Range Report- New Armi Sport 56-50 Spencer Carbine

[Sureshot]

I picked up my new carbine today from my FFL holder and had a chance to shoot a few rounds that I had loaded earlier this morning.
The gun looks real nice, good fit and finish, stock is nice straight grain walnut, the color is a little on the red side, but not bad. Color case hardening and bluing are typical Italian quality and look great. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the gun came in a plastic hard case.
I cleaned the bore to remove the preservative gunk and off to the range I went.
The rounds I had loaded consisted of Starline brass, Federal 210 primer, 34gr Swiss 3F, and Lyman 515139 bullet cast 20/1 weighing 350gr sized .512 and lubed with homemade black powder lube. I used Lyman dies.
I had read that these things had hard trigger pulls but man alive I had to check to make sure the hammer was back all the way a couple of times it took so much force to set it off.
The rear sight was also hard to see, but worked OK if I squinted real hard.
I fired a few rounds to see where it was shooting and the big boom and cloud of smoke was impressive.
At 50yds it shot just a little high and to the right so I didn't adjust the sights. I then shot 12 rounds on the target in the picture. The first two rounds went low, (probably the jerk on the trigger) and then the other ten made a fairly good group, considering the sights and trigger.
I did notice a lot of blow-by on the brass and will have to anneal it. Typical hard Starline brass.
Overall I am very impressed with my new carbine. I think I will try to find a proper file to put better notches in the rear sight, and then do some research on the best way to improve the trigger. The elevation slide on the rear sight will not stay in place so I will have to find a way to tighten it up, too.  

[Two Flints]

Hi Sureshot,

Thanks for the great thread/post.  I appreciate the loading information and the photo.  You might want to check out the "often Requested Information" thread for info on how to lighten your trigger pull.  There are many sub thread at the ORI thread that may be of some help to you.

Before others ask, you wrote "lubed with homemade black powder lube".  Ingredients?  Composition?  Any info on your homemade lube would be appreciated.

Thanks for joining SSS

Two Flints 

[Sureshot]

Thanks, Two Flints.
I have been visiting this site for the last couple of months in anticipation of getting a Spencer, and thanks to you and the other members I was able to hit the ground running with the new carbine due to all the great information available here ahead of time.
The lube I use is 2 parts beeswax, 1 part anhydrous lanolin, and 1 part meadowfoam seed oil. It seems to work OK. I have mostly used SPG in the past, and never had a problem with it, but I decided to experiment a little.
Thanks again,
Steve   

[1816flintlock]

Sureshot,

Nice Spencer!  You did a lot better on your first time out with it then I did with mine.  The Spencer Rifle I bought last year also came with that red stain on the stock.  If you don't care for it, a rag soaked in denatured alcohol will remove it.  I stripped the stain from my rifle and then just treated the stock with several coats of boiled linseed oil with a bit of turpentine mixed it.  It now has a nice light brown color to it with the stock showing some nice grain to it expecially in the forearm.

Stephen

[Mossyrock]

You might also want to try a harder bullet than the 20:1.  I have heard a very hard composition of mostly linotype mentioned here, but I have been using water-quenched wheel-weights with good results.

[Fox Creek Kid]

IMO Swiss FFFg is too hot for most uses. I have better luck with Swiss Fg, 1 /12 Fg & FFg but IMO even that is too expensive for anything but long range BPCR. I get the best accuracy in my 56-50 with GOEX FFg or Schuetzen FFg and accuracy is better when I drop tube the powder. 

[Bead Swinger]

That's some good shooting for a first time out.
Next time you get out, you should try 8" of 5 1/2" x 3/4 pine board at 40 yds and post it. I'd bet you could beat Lincoln!