Spencer vs. Henry

[Deadguy]

Ok fellers,  which do you think would be a better mate for a pair of cap n ball revolvers, a Spencer (in 56-50, of course!) or an 1860 henry?  I like the Spencer a little more because it looks more like a real military rifle of the 1860's, and, well, everything looks like Henrys, but I'd like to know the pros and cons of both and what people who have shot either, or both, have to say about them.

[Major 2]

This will get good ! 

I have had both...

Plus for the Henry...(If you shoot WAS) is the 10+ round capacity to just 7 for the Spencer.

The other thing is the cost of shooting 56-50 if you don't reload...

[Pitspitr]

Deadguy I think you should follow the Major's lead and get one of each. I've never had a Spencer But I'd like to

[Deadeye Don]

Both would absolutely be period correct and look great together.  Sorry,  I cant chose between them.  It would be like asking me which one of my daughters I love most. 

[Deadguy]

Oh yeah, I'd love to get both, and I do reload and cast my own, so ammo cost is not a big factor.  But, it is going to take a LONG time to get that much money!

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I ain't shot the Spencer, but I've watched one. I do own a Henry.

The Henry holds more rounds in the magazine and cocks its own hammer everytime you work the lever. The Spencer does not. Most stages feature 10 rifle shots, so you're going to have to reload the Spencer. Unless you're really interested in just being different, the choice seems pretty obvious to me. At least it was for me.

[Deadeye Don]

I should add that I do not use my 56-50 Spencer for main match stages, but I do use it for our woods walk which is not on the clock so Driftwood has a very valid point.

[Major 2]

I best fess up ..I had a Spencer in fact two,
sold the original 56-52 because I needed the cash at the time  and because it cost almost $2 a shot  ( I don't reload )
traded the 45 Sch with the idea to replace it with a 56-50 at some point.

I've owned 3 Henry's made the mistake of selling my 1st. one in the 80's ... still have 2, a Military & a Steel Frame.

I like both, I lean toward the Henry though.

[Ransom Gaer]

Neither would be better paired with a couple of cap and ball revolvers than the other.  They are both equally good.  Although I do have a preference for the 1860 Henry.

Pros for the Henry.  With the way stages are designed they work better on the stage.  No reloads on the clock and it cocks the hammer.  Also will be faster on the stage than the Spencer.  After time the brass develops a really nice patina.  BP really helps here.   Cons for the Henry.  Has some idiosyncracies no other lever action has.  Like the follower running down the mag tube and having to do the Henry Hop or instaling a stick in between the follower and the last cartridge.  Barrel gets hot with BP on hot days, no wood fore stock to hold on to.  These can be worked around.  And all of us Henry shooters have.

Pros for the Spencer.  Probably has more style points at a match than the Henry although they are close.   Cons for the Spencer.  Slow to shoot because you have to cock the hammer yourself everytime you shoot it.  Reload on the clock for virtually every stage.  Eventually I would like to get a Spencer in .56-50.  They are cool.

Now for the really important advice.   Shoot what you want.  If you like the Spencer shoot it or get an 1860 Henry.  I have shot with pards using Spencers and it is interesting to watch them.  Both are slower than most main match rifles.  But people pay attention to them

Ransom Gaer

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I'm not gonna say one over the other.  Never owned either, but have shot both.  Both are WAY cool!

If you're into history, there were considerably fewer Henrys during the (un)Civil War than there were Spencers.   I'm not sure of the exact figures, but there were fewer than 3000 Henrys used (about 1800 purchased by the Military  and perhaps another 1000 privately purchased) but over 100,000  Spencers bought by Uncle Sam.

Again - don't quote me on the exact numbers - I think there were actually closer to 185,000 Spencers, but I can't find the figures now, but you get the idea.



Money aside,    I'd go for BOTH. 

[Major 2]

I forgot to mention one of RO's at the local range excluded my use of the 56-52 stating target damage
he also stated (even though the Spencer 56-50 is legal SASS main match ,which I pointed out ) he would disallow them as well...

