Thoughts on my new .56-50

[Oregon Bill]

Finally got the Spencer to the range today for its first outing, and only had 20 bullets made up, as I primed a box before I realized I should anneal them first.
First impression is that this rifle is as much fun to shoot as it is beautiful to look at.
Second impression is that it wants to be very accurate. I got a palm-sized group of six shots the first time I put it on a target at 50 yards. Elevation was perfect, but windage was off as I scattered the shots horizontally. I blame this on my ...
Third impression, which is that the rear sight is a tough one to be repeatable with. Think I will file a definite groove in mine.
Fourth impression is that if you are at all wimpy in working the action, you get incomplete ejection and invite feed failures, but if you are robust in working the lever, all is well.
Fifth impression is that the magazine tube latch on my rifle isn't very positive. I think that just taking the gun down from my shoulder and catching the edge of the tube latch on my shirt could open it and let the tube an ammo fall out.
Finally, I had 10 rounds of 38 grains Goex FFg and 10 of 40 grains, drop-tubed, under the Dakota Widowmaker bullet lubed with SPG and lit off by a WLR primer. The 38-grain load was more accurate, so I can see there are all sorts of variables to consider to get this gun shooting at its peak.
Fortunately, I love a challenge, especially with such a beatifully made historic rifle.
Kind of made shooting the old Trapdoor Springfield anticlimactic.

[Ed Clintwood]

I agree with OB on points 1,2&4.  My rear sight is tough but not impossible, a bigger groove might be a good thing.  So far my magazine tube has stayed put just fine.  I seem to get better accuacy with DW's bullets then the Lymans, but I've only shot one box of each

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy,

The first thing I did was cut a better notch on the rear sight, even before I shot it!  I found thaaaat, like most guns, hotter is not the most accurate.  40 grains of 777 under the bullet from the Dakota Window Maker modified die (actually designed by Hell R High Water, though) is more accurate than the very compressed 45 grains.  As I am not loading for accuracy, but ratheer Thump factor, I load 45!

I found a trick to help ejection, though.  On the back of the breech block is a flat surface that engages the frame.  At the top of this, it has a somewhat abrupt transistion to the top of the block.  This makes you have to be more positive with the down stroke, and robs some inertia.  I slightly (and I mean SLIGHTLY) broke this corner and rounded it a tidge with a dremel.  It made all the difference in the world.  Working the action is 50% easier!  See my new post.