.56/50 Spencer Carbine at SASS Match

panhead pete · March 12, 2008, 09:45:42 PM

Howdy Grizzle Bear,

You could load three and use the tube of 7 on the clock. I don't think any one would give you grief about "speed loading"! Especially when they are loading all ten at once. I know the SASS rules prohibit the use of "speed loaders", but at a local match, I think folks would enjoy the show!! Our first shoot is in a week and a half!! I think I have ten 56-50's?!! I will have to use the 73 as well?! Hard to load when it is 20 degrees in the garage!!

Kind Regards,

Panhead Pete

Tuolumne Lawman · March 13, 2008, 04:32:36 AM

Quote from: Steel-eye Steve on March 12, 2008, 09:41:56 PM
I hope to ride with you some day!

I'd like that! What unit are you in? What area are you located out of?

Steel-eye Steve · March 13, 2008, 07:40:42 AM

Quote from: Tuolumne Lawman on March 13, 2008, 04:32:36 AM
I'd like that! What unit are you in? What area are you located out of?

1st Wisc Cav Co C. We're out of Southern WI and Eastern Iowa. We try to hit a few Ill. events each season. Princeton is always on our list.

Capt Clancey Mitarwan · May 07, 2008, 07:31:14 PM

I like all these ideas for loading the extra 3 rounds. I usually do the best pocket thing, or in my cap box. I have a Blakeslee Loader, but was told SASS doesn't allow their use. Anyone have any further information.

Steel-eye Steve · May 07, 2008, 10:18:23 PM

Quote from: Capt Clancey Mitarwan on May 07, 2008, 07:31:14 PM
I like all these ideas for loading the extra 3 rounds. I usually do the best pocket thing, or in my cap box. I have a Blakeslee Loader, but was told SASS doesn't allow their use. Anyone have any further information.

It's really nit picking to call it a speed loader, not allowed by SASS, when your dealing with a Spencer.

panhead pete · May 08, 2008, 07:49:43 PM

Howdy Captain,

Nit Picking is one way to put it for sure. I think that regarding a Blakeslee loader a speed loader is ridiculous. Besides the inherit drawback of cocking the hammer for each round on our beloved Spencers, you have to load ON THE clock!! If I were Posse leader and someone called it an illegal "Speed Loader", I would cite THEM for a spirit of the game violation! I am thinking of just shooting 7 from now on. I don't care about speed (obviously), but it it would ease the flow of the stage. I do get a lot of kudos for placing the tube in my mouth while I reload.....

Kind Regards,

Panhead

Bead Swinger · May 11, 2008, 08:06:34 PM

I've always brought my Blakeslee along to shoots - Considering I only have ~70 functioning cases, it works great. But I've never tried using the tubes on the clock. I'm getting out to my first shoot of the season next week - I'll see if they'll let me try. It'll be humorous for the rest of the Posse at least. It'll be more interesting than watching me fumble with rounds.

DJ · May 13, 2008, 04:57:18 PM

I've shot my original M1860 rifle in matches (shhh! Don't tell anyone it's in .56-.56 in stead of .56-.50) and used a Blakeslee tube a couple times to reload 3 in a 10-rifle-shot stage. The last time I stuck the single tube in my belt before going to the line (didn't feel I needed the additional handicap of the whole Blakeslee box), pulled it out to load after firing 7, set the empty tube on the table after reloading (where it started slowly rolling, unnoticed, toward the edge of the table), and just as I fired my first shot, the tube clattered off the table onto the cement with a loud metallic ring. You could hear the collective gasp as everyone thought my rifle had just blown up.

I did get prior permission from the match director to use the Blakeslee "speed loader." I'm not certain it save much time, but in theory it should have.

--DJ

John Smith · May 20, 2008, 12:27:44 PM

I'm lucky that in my club we shoot a catagory called "Cody-Dixon". Instead of 10 rifle targets, we shoot 5 shots at targets 75 to 90 yds away. Perfect for my Spencer, of course misses are 10 seconds instead of 5. I've shot in several matches where I used a Blakeslee tube for the reload. I've never had anyone question my use of the Blakeslee Box. Remember the SASS rules call for extra ammo to be carried in a "traditional" manner.

bobnssa#37 · May 28, 2008, 04:40:00 PM

If your rules allow it, load from a Blakeslee box I shoot in the NSSA and that is allowed in our rules

Bead Swinger · May 28, 2008, 11:31:28 PM

Hi All -
I did try it at a local match - very fun. I think it saved a little time, maybe a total of 5 seconds, but it most certainly was less stressful. I loaded three, and then dumped a full tube of seven. It worked. Fun was had by all. I'll try it again in June.

I'm hoping no one will catch on that it's 56-56, with an FF Pyrodex load. Lots of smoke; even got the RO coughing. 'Gotta love it.

Thanks for the suggestion!

minerotago · June 02, 2008, 11:49:03 PM

PS If I really feel the need to shoot something fast, I can salways hoot my AK, AR, or M1 carbine!

Ye gods - I thought that no self respecting cowboy would own such guns - I must admit that I do have such things myself but keep them stored well away from my historic pieces for fear of contaminating them! I only bring them out up at my farm when I am inthe mood for the mass destruction of accumulayed bean cans! Somehow I have just as much fun or more fun even firing BP loads at targets on a shoe string budget as I have blasting away my bank account with something modern like an SKS.