Battle of Selma Reenactment - Spencers

[nactorman]

Just wondering if any other spencer owners have an interest in attending this year's Battle of Selma, AL Reenactment (April 22-25)? Assuming my rifle ever arrives (patience is not my strong suit), I plan on attending and running a mess of blanks through it. If any other spencer shooters have an interested in falling in together, just give me a holler.

[Cannon Fodder]

I  have 45 lc rifle.  I sent you an email. best,don

[Major 2]

I've had some great memories at Selma, Bill Rambo and his Alabama Division do a great job.

[nactorman]

I too have fond memories of Selma reenactments past. This will be the first time in years that I have attended, however. Thanks for the message, Don. Looks like we now have at least two Spencers going. Just as FYI to anyone else potentially interested, we will be participating as dismounted cavalry. (Union troopers will be assaulting the CS works.) Other members of my unit will be using various other carbines. If interested, just shoot me an e-mail. We'd love to have you.
  Charles Misulia
  Lumpkin, GA

[Major 2]

Lumpkin Ga    I've done some Living History at Westville.
Creek Indian War.... I suppose you know Bob McLendon ?

Bob was my second in command of our Mounted Cavalry unit, we usually were Federal at Selma.
He'll be at Selma & hosts Westville.

[nactorman]

For anyone else considering going to Selma, I will be set up in the modern area during the day signing books - so you know where to find me. My unit will be acting as Union Dismounted Cav for the weekend and we welcome any other Spencer shooters to join us in portraying Wilson's Raiders for the weekend. Hope to see you there.
  Charles Misulia
  Lumpkin, GA

[Marshal Davis]

Charles, I have a Spencer carbine and will be at Selma but will be over on the other side with my flintlock as part of the Homeguard defending the works. But I'll try to look you up as I would love to see what you are using for blanks. My Spencer is the 56-50 caliber and I just have never found anything yet that is affordable or works well for a blank. I've tried the cheesy plastic ones but they do not have enough room in them for anything more than about 10 grains pf powder and a shotgun primer. Too weak.   

[major]

Marshal
The secret to using blanks in a Spencer is to get the gun in 44-40 and use cut down 410 hulls for blanks.  I wrote about this in this article.  You might find it helpfull. http://www.9thnycavalry.webeditor.com/publications/spencer_article.html
Terry

[nactorman]

Marshall Davis,
  Sounds like your group will be doing a good impression for the weekend. There were a lot of militia and civilians who participated in the fight at Selma. As for me, I will be easy to find. I will be at the book signing booth near the entrance for most of the weekend, although I do plan on participating in the battles. See you there.
  Charles Misulia
  Lumpkin, GA

[Marshal Davis]

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I didn't get to make Selma this year afterall due to violent weather in my area. Besides using 410's in the 44-40's I assume they would work in the 45's as well. Also I ran into a Spencer toter at another battle using the 44 Russian caliber. It worked perfectly with crimped 44 magnum shells. They are dirt cheap as well. Actually I have found a round that works perfectly in my 56-50 Spencer as a blank and sounds like a cannon. 45-70 brass cut off to slightly longer than the loaded 56-50 then crimped over to form a bevel on the end feeds nicely and ejects just as well as a 56-50 Starline case. With a blank there is not even any case expansion. The rim on the 45=70 is just the right size. Only problem is I just cannot bring myself to cut up my valuable 45-70 brass which I shoot in several guns including an original rolling block, repro Sharps and three different trapdoors. I'm wondering if anyone has tried any magtec 32 gauge brass shells cut down and crimped or 50 Alaskan cases crimped to the correct length? 

[major]

Marshal Davis
The 410 blanks will  not work in a 45 Spencer.  The rolling block will not close compleatly.  They will only work in the 44-40 version.
Terry