Bringing an Armi Sport Spencer Rifle Into NSSA Compliance?

[knightmare]

Hello All,
     I'm sure that I'm opening a HUGE can of worms here, but I have a question. How difficult would it be to take an Armi Sport Spencer Rifle (in 56/50) and bring it into NSSA compliance and apply for an individual gun approval? I do not currently own a Spencer but plan to buy one this spring/summer. If I had one in my lap it may answer some questions I have that may seem stupid to many of you.   I've read as many of the related posts that I can find and I'm sure I've missed a few. It sounds fairly straightfoward --in concept at least. Has anyone done this?
     I plan to use it for target shooting, maybe hunting, and possibly competition, therefore, I would like the option of NSSA competition. I've not been able to find any reenacting units in Colorado so that's not an issue.
     It's been a lifelong dream of mine to own a Spencer rifle due to family ties to Wilder's Brigade, and only recently discovered that reproduction Spencers were available. The cost of the Armi Sport seems more obtainable to my budget than the Romano (unless I found a good deal on a used one). I'm researching my options before I commit.

--Knightmare

[Two Flints]

nightmare,

Go to the N-SSA web site, http://n-ssa.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=4, and resubmit your post there specifically to John Holland the web site moderator.  The N-SSA members will also be able to answer some of your questions, including how to join the N-SSA Forum.

Two Flints

[Bead Swinger]

If you get a clear answer, if you could post it, it'd be appreciated.

[Jobe Holiday]

Hello Folks,

Two Flints has contacted me to assist in an answer to your ArmiSport Spencer Rifle questions.

When the ArmiSport Spencer Rifle is corrected to original Spencer Rifle dimensions the arm is then acceptable for a N-SSA Small Arms Committee Individual Approval. Which then allows the Rifle to be used in N-SSA sanctioned Competitive Matches.

The corrections to be made are as follows:

1 - Move the front sight back to 26.75" from the front edge of the receiver. The reproduction dimension is 27.375". There is an allowable tolerance of +/- 0.250".

2 - Move the middle barrel band back to a dimension of 13.5" from the front edge of the receiver. The reproduction dimension is 14.5". There is an allowable tolerance of +/- 0.375".

3 - Move the bottom barrel band back to a dimension of 5.5". from the front edge of the receiver. The reproduction dimension is 6.5". There is an allowable tolerance of +/- 0.375".

Even though the original caliber is .56-56, the N-SSA Small Arms Committee has agreed to allow a deviation to .56-50. This decision was made back in the late 1990's when the Romano Spencer Rifle was accepted.

Perhaps I should note at this time that N-SSA Small Arms Approvals are for active members of the N-SSA since the Approval Card requires the individual's Competitor Number.

To date the N-SSA has had 3 people convert the ArmiSport Spencer Rifle to the configuration of an original. At least one of these people is also a member of the SSS, so I hope he will see this thread and perhaps reply as to how difficult, or easy, the conversion process was for him.

Sincerely,
John Holland
Chairman, Small Arms Committee
N-SSA

[knightmare]

All,
     Thanks a lot for the info guys. The biggest -and most expensive- obstacle would be relocating the front sight and subsequent rebluing, ouch. I'll be able to envision hw big a project it would be once I have one in my grubby little paws. Sounds like it might be an adventure for "later". Well, more bullets in the brain's hopper.
     Thanks again for the input, every little bit helps.

--Knightmare