 centerfire might NOT be allowed because the bore is MORE than .010" smaller, UNLESS the "modification" rationale fits.

When new historical or mechanical documentation surfaces and causes SAC to realize that a previously approved item should NOT have been approved, it may let stand existing "SAC Card" guns, but not approve additional ones.  Howell's SINGLE example and Romano's roughly 76 examples would probably be "grandfathered-in", under the same practice, so it is unlikely that the N-SSA would rescind their SAC approval IF a newcomer appeared WITH a correct 56-56 bore alternative.
Per Tony Beck, who has a nice original "un-Bannermanized" BALLARD, the SAC BALLARD "dimensions" were from that one and the BORE dimensions APPLY to ALL 56-56 BORES.  Romano had a Ballard rifle that DID measure .525" LAND and .538" GROOVE!  He ALSO lined an original and put a .525" land diameter bore in it and it WAS SAC approved.  Larry Romano has a copy of the SAC card. 

Here's how to do the bore and case for a correct, C-F 56-56 Spencer REPRO:
BORE LAND diameter of .525" with .006" grooves; the GROOVE diameter is .525" + 2X .006 = .537".  A SIZED bullet diameter of .001" OVER the .537" = .538".

Case: 
RMC has a 56-56 "Special" case, but it does NOT usually appear in their listing.  Ask or email.
I found out about it when asking Cheri Outland about a CUSTOM case with the following dimensions:

Rim Thickness:  .065"
Rim Diameter:   .645".  The rim OD of the RMC 56-50 case is .650".  .005" difference is insignificant.

Case BODY diameter: .560" from just above the rim to case mouth.

Case MOUTH OD:  .560"
Case Mouth ID: .536" to hold the SIZED .538" OD bullet.

Case Mouth WALL thickness: .012" - .0125".
SALT BATH anneal at 1,000F with color shift apparent .350" on both outside and inside of case mouth.

These 56-56 CENTER-FIRE "Special" cases are 1.300" long for use in a BALLARD with INTERNALLY LUBED, NON-Healed bullet via Accurate Bullet Molds.
A custom chambering reamer is needed to match the 56-56 "Special" case.

MAGTECH also makes 32 Gauge, 2.5" DRAWN cartridge cases that are, except for length, sufficiently close to RMC's 56-56 dimensions.  When shortened, possibly inside mouth reamed and SALT BATH annealed at 1,000F, they may be a less expensive alternative to custom RMC cases.  The MAGTECH has a greater internal VOLUME.  Nice.  It's RIM OD is .630".  Caution:  Case set for large PISTOL primers.

For Armisport/Chiappa Spencer's, INTERMITTENT production of "commercial" 56-50 ammunition creates an issue because the Owner's Manual, available on-line via Taylor's & Co. website, specifically states on pages 4, 6 and 20 that ONLY COMMERCIALLY LOADED rounds that conform to either SAAMI or EU "CIP" specifications are to be used.  As of Dec 2019, SAAMI shows NO spec's for 56-50 centerfire because it is an "OLD" cartridge.  The European Union equivalent of SAAMI is "C.I.P." CIP lists METRIC spec's for chambers, bores and cartridges.   

Taylors & Co. told me that it is aware of the commercial ammo warranty/availability problem and that Taylors expects owners of Armisport/Chiappa Spencer's to be prudent, safe and if they use ammunition that is NOT commercially produced, they are on their own.  "Commercially Produced" was not defined. 

For Romano Spencer's, the "Instruction Sheet" states that ammunition must not exceed (undefined)SAFE BLACK POWDER PRESSURES.  Romano Spencer's Instructions do not recite a "commercial" ammunition requirement.

The Fletcher-Bidwell, LLC "Owners Manual", copyright 2000, states on Page 9 that only high quality commercially loaded ammunition should (not "must") be used.  Again, "commercially" is not defined.
Later is added "black powder only or PYRODEX or Black Canyon with FLAT nosed bullet", but these apply to "commercially loaded" ammo.  Perhaps contradicting this are pages (24 – 26) with HANDLOADING information!  This company has been dormant for almost 20 years; product liability insurance coverage is questionable. 

SEVEN manufacturers of "commercial" 56-50 C-FIRE ammunition since 1995 have been:

10-X Cartridge:  No longer supplies 56-50 center-fire Spencer ammunition. 
Forum posts indicate these cartridges were loaded with either straight black powder or a "substitute" probably "Triple-7", that produced 10% higher velocities than straight black powder charges.  Searches indicate that at one time Ken Howell was involved and that as of 2019, Ten-X is a California TACTICAL ammo concern.

Black Hills Ammunition:  Listed on Howell's website, but nothing over 45 caliber is listed.

Bone Orchard:  Listed at one time on Howell's website, but could not locate on the INTERNET.

Buffalo Arms Company. ("BACO") offers bullet moulds and Starline cases. 
Buffalo is "off and on" with loaded 56-50 center-fire ammo, which was first sold in 2010, per Dave Gallo.
In November 2019 Buffalo listed 56-50 ammo in stock, but as of 22DEC19, it was "OUT OF STOCK".   

Outdoor Limited.  No details other than a brief INTERNET listing. 

Powder River Cartridge:  Listed at one time on Ken Howell's website, but a search produced nothing.

Precision Cartridge, Inc. of Hobart, IN.  There is an INTERNET photo of LOADED 56-50 cartridges with Precision's name, bar code and product number.  The photo of loaded 56-50 rounds in a gray, semi-transparent box show Starline brass heads.  This company NOW does only modern, reloaded POLICE ammunition. 

As of March 2020, there have been TWENTY "commercial" entities involved in 56-50 cases and cartridges. 
Starline, RMC and Roberson are the only ones (that appear willing) to make cases and ONLY BUFFALO is, at times, making LOADED AMMUNITION.

[Blair]

I am really pleased to see Two Flints has posted this information within the SSS forum of CAS City.
Two Flints has turned the SSS into, what is in my opinion, the best 'one stop' place to get Spencer firearms information on the Net!
Kevin Tinny has been working on compiling this info for at least 4 years that I know of.
Much of what He has gathered here in these 7 postings, would have been lost to History and time as those of us that were there pass on. It is for this reason that I am very pleased to have played any part in this information. No other recognition is needed on my part!
You all stay well...
My best,
Blair

[El Supremo]

Thanks, Blair:

For most of the members here, please know that Blair and I talk frequently.  I have expressed my gratitude to him and am very indebted to Two Flints for his years of service.  This Forum pulled me back into black powder shooting and linked me to an N-SSA Team with which I shoot.  Strange how the ripples move.  People are the key.

I thank Two Flints for his gentle counsel and have emailed him a suggested thank-you/credits piece for the first page of Section 1.  I struggled with it because many wished less identification.  My only desire was to share all you have shared with me in hopes of furthering Two Flints' dedication.  As someone once observed in the midst of a week of intense shooting competition, we should take our shooting seriously, but not ourselves.
I am 76, in good health, at peace, but too old to adopt Two Flints. Haha.  Pray for strength.
Love.
Kevin

PS:
Some typo's, incorrect words and screen name errors of mine are being corrected. 
Tony is Carolina Reb, not Southron.  Inertia is not momentum.  These and others will be part of the process.  Tx, Blair.
Kevin