Need more help

[Sgt. John McAfferty]

OK, I removed the 4" "Tang" at the rear of the follower.  Now I can load 7 rounds but I can't get a round to chamber.  It seems to bind and when I look at the first cartridge it is dented in the side.  I'm at a loss.  Maybe I need a stronger spring, or I'm doing something wrong.

Shakey

[Herbert]

OK, I removed the 4" "Tang" at the rear of the follower.  Now I can load 7 rounds but I can't get a round to chamber.  It seems to bind and when I look at the first cartridge it is dented in the side.  I'm at a loss.  Maybe I need a stronger spring, or I'm doing something wrong.

Shakey

try it with 5 or 6 cartriges  ,were is the dints acuring ,you may have to grind a small radious on the top leading edge of the uper breachblock

[walkinboss]

Hi,

Sounds like something didn't get put together properly...How about taking the tube unit apart again and re-doing it. 

I got a new Armi-sport spencer carbine in .44-40 last year...removed the "magazine plug"...put it back together and it has shot well ever since.. Have you thought about trying new store-bought cartridges rather than reloads? I know the Spenecer is very sensitive to OAL and that could be the problem too,

Good luck..

Walkin'Boss

[.56/50 Iron]

Based on a lot of shooting and reloading for my .56/50 Carbine, it will never feed well with soft lead bullets. The mark you notice on the side of the bullet near the tip is caused by the front top edge of the breech block, which should ride over the bullet but instead bites into the soft lead surface. Either casting your slugs out of wheelweight or linotype metal will cure this if you are using an overall length of the cartridge that is about 1.6" inches. Problem with linotype is that although the bullets seem to feed well, the ability to shoot tight groups on target seems to be only fair... Of course, it takes a lot of re-learning when it comes to your follow-through due to a slow hammer fall. Lots of practice! I have used up a couple of pounds of Swiss black powder so far and just this past weekend put some reloads through it (Lyman 518145 bullet) and using the Goex Clear Shot black powder replacer which I have a lot of (it is discontinued as it blew their manufacturing line up twice when it was being made!)while I can get two beautiful grouping shots on target, it never fails that the 3rd shot is 4 inches out!! Then, I will get nice groups for awhile again. I think it is my shooting partly and when using black powder, the fouling also has something to do with it. I use a blow tube in between shots to keep the fouling soft, but that is only part of the answer. So, if your bullets are soft lead, I can only say that I never got them to feed at all good. The harder alloy goes through as slick as can be!
.56/50 Iron

[Sgt. John McAfferty]

Howdy All,

Thanks for the advice.  I took it completely apart and lubed it with Ballistol (BP Shooter Y'know) and put it back together making sure all the screws were tight.  Loaded it up and it functioned flawlessly.  Almost all the screws were loose so I'm thinking I had too much play all around.  Anyway, seems to work now.  Got a shoot at Powder Creek this weekend so I'll take it out and see.

Shakey

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Shakey;  Can you get a few test rounds away BEFORE the match begins?  Don't want any surprises, Ya Know!

[Sgt. John McAfferty]

Howdy Sir Charles,

That would take all the fun out of it.  I thought cursing your weapons was part of the match!  Seriously, I'm going to try to go down to the range after work tonight and test it out.

Shakey

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

It is a real burden having equipment that has quality and works well.






You are deprived of an ALIBI!

[Sgt. John McAfferty]

Exactly!