Reenacting with a Spencer article, finished

[major]

Fellow Spencer shooters.  I have finished my article, "Reenacting With a Spencer" and it is on the web for you to read.  Here is the address http://www.9thnycavalry.webeditor.com/spencer_article.html
Just click on this link to see it.
Major

[Two Flints]

Hi Terry,

Thank you very much for the link to your article.  However, the photos do not come up on the monitor, only a lined box with a red X.  Can you fix the loss of photos in the article.

Two Flints

[Deadeye Don]

They dont come up for me either.  You know what they say about pictures?  Something about a thousand words!

[Four Sixes]

Great Article. Thank you Major. I have no problem in seeing the pictures in my computer.

My question is will the 410 shotshell work in .56-50 Spencer?

I did some experimenting myself and found out that I could cut down the .45-70 shell to make the blank for .56-50. But it isn't cheap and cost effective either even buying once fired .45-70 brass. It would be great if the 410 shotshell also work in .56-50.

How about the 28G shotshell? Is it the same size in the base as the .56-50 brass?

4-sixes

[Two Flints]

Terry,

I can see the photos now!

Thanks,

Two Flints

[major]

4-sixes
I doubt that the 410 would work in a .50 caliber gun. I have only tried to make blanks for the 44-40.  Maybe a 28 gauge will work.  The best way to find out is to get a hold of some hulls, cut them down and try them in the gun.  If you try it I would be interested in your results.

T F
I worked on the web site today and got the pictures to show up.
Major

[Deadeye Don]

Terry,

I can see the photos now!

Thanks,

Two Flints

Me too, but thats because they were fixed.  Thank you so much for taking the time to write this article Major.

[French Jack]

I wanted to use my Spencer for reenactments, and could not find proper blanks that would feed without problems.  To solve this, I bought some aircraft aluminum rod, and had some dummy cartridges turned out that have the same dimensions as loaded, live rounds.  They are drilled through from base to nose, and the base is drilled to accept a 209 primer.  With a 5-7 gr. charge of FFg, and a florist foam wad over the charge, they work to perfection.  I just have to pick them up afterwards and hope I don't lose any.

[major]

Jack
I know what you were going through.  I went through the same thing when I first tried to use my original 56-56 Spencer.  I was using the plastic blanks from S & S and I only did demonstrations so I would be able to recover my empties.   But if you still want to reenact with a Spencer you can use one in 44-40 and you don't have to worry about picking up the empties.  And they are cheap to make.
Terry

[French Jack]

How right you are, Terry.  Only thing is, the Spencer just doesn't seem the same in a lesser caliber.     ;P     

[major]

Jack
Just think about it for a second.  The difference between a .44 caliber and a .50 caliber is only .06 thousands of an inch.  Even the stitch counters can't be that picky.  LOL And just think about how much fun you will have on the battle field shooting a Spencer.

[Cannon Fodder]

Major

Great article on reenacting with spencer. Everything that I now have is 45lc. I am told the spencers  are coming  in this cal.

How do you think this will compare to  your reenacting with the 44/40?

Best,CF

[major]

CF
Thanks, I am glad that you enjoyed the article. 
I don't know yet if the Spencer in .45 will have the Lane extractor but I suspect that they have learned there lesson and it will.  If it does than it may work even better with the 410 blanks than the 44-40.  Since the case length and the diameter of the 44-40 and the .45 LC are so close then the same blanks should work in either gun. 
I am told that the .45 LC version will be in the country within 2 months.
Major