I'm not sure if there was an actual test for target damage or just an assumption on his part 

their range & their rules

[Steel Horse Bailey]

It's usually based on assumption.  I don't know if our targets are all that much better than most, but we tried them out with full-power 45-70 loads.  There was a slight dimple, but no real problem ... And I won't shoot them with full loads anymore, anyway.  Deadeye Don's 56-50 Spencer did nothing harmful to the targets - but they DO "sing" when he hits 'em!  (And he doesn't miss very often - almost NEVER!!!)


Seriously, the 56-50 is just a glorified pistol round (albeit a POWERFUL ONE  ) ... there are pistol rounds allowed that will hit the targets nearly as hard, and few "officials" balk at allowing THEM!

[Major 2]

Jeff
They are mostly gamers... and the RO's seem to cater to them.

race Rugers, 97's , and short stroke 73's abound... I'm outside the box with my Richards, TTn SXS and Henry's and out in the cold with a Spencer 56-50 

[Paladin UK]

Fer Major 2.

Pard ya say........

I'm outside the box with my Richards, TTn SXS and Henry's and out in the cold with a Spencer 56-50 

BUT!!

What ya get with Booom Baaaang Claaaang of the REEEEEEEL STUFF

Puts ya INSIDE YOUR BOX n feeling REEEEEEEEL WARM!!

May the Smoke be with you

Iffn t`aint Black t`aint werth shootin

Paladin (What dont give a hoot fer gamers ) UK

[Griff]

If I had to make a choice between the two, I'd choose the Henry, more capacity, cheaper to shoot whether you reload or not.  The Spencer is a great rifle, and would like to own one for the "GRIN" factor alone!  My next rifle is likely to be a iron frame Henry, or an 1885, or...; somewhere down that list is a Spencer.

[Deadguy]

Well, considering that the primary reason I shoot these single actions is FUN and BIG GRINS, the Spencer is looking better and better from what I've been reading here...

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Jeff
They are mostly gamers... and the RO's seem to cater to them.

race Rugers, 97's , and short stroke 73's abound... I'm outside the box with my Richards, TTn SXS and Henry's and out in the cold with a Spencer 56-50 

Major - I'm in the same box - but with diff'rent shootin' irons. 



Deadguy, there ARE some practical reasons for going with a Henry, but it's all about the fun.     I doubt you'd be sorry with either!

[Col. Cornelius Gilliam]

Howdy,

No question about it: Henry 1860!!

Spencers can be fun, but you can make a Henry sing with a magazine tube full of blackpowder loaded ammo!!

[Pitspitr]

I don't know if our targets are all that much better than most, but we tried them out with full-power 45-70 loads.  There was a slight dimple, but no real problem

I've shot my own steel with everything I own. The only round I won't shoot it with anymore is my .223's. My Thompson with FMJ's left a few dimples but no serious damage. The only cast bullet that damaged it in the least was a .45/70 535gr. postel pushed by a full 70 grs of FF. It tumbled and you can see the profile of the bullet real nice.

[panhead pete]

Well Pards, Deadguy, I reckon I'll throw in.
I am blessed to be able to shoot a Uberti 73 and an Armi-Sport Spencer at our club matches.  I usually shoot the 73 on 3 stages and Spencer on two.  At our last shoot one of the top shooters in our state was heckling me (In a fun sort of way, I think?!?!), as I reloaded and cocked and fired the 56-50.  My response was "It is 1870 and the 73 Winchester has not been invented yet"!  When he said something about missing once, I said,' Yeah but when I hit em' they stay down"!  He said nothing after that.......

One of the real charms of the 56-50 is at the reloading table.  Huge rounds and then they are loaded through the buttstock.  Genueeen style.  It really depends on how historic you want to be versus how fast you can shoot. 

Back when lead was cheap, the Spencer bullets were .36 cents each!!  So I now cast as well as reload.  This has added another to the whole shooting experience.  Either way you deserve five stars for your choices of guns.

Happy Trails,

Panhead