Spencer feeding issues

[Rim fire]

I took my newly acquired Spencer rifle to the range over the weekend.  It shoots a very good group at 50 yards, but if the rifle is level, the cartridges hang up and don't advance fully unless the rifle is shaken.  On the other hand, if I tilt the barrel down at a 45 degree angle, it feeds very well.  The magazine spring seems to have enough "spring" in it.  Didn't know if anyone ran into the same issue, and what was the cause.  Thanks

[Coal Creek Griff]

Sometimes, but not always, mine is a little finicky with the first round or two out of the magazine,  but it's more of a "hitch" than a stoppage. If the muzzle is pointed somewhat upwards, it feeds just fine (I don't think that I've tried pointing it downward).  After the first round or two, it feeds smoothly while horizontal.  I've heard others relate similar issues.

CC Griff

EDIT: I should have pointed out that mine is an Armi-Sport reproduction.

[Rim fire]

Thanks for the reply.  I'm going to take a look at the junction of the brass outer mag tube and the receiver to see if there is a burr or space where the cartridge rim may get hung up.

[PvtGreg]

Rim fire,

Whats your OAL?  If you're shaking it to feed most likely that simply pushes the round up a couple of tenths.

Greg

[Rim fire]

1.550"

[Pitspitr]

Too Short! (most likely)

I was having feed issues in my original and stretched my loads out to 1.61" OAL and the issues seem to have disappeared.

[Rim fire]

The oal is based on the ogive on the bullet as the cartridge guide on the top of the receiver stops the cartridge on that portion of the bullet not the point.  The bullet I am using is the same ogive as the original and has worked in many Spencer rifles and carbines in the past.  I think it may have something to do with the mag spring or the rim of the cartridge is hanging up somewhere in the back of the receiver.

[Pitspitr]

Yes, I understand that, but what you've been describing are the same symptoms mine showed. I had set my seating dies based on the ogive too, but when I stretched them out to 1.61" OAL to the flat on the nose it started working.

[Rim fire]

Unfortunately, I can't do that as the heel on the bullet is very short (rapine 546375) and I can't stretch the round any longer unless I make more brass .050" longer.

[Pitspitr]

Ok, Sorry, I thought I had your solution 

[Rim fire]

Think you may have found the solution.  I just can't try it.

[Rim fire]

On closer examination, I found a 1/10" gap between the outer mag tube and the frame.  The 50-70 case rim catches in that space and cocks the cartridge slightly causing the cartridge to not advance all the way unless the rifle is pointed down.  Think I will put a spacer in there to prevent this.  Thanks for your help.

[El Supremo]

Super info, Rim Fire:

When you do the fix please take a photo of the brass outer mag tube and post it with approx. frame number.  
Some are interested in the brass feature, believing that it could be an early version, later replaced with an iron one.  

And ..... please share if the fix worked.   Much obliged.

El Supremo / Kevin Tinny

[Rim fire]

No problem.  The serial # is 24015, the range for Massachusetts troops.  A late rifle, probably issued in the Spring of '64.  I thought it was unusual to find a brass tube in a late rifle.  I have seen brass tubes in my Naval rifle serial# 50 and am Army rifle Serial # 26xx. I guess they used whatever they had at hand.  I spoke to Marcot about the brass tube, and he seemed to think it was used on the early rifles, and was stopped by the time carbines came online.