Loading dies for Armi Chiappa 56-50 reproduction?

[RattlesnakeJack]

Is there more than one choice for loading dies for the reproduction .56-.50 rifles - mine is coming from Cimarron, but I gather they are the same as Taylor's?

If there is more than one choice, what is recommended, and who sells them that can and will ship to Canada?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Armi-Sport is a subsidiary of Chiappa.  They supply ALL Spencers to all wholesalers and dealers.  I used the Lyman 56-50 dies, as they are specific for Armi-Sport 56-50 (no matter who you get it from).  RCBS has their Legacy ? dies for 56-50 Armi-sport for about the same price ($50 USD).  RCBS has special order dies for the 56-50 originals for about $250 USD.

Buffalo Arms, Midway USA, and Track of the Wolf all sell the Spencer dies.  As far as shipping north of the Medicine Line, you will have to ask them.  Maybe MARSTAR Canada sells Lyman and RCBS dies for the Spencer.

[RattlesnakeJack]

Well, I ordered a set of the Lyman dies last night from Track of the Wolf.  I dealt with them years ago when I was into muzzle-loading shooting almost exclusively, but haven't ordered anything for years.

Everything I have read about TOTW, particularly from Canadians who deal with them, has been positive, with glowing reports about their responsiveness and customer service, and I now have my own testimonial to add .....  I was checking online last evening on whether they might also have replacement nipples for my original London Model 1851 Colt Navy, and found out they did apparently carry them - and for only about half the price that Dixie Gun Works charges.  I sent an e-mail to confirm that the nipples I had found listed were in fact the correct ones ...... not expecting to hear back for a couple of days, at the earliest.  However, I got a personal reply within an hour or two (must have been 10:00pm or so in Minnesota) with a recommendation for which nipple wrench to order, as well!  My order for dies, shellholder, nipples and nipple wrench went in right away!

[Shenandoah]

TOTW is a good company. I've done many transactions with them. They have always been very customer friendly and prompt with their shipping.

I think you'll be pleased with them.

[RattlesnakeJack]

TOTW is still exceeding expectations - got a shipping confirmation e-mail ...... which appears to have been sent today at just after 6:00 am Minnesota time! (Certainly no later than 7:00 am ....)

[WCR]

Are the dies for the Armi 56-50 different from dies for the original 56-50 cartridge?

thanks to those that posted sources for the dies.

[Two Flints]

Lane47,

You might want to go to the SORI thread for additional information on loading for the Spencer.  Lots of great info there.

Two Flints

[RattlesnakeJack]

Are the dies for the Armi 56-50 different from dies for the original 56-50 cartridge

It is my understanding that the chamber dimensions of the reproduction .56-50 centerfire Spencers differ somewhat from the original .56-.50 rimfire chambers, and the dies accordingly differ as well.  Unfortunately, from Tuolumne Lawman's post, I gather that the more economically priced Lyman and RCBS dies are for cartridges used in the reproduction rifles, and the significantly more expensive RCBS set is for cartridges intended for use in original rifles .....

Perhaps someone will be along with more insight into this, including an indication of whether less expensive dies are made for the originals .....

[Herbert]

The CH dies for the original Spencer will work for the AS 56-50,but the expander plug is for .52 bullets.The camber dementions in the AS Spencers are slitly tighter but with a very long lead.The Lyman dies for the 56-50 have a smaller diameter removable expanding plug for the smaller diameter AS bullet but is easly replaced with a spare expanding head to load the original 56-50 just as well as any,if you do this you can all so work out the depth you need for a compresion die and combine booth in the one die