CAS load with smokeless (blasphemy?)

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy to the camp,

MY primary  load for my 56-50 Taylor's Spencer is a Dakota Widowmaker made, Hell R Highwater designed 350 modified Lee sized .512, Lee 2.8 CC of Hodgdon's FFG 777 (approx 43-44 grain volume) drop tubed and compressed slightly, and a CCI Magnum Rifle primer.  It will shoot under 2-3 inches at 50 yards with stock sights.

As I described in my other post, however, this is too much for the local rifle targets usually.

Also I am shooting duelist with smokeless powder in all my guns right now for several reasons:  One, I haven't any time to load, and two Black Hills keeps me well supplied with ammo for my evaluations of CAS guns for the Cowboy Chronicle.  When you figure I am usually trying a new article gun when I go to a match, it makes sense.

I need a smokeless (ugh, blasphemy again) load for my Spencer for matches.  I will use my rounded nosed BAC .512/350 mold with Lee Alox lube, as it feeds slicker, and is just as accurate as the Modified Lee.  I don't use it for BP/subs, as it holds less powder ( at least 5 grains volume or more) than the modified LEE. I will also be able to tell at a glance which is smokeless, and which is BP or 777.

I think I have WW231, 2400, and maybe some 4227 on hand.  I would like about an 800- 900 fps load or so, rather than the 1,200 fps of the 777 load i use.

[Bead Swinger]

Hi TL!

I'd personally try Trail Boss - those 56-50's have a pretty large volume to fill 

I'd start with 9 gr. by weight (22.5 gr. by volume) and go up from there.  If I remember correctly, the data sheets claim 12 gr. by weight (~30 by volume) should produce something like what your 777 loads get. I've been getting around 760 fps out of 20 gr. (bv) loads in 56-56 pushing a Rapine heeled bullet. My guess is that the 56-50 will perform similarly.

Q: Why don't you cut back on 777 and use a wad to eat up the air space?  'Been considering that myself for 56-56.  'Don't know where I'd get .512 wads to try.

[Hell-Er High Water]

Bead Swinger,

Midway lists Walther's wads as being in stock in .512" dia.  They show both .030" and .060" thicknesses as being in stock.

HHW

[Trailrider]

Howdy, Pard,

Believe it or not, the 350 gr .512 bullet is about equivalent of a 272 gr .452 bullet.  The case volumes of the two cartridges are fairly close, but you could measure the relative water capacities and get some idea.  If the .56-50 brass will hold more water then you could increase the charge by the ratio of it to the capacity of the .45 LC case.  Then find some loading data for the .45 LC with a 270 gr. bullet, and you should be fairly close.  I doubt Hodgdon's publishes data for the .45-270 for Trailboss, but you could cross-check by using a load .92 times the .45 LC with a 250 gr bullet. 

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS OR INCIDENTS RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION.  IT IS PUBLISHED HERE SOLELY FOR THE GENERAL DISCUSSION AND AMAZEMENT OF THE READER!

[Grapeshot]

When I firest got my Spencer, the only bullet I had on hand were some 450 grain 50/70 Bullets that I had been using in my Shiloh Sharps CW Carbine.  I loaded up a few with 9 grains of Unique and fired them as I would a Single shot rifle.  They were fairly accurate.  Haven't tried that with the 350 grain bullets yet.  Recoil was real mild.