My first Spencer

[Perry Owens]

Finally got my Spencer out of customs. It is a Model 1865 carbine, Burnside manufacture, serial number 31610. The bore slugs at 0.515in. I would greatly appreciate any information anyone could give me about it, also recommended bullet moulds etc. My first thoughts are to use 50-70 brass, cut down and machine the rims as necessary, with maybe a Buffalo Arms JIM 515375 mould, but I defer to the wealth of knowledge available on this forum.
Perry Owens

[Herbert]

IN a original spencerthe jim515375 works very well,in my burncide carbine i youse a rapine 520375 bullet which is almost identical except the jim bullet has thicker fist driving band,which will inprove acuracy,it feeds flawlesly slow or fast, i have been yousing starline cases in mine with no extraction problems,so before buying brass see weather the starline brass works in yours it need anaoiling before youse though ,i belive the jim bull the best desine for the original spencer yet gives great acuracy and you can get a deasent amount of pouder in the case you are going to be amazed at how yousfull the litle carbine is dont be scared to take shots at targets out to 300 or more meters,it will hit a man size target at500 every time loaded properly

[Perry Owens]

To add to my post above,

It's always a great bonus for a gun collecter to find a pointer towards the possible history of a piece. It's only happened to me once before - interestingly that was also a cavalry carbine, a British Snider.
Perry Owens

[Herbert]

your Burncide 1865 carbine was one of the last of the Burncide carbines deliverd october 31 -1865 so it saw no civil war youse but on the up side the Burncide carbines were nealy all isued to fronter use ,including the  7th & 9 th cavelery and yoused in many actions in the west

[Bead Swinger]

Congrats!
Take the suggestion seriously about seeing if the Starline brass will extract correctly - if it does work (don't bet on it ), you'll save yourself significant time and money. When I was shooting an original, I was very pleased with the Buffalo Arms Spencer Brass for originals - I was shooting 56-56; I'd suspect their 56-50 cases for originals would be as good. They are made from machined Starline 50-70 cases and I suspect will save you time and money, even though they are pricey .

Take a look at the notes for shooting originals - get a flat follower for the tube and a CF conversion block if you don't have these already. And enjoy - the last fellow I knew shooting a Burnside 56-50 loved it. Post a picture when you get a chance  .

Beadswinger

[Perry Owens]

The problem with living in the UK is that it's difficult to get  the stuff together to get the Spencer shooting. The center fire block and flat follower are on the way over from S&S but Buffalo Arms told me the dies and mould are on back order. They also told me that they can no longer export any brass without an export licence. I ordered some of their 56-50 brass and some Starline 50-70 to machine myself but I had to have it sent to a colleague in New York so I can pick it up next time I am in the US on business. While I am waiting I will strip it completely and clean the internals, also take a chamber cast.