Dispelling an untrue rumor.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy,

It has come to my attention that there is a malicious rumor out there that some Taylor's Spencers have blown up.  As per Tammi Loy at Taylors, 9:30 PST 3-27-06, NOT A SINGLE ARMISPORT SPENCER HAS BLOWN UP, NOR HAVE ANY HAD A ROUND GO OFF IN THE MAGAZINE!

Some originals have blown up becase the owner never flattened the follower meant for rimfire, when converting to centerfire. The original followers had a rounded, almost pointy configuration. They were designed for rimfire cartridges, not centerfire.  Some people did not flatten the follower when they converted to centerfire.  An original, with an unmodified follower, can go off if dropped on the buttplate with a full or partial magazine.  Judge hemp had his original 1860 .56-56 blow up when his son, who was carrying it on horseback, fell off.  The loads in the mag went off, destroying the buttstock and magazine tube.

Bernie

[Dakota Widowmaker]

I have now loaded 300-380gr bullets in my Spencer with charges ranging from 30gr of FFg to 50gr 777 pellets. (I had to try...YIKES!!!)

No sign at all of any pressure issues or out of alignment issues.

But, good greif...I have got to get that darn trigger lightened up.

The Army used to test the original spencers with a charge of 60gr of BP and a 300+gr bullet with hardly a sign of fatigue.

Berdan was injured from a blown case, not a blown spencer.

[geo]

when buying the replacement block for original spencers one must buy the aftermarket magazine follower as well. otherwise, blooey! the repros have the flattened follower (or should) as part of the deal. good luck, geo.