56-56 for SASS Shooting

[Bead Swinger]

According to the SASS Shooters handbook, shooting a 56-56 Spencer seems to be illegal. 56-50 is OK, but 56-56 is not listed, and hence illegal . Now aside from being a bit crazy  (it is either 140+ years old or costs $3K), or sorta-slow  (ONLY 7 rounds), what's the issue? Is there one?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy Pard,

When I owned an original 56-56 I used it as a main match gun, even before they legalized the 56-50.  99% of the SASS shooters would not know the difference, and the other 1% wouldn't care!  People are used  to Spencers now, so I doubt if it would be an issue.  Here's the picture of me with the first 56-56 I owned.

I kinda look like Tom Berringer as Teddy Roosevelt in "Rough Riders" in the second photo<g>

[Major 2]

TL
you know you DO ! I worked on that Film.... Second time with Berringer ( also "Gettysburg")

but to the point....
Locally , my SASS RO frowned on my Original 56-56 .... I could use it in Side match, but they seldom have those of Rifles & Carbines etc.
(Mostly pocket pistol matches only)
They fear target damage, I was told 
My 45 Sch. is legal and OK in Main match though. Can't say as to their(local RO's) mindset now that the 56-50 is legal.

[Backstrap Bill]

Well, I'd ask the match director at a monthly match if it would be okay to shoot that 56-56. I'll bet the answer would be "yes" at most clubs, including mine (Montana Territory Peacemakers).  These are generally pretty informal and a good opportunity to use alternative firearms.  There ain't no fancy awards at most clubs' monthly matches.

As long as the gun is safe, and the steel can stand the strain, why not?  I always ask, even when shooting my 56-50 because not all SASS clubs have steel that can stand up to the punishment of a fully loaded 56-50.

Now, if it were a SASS-sanctioned regional, or EOT, the answer would be "no".

You might want to talk to your Territorial Govenor, who could then bring it up at the SASS Convention or if not there then to the SASS Rule Committee.

[Trailrider]

Howdy, Pards,

When I first started in CAS, I took an original .56-56 Spencer to a regional match.  I was shooting bullets around 395-410 gr at about 880 ft/sec.  Hit a steel target hanging from chains.  Wham!  Broke one of the chains, and I had hit the steel plate, not the chain!  Now there shouldn't be that much difference between a .56-56 and a .56-50 ballistically.

Not drawing any conclusions from this;  the chain might have been ready to break anyway. But there's no question that one of these rounds is about like a double-tap from a .45 LC!      Regular target might not show any problem.

Happy Holidays, all!

[Bead Swinger]

Hmmm - I didn't notice that my 56-56 loads were that vicious, and they weren't that much slower.
My smokeless loads that I used at the two shoots I got to last year all clocked in at or under 800 fps (390 gr), and to be honest, they seemed pretty easy on targets (some were absurdly slow). The bullets dished out exceedingly well - so much so that you could see the heel of the bullet in the middle of a beautiful 'splat'.  Several of the shoot organizers were suspicious for the first few rounds, but I didn't get any complaints about being too hard on targets; actually folks went up to collect the bullet splats.

"Course I don't know about BP loads - the few that I fired were NOTICIABLY hotter , and I didn't try reloading BP last season. Next season I may try the lightest 777 load that I can manage in the case without an air gap, and see how those perform.

Maybe I'll try the Territorial Govenor, at some point.  Of course, I'm hoping at some point to get rich enough to get a modern rifle to use at shoots...   'Wish I had the money for that 56-50 carbine for sale, or a 44-40 Henry.

[Trailrider]

My loads were all smokeless.  Think the same loads you'd use in .45 LC, with Unique powder for BP duplication loads.  My brass was cut-down Dixie Gun Works .50-70 brass. Interestingly, the case capacity and the Relative Sectional Density of the larger bullets are similar to the 250 grain .45's.

It may have been just the targets that weren't quite able to handle the impact.  I've sorta quit shooting the old Spencer.  After all, the receiver is 146 years old!  And wrought iron at that! One of these days, I'll probably pick up a Taylor's...

Happy Holidays, Pards!