rookie Chiappa Spencer QUESTIONS planning to buy help /info requested

[nb.nagantsniper]

hello from Canada

lately ive been interested   to get a Spencer,  up in Canada there few and original shooter models are very  pricy.

ive  got a  lead  on a reenactor group, with 4  or 5  CHIAPPA spencer rifles  -- all   in 44-40,   30 inch barrels.   ive seen  and read all the down falls of the chiappa s  ,

my questions .
q1  starting off  could i  buy  factory 44-40 ammo, then plan  to  reload brass and mold my own lead bullets

are the Chiappa  Spencer  ok an safe with factory made modern smokeless powder  ammo?

q2  what  dies / bullet molds would be my best buy / best bet for use in reloading for a Chiappa  in 44-40 ??

any  advise  on Chiappa Spencers  in general,  its the only game in town  it seems .

[Cap'n Redneck]

Q1:  Yes, the Chiappa Spencer is perfectly capable of handling smokeless factory ammo.  I would advise you to avoid the Winchester brand semi-jacketed ammo, as it is loaded with undersize bullets (.425") so that it may be safely fired in old original .44-40 rifles.  I guess the Chiappa Spencer-barrels measure around .430".
Get lead flat-nose ammo if you can.

Q2:  LEE Precision 3-die sets are probably your best buy.  They also include the shellholder.  (LEE # 14)
  You do not need to buy the LEE Factory Crimp die; it will ruin your case-necks in short order.
If you plan on reloading with blackpowder you should also avoid the LEE bulletmolds; they have shallow grease-grooves and will not hold enough lube for extended shooting with a 30" barrel. 
The Lyman steel moldblocks have generous grease-grooves and will work better with blackpowder loads.

Other than that I can only encourage you to read all relevant info on this Spencer-forum.

[nb.nagantsniper]

thanks  for the info,    i  currently reload for my modern  (  ww1  an ww2 ere) rifles,   and black powder rifles  ( martini  , snider, and   swiss vetterli )  and do  muzzleloading and cast  bullets an ball.

always prefer to  get the info   before  diving in, learning from others is better than learning from my own  mistakes.