.56/50 Spencer Carbine at SASS Match

[Grapeshot]

Well, another year has past and in a month or two the SASS/Cowboy Action Shooting Season will begin.  I have decided that I will shoot my Spencer Carbine this year along with my pair of 1st Model Colt Dragoons.

Anyone out there have any suggestions about how to reload on the clock.  My thinking is to pull the additional rounds out of my pouch/cartridge box and load them directly into the chamber as I finish off the ones in the magazine.

[Deadeye Don]

I would just put them in my vest pocket and reach for them.  That seems to work well for shot gun shells.   Man you are going to get mucho style points!!!

[Drydock]

I use a Dwyer pouch for those single shot reloads, and yes, that is the way to do it.  I'm thinking of adding 3 loops to the outside flap of the pouch just for those reloads.

[Hell-Er High Water]

I modified my leather shotgun cartridge belt and added loops for the 50-70 that I use in the Plainsman event.  These loops also hold the 56-50 and make loading the Spencer as a single shot for the last few rounds of a scenario a snap.  Another option that you might consider.

HHW

[Fox Creek Kid]

I'm thinking of adding 3 loops to the outside flap of the pouch just for those reloads.

GAMER!!! 

[Rancid Roy]

Grapeshot,

I went to Cabelas online and they sell a 6 round cartidge slide for the .500 S&W. I soaked it in water and stretched the loops with oiled 56/50 brass. It will stretch them to them max but it worked. They are not entirely period correct but arguably "possible" for the time period. I dyed them black [I bought two].

I fire the seven in the weapon and then load from the slides. Also I cock the hammer from the shoulder with my right small finger [I am right handed with carbine in right shoulder] bringing the hammer all the way to full cock, drop the action, load the cartridge, close the action and fire.

The slides are mounted on the left side of my belt and fed with the left hand.

Regards, RR.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Like Sgt. Eli, I use an 1876 Dyer carbine pouch.  It is wool lined and will hold the rounds loose.  I shoot 7, leave the action open after the 7th, take the tube out and insert three in the mag, put the tube back in, close the action, and blaze away!  That's about a gamer as I can get with Kirst Konverters, a 56-50 Spencer, and a side hammer TNN!

If you look in Shorgun News, Pacific Canvas and Leather advertises them, and Cabelas sometimes has them.

[panhead pete]

Ahh, Tuolumne, You warm my heart, SIr!!!  I load all three through the tube as well.  I think if you are really practiced, single loading may be faster, but for me the tube in my mouth and droppin' em in works great!!  I generally lever the action before cocking the hammer.  I have read both ways of shooting the mighty Spencer.

Kind Regards,

Panhead
PS You should have seen the 56-50's rock the bowling pins on one of our "jus fer fun" stages!!  The gamers really looked weak after all 4 of us BP shooters rocked the pins!!

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I have been known to knock some of the gamer friendly steel right off their stands with my Spencer!  I explain it is mertely a 350 grain, .515 bullet with 40 grains (volume) 777 behind it!

I have even been asked by folks shooting 4th generation short stroke .38 SPl 1866s with mouse fart loads "Why would you want to shoot a gun like that and intentionally be so slow"  I generally respond"If you have to ask, you would never understand, even if I told you!"

[Tuolumne Lawman]

PS  If I really feel the need to shoot something fast, I can salways hoot my AK, AR, or M1 carbine!

[panhead pete]

TOUCHE"

I usually shoot the Spencer on two or three stages and the Uberti 73 Winchester  on the other two or three.  I fill my loads with as much 2F as I can.  Most people are very intrigued when they see the Spencer.  EVERY time I shoot it, I'll have some Pard tell me how cool it was to watch that rifle sing!!  I think some are jealous that they can not "let go" of the timer thing and shoot something as cool as the Spencer.  To me it is more about history than how quickly I can hit the steel.  All in all I can hit the steel pretty fast as well!!  I use 51 Navy conversions for side arms and a hammer double as well.  I really want to find a 28-30 inch hammer double.  That would be authentic!!!

Best,
Panhead

[Tuolumne Lawman]

As I no longer have a Henry or Smith, my Taylor's 56-50 Spencer is my only CAS or CW re-enacting rifle.

[Two Flints]

T.L.,

What happened to the Smith?  You seemed to be pretty excited about having one not too long ago 

Two Flints

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Hell R High water has it now.  For both Cavalry units I re-enact with, the either the Smith or the Spencer is correct, so I thinned my stable down and kept the Spencer (my favorite!)

I'll send you an Email

[Grizzle Bear]

I found some brass tubing big enough to hold .56-50 rounds.  Soldered a plug in one end, and got some rubber stoppers for the other end.  These hold a full seven rounds, but have thought of making some 3 rounders as well.

If the other rifle shooters have to do a reload as well, I can just about keep up with them.

Grizzle Bear

[Bead Swinger]

Hmmm... I recycled my CW-era pistol pouch, and dropped a chunk of 1x2 wood into it so that the 12-Ga shells are easily reached.  Then I stuck three 56-56's into the leather flap on the inside. It worked pretty well.   wear the whole thing on the right, about where a belly-box goes, as I'm too right-handed to load properly with my left hand.

This 'flap' is really an extra piece of leather on the inside of the front face of the pouch. I'm not quite sure why this was there in the original, but I'm not complaining.

I've been single-shooting it, but I think I'll try the tube the next time. 'sound's easier. 'course I get to wait for the snow to clear before shooting season starts, since that darned varmit saw his shadow.

If you're really interested, you can watch me fumble with the whole sheebang in the video I posted back in October.

[Steel-eye Steve]

I found some brass tubing big enough to hold .56-50 rounds.  Soldered a plug in one end, and got some rubber stoppers for the other end.  These hold a full seven rounds, but have thought of making some 3 rounders as well.

If the other rifle shooters have to do a reload as well, I can just about keep up with them.

Grizzle Bear

I carry a tube sized for three .45SW rounds in a Dyer box.

[Steel-eye Steve]

Hell R High water has it now.  For both Cavalry units I re-enact with, the either the Smith or the Spencer is correct, so I thinned my stable down and kept the Spencer (my favorite!)

I'll send you an Email

TL,
What unit are you with now?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy,

I am with two cav units.  The 12th Illinois, dismounted, and the 11th mounted.  Centered in the Green, Calhoun, and Jersey Counties.

[Steel-eye Steve]

Howdy,

I am with two cav units.  The 12th Illinois, dismounted, and the 11th mounted.  Centered in the Green, Calhoun, and Jersey Counties.

I hope to ride with you some day!