.56-56 XXXX Carbine - Initial Range Report

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Last night, after having replaced the front sight the night before with a taller one so it wouldn't shoot 8 inches high at 25 yards, I shot up all 46 rounds I had loaded. (That's all the brass I had!)


My1860 XXXX gun likes the following load:

A very hard cast 535370 bullet (wheel weight and linotype)

38.5 grains volume of 777 FFG (2.5 cc LEE dipper)

Full lngth sized BAC modified Bell 50-70 cases cut to 1.12 inch

Either a WLR Winchester or a CCI #250 Large Magnum Rifle primer. 

LEE Alox lube painted around the base of the bullet where it joins the case, including the shallow grease groove.


Range Conditions:

Tempurature about 65 degrees.

Elavation 2390 ft. above sea level

Mild breeze from my left rear - SW.

Shooting station: Two milk crates stacked at 25 yards <g>

My best group was a 1 inch, center to center, 5 shot group from a rest at 25 yards.  It was basically a large, ragged hole.  The group was centered on the bullseye, about 2 to 2 1/2 inch above POA.  I also shot other groups, all were under 2 inches.

I found that, all other things being equal, the loads primed with the CCI #250 Magnum primer printed about a 1/2" higher than the WLR primer loads.  Hotter ignition must increase the velocity and/or recoil impulse a tad.

With the 25 yard elevation of 2 to 2 1/2", I recon that 50 to 75 yards would be about 5 inches or so above POA, and 100 to 125 would be basically about dead on.

See my other SSS entry about comparing original and centerfire for a further anecdote about my range session.

The session ended on a sad, pitiful note, however.  "It's a pity I ran out of cartridges!" I thought.

[Bead Swinger]

Tuolumne -
What sort of velocity do you get from the 38.5 grbv 777?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy,

I don't have a chronograph, but based on bullet weight (around 355 grains due to hard alloy, if I remember right) and based on load data for the 56-50 with about the same load, I am guessing about 1100 fps, give or take.  38.5 GBV of Triple 7 will duplicate 45 GBV of Goex, generally.

[matt45]

Do you note much difference between the 56-50 and 56-56, re ballistics?  Picking up from the other thread, the 56-56 sight looks like it is a little taller, with more space between the range lines.

I guess the hypotheses that I am forming is that the spencer is capable of remarkable accuracy, but the sights preclude pinpoint precision- does this fit w/ your experience, or am I full of it

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy,

You are correct.  The maximumm range line on the 56-56 is 800 yards using the notch at the top, even though it is a little longer.  The 56-50 had a 900 yard sight using the notch at the top.  I do not see much difference up to about 150 yards, but it seems to drop off.

Some day I will figure the ballistic coeffecient and try to work up a trajectory chart for the 56-56.

It think that the Spencer is capable of very accurate firing.  The sight on both original and replicas are pretty dismal,though.  A nice full buckhorn from Track of the Wolf would be nice!

I have regularly hit the 275 yard buffalo gong at Ione with both the original 56-56 and the Taylor's 56-50 off hand.  The other day I nailed a pop can at 125 yards with the original.  In 1863, they must have been a fearsome weapon!

[matt45]

Roger that - When you get it done, would you share with us heathen 56-50 shooters