New Spencer 44-40

[Big Dave]

Hey there, I bought  a Spencer in 44-40 from Taylor Arms and am a recent new member to the Spencer Shooting Society.  I notice it sometimes fails to chamber the first cartridge.  Any suggestions?  I thought they'd worked the bugs out of these guns.  Of course, it could be user error.  The case OAL could be too long or too short.  These rounds feed great in my Winchester 73, but this is a different gun.   Thanks, Big Dave

Bet it helps if you shoot these guns to have a sense of humor and to be willing to take a drink now and then.  Ha,ha!

[Trailrider]

To analyze this problem, we need more information: How is the first cartridge failing to feed? Is the nose of the bullet catching on the edge of the chamber? What type of bullet shape are use using? How far from the edge of the flat (if you are using a flat-nose bullet) is the bullet catching? Where clockwise or counterclockwise (looking from the breech to the barrel) is the point of contact and with what part of the breech face?  Do you notice any tendency of following rounds to fail to feed smoothly? If so, is there any indication of contact in a similar point of contact to the first round?  You may need to make up a few dummy rounds and see if shortening or lengthening the OAL of the cartridge makes a difference.

[rbertalotto]

I have the same Spencer in 44-40.....Stragest thing....When I received it a made up 10 dummy cartridges so I could practice in my shop. Would never feed the first round and usually hick-uped within the next 6.

I tried a couple different bullet noses and a round nose seemed to work best.

BUT.....When I took it to the range with live ammo (same bullet)...it fed every round flawlessly! Go figure!

You need to really man-handle these rifles. No girly cycling of the action will work.....Run it like a man! Be extremely deliberate.

After about 100 rounds my Spencer is loosening up beautifully. The 44-40 in this rifle is amazingly accurate and just a whole bunch of fun to shoot..........get a Blakeslee Box and have a Civil War Moment!

http://www.blockaderunner.com/Catalog/catpg11.htm

[Big Dave]

I think that I figured it out.  The Spencer likes a longer OAL in 44-40 with a strong lever stroke.  The magazine spring is a bit on the long side and could use a bit of shortening.  The cutting should be gradual--for obvious reasons.  Accuracy is excellent; trigger pull could be a bit lighter. I'll mess with that later.  More shooting=better performance; once case OAL is confirmed.  Don't think the gun will walk and talk the way you want it to out of the box. By God it's still pretty fun to shoot.

[Big Dave]

I have found that the Spencer is feeding more smoothly with each shooting session.  It probably needed a break in period.  Still need to work on that trigger pull.  It's pretty heavy.

[Shenandoah]

I didn't feel comfortable working on my trigger. I sent it to a gunsmith and it is much, much lighter and smoother.