My Search is Over! I Now Own A Spencer ( Kinda ) *** Photos Added ***

[Dana]

Well I made My choice, and it wasn't easy, I ended up finding a nice 1871 Springfield Alteration,Serial # 16529, I guess this is classified as Spencer. It has Spencer wrote on it along with Burnside, and my book says they were made at the Springfield Armory , Leavenworth, Kansas. I know that its a 56-50, I have talked with S & S and Buffalo Arms about Breech blocks, and I heard that Romano might also sell them, have not made up my mind on which one. All seem to work by what I have read in forum.

Now the Brass is a Harder question, again from Forum, Romano length, max 1.565, others have good luck with 1.650. Buffalo Arms only sells one type of brass for originals now. ( Starline 50-70 cut down ) S & S also sells same Brass I think?

Mold, I slug the barrel, it looks to be about .515. Measurement with three lands is hard to mic. I will do this again?

Reloading Dies, Both Buffalo Arms and Romano make them, I need help as to what would be the best to buy, No Idea here?

I know there are other items that I will require, ( ie. Primers, powder 2f or 3f, hardness of lead ) and probably a lot more.

As you can probably tell, I'm not the smartest Gun person around, but I'm persistent and will get this gun to shoot with the help of all you and the people here in the Greater Northwest.

I just what to Thank everyone who has helped me in learning about Spencers and whom will be helping me in the future, incase I forget.

I will someday figure out the Picture Posting Process and will show you my Rifle.

Here they are posted by Two Flints for me.







Thanks,

Dana

[Two Flints]

Congrats Dana   I guess now, I can get some sleep

Send your photos to me at fsgrand2@fairpoint.net and I will post them for you and add them to this thread.

Good going and good luck with shooting it!

Two Flints

[Arizona Trooper]

Dana,
  Congratulations on your "new" Spencer, and a rare one too!

  Take a look through the frequently asked questions section. A lot of the questions you ask are answered there.

  As for molds, you want a bullet of about 350-375 grains with a flat nose and large grease grooves. Romano makes a good mold. I shoot a Lyman 515141 (govt. 50-70 bullet), with the mold cut short to cast a 2 groove bullet. Be sure the mold you get will cast a 0.515" diameter bullet. 50 Express (50-95 and 50-110) and a lot of 50 Sharps bullets are perfect, except they are 0.509".

  As for powder, I have had the best luck with GOEX CTG or Swiss #2 (FF). Generally, FF seems to work better than FFF. You want the charge compressed about 0.10". If you shoot a light load (~25-30 grains) put in a card wad or two under the bullet. Use magnum rifle primers. Theoretically, you shouldn't need them on so small a charge, but velocity deviation is lower with them.

  S&S use to sell turned brass cases, as did Ballard Rifle & Cartridge Co. They work well, but the necks split after not too many reloads. Starline brass is very good. You may need to turn the rims down to 0.65". CH-4D dies work well. Buffalo & S&S Firearms both sell them, or you can order direct from the manufacturer. Larry Romano may make his own dies, I'm not sure. If he does, they will be first class. 

  On some 50-70 cases the necks will be very thick after you cut them off. Run cases through the sizing die and then neck ream to 33/64". (Reamers are available from MSC Supply.)

  The Springfield Spencers were converted at the US armory, Springfield Mass, for a sham buyer for the French government during the Franco-Prussian war. After the war, most were reimported to the US as surplus, in unissued condition. An old issue of Al Frasca's Trapdoor Springfield Newsletter has some interesting information on them, and the circuitous route they took from Springfield to France to Bannermans et al (See www.trapdoorcollector.com for Al's contact information.

  By the way, if you want to get a bayonet, standard US Musket/50-70 Trapdoor bayonets fit perfectly.

[Herbert]

Very nice rifle,a friend of mine has one of these rifles and it is the most acurate Spencer I have ever yoused,when choosing a mould for this rifle find one that will give you as much powder space as posoble,original Spencers can be loaded with a greater OAL cartridge than the armi sports ones,usually up to a bit longer than 1.65.Good luck you are going to enjoy this rifle

[Jan Buchwald]

Cases can be made of 32 Magtech brass shotshells, as the buttom is thinner it contain more powder.
When annealed, they can easily be formed in a 56-50 die, (I used Lee).
I bought a Lee 50/70 mould (515-450F) machined the last grease groove off and remounted the cutter plate, now casting a bullet with two grease grooves and a bullet weight of about 400 grs.
Cartridge length is very important