Looking for bullets or mold for 0.535" Spencer Rifle

[cwbuff]

I have a converted original Spencer rifle. It slugs out at 0.535. I know of the Rapine mould but know they are no longer in business. Is there a reliable source of bullets or an alternative mould that can be used?

[Jan Buchwald]

How about the Lee 90473 or 90474 improved minie, you can eventually replace the cone to get a flat base, and the same way adjust the weight

[cwbuff]

Two questions on the Lee molds:
1) What do you do to get the flat base and reduce the weight?
2) How does this fit into the case?

[Jan Buchwald]

If you look at the picture http://cgi.ebay.com/LEE-54-Caliber-Improved-Minie-Bullet-Mold-NEW-90473-/330433525840 you will see a cone in the buttom center of the mould, it is aluminia and riveted in place, and easy to remove.
If you replace it with a flat faced plug, you will have flat based bullet, and depending of how long you make the plug, you adjust the lengt of the bullet, and the weight.
On the other hand will the cavity of the minie let the bullet adapt to the bore.
If you use a .535, you will need cases sized for it.

You could try using a minie as big as possible for you case, the hollow base gives it some range of adaption

[Herbert]

before you get a mould I recomend you slug the chomber end of the rifling ,on the 56-56 this is usualy around.545 and it tapers to the muzell to around .535 so a healed bass .546 bullit will give best acuracy.Finding a mould will be harder now Rapine has retired,maybe he sold his tooling to somone (has anyone any information on this)othewise the only one that I know of that makes costom moulds for this cartrige is in South Australia,there must be a custom mould maker in the US prepared to take on the job,if so get him to enlarge the greese groves slitly ,you will have trouble whith minies if want to magazine feed,this is a cartrige that takes a bit of time to get right and unfotuntly expence,but once you get evrything is is no harder to load than any other

[cwbuff]

Good idea on slugging the throat of the Spencer.

I have been using Dixie Gun Works BA0407 cast bullets in 56-56 cases from Buffalo Arms (cut down 50-70). The link to these bullets is at http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=1285.

They shoot but are not really matched to the case or my Spencer.

Does anyone have drawings for the Rapine mold?

[Four Sixes]

Try this posting
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,31536.0.html
hope the information will help.

4-sixes

[boriken]

Hi Four sixes,
Did you solve your bullet mold problem? I've had my Spencer for some time now, I used it in the sass matches and black powder rifle shoots. I have a lathe so I was able to make some tooling to convert .348 winchester cases that I use in my Spencer. They work perfectly "shooting and exracting". If you or anyone would like to know what I did I'd be happy to share. I have a Rapine mold, tho I believe C-H also makes it.

[Trailrider]

If you can find a Lyman 533476AX hollow base mould (discontinued a number of years ago  ) that is an excellent mould for the .56-56 Spencer.  It casts a bullet about .535 - .538", depending on the alloy. I generally sized these to .535".  I have gotten some pretty good accuracy using Lyman #2 equivalent metal, believe it or not! Better than pure lead or even 1-20 tin-lead.

Back when I was working with this cartridge a lot, I had to make cases from Dixie Gun Works .50-70 brass, which necessitated shortening them, inside neck reaming with a .525" dia. special reamer, followed by annealing.  Nowadays, I don't know what is available from C-H in the .56-56.  Best accuracy was obtained using Lyman #2 alloy (3-1/2 to 4-1/2" seven round groups at 50 yds was common...which isn't bad considering the open sights.)

[cwbuff]

I did a little research on the Lyman 533476. On castboolits.com, there is an outfit called Forefather's Casting that sells bullets from the Lyman 533476. They don't mention the Lyman 533476AX. I'm not sure what the difference is in the molds. Regardless, I is worth purchasing 25 bullets to try them out before committing to a mold (if I can even find one). The link to Forefather's Casting is below.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=87136

[Trailrider]

There was another 533476 mould with a different suffix, but I can't find the listing anymore.  I'd sure give them a shot (no pun intended)!  You may still need to inside neck ream the cases.  RCBS recommended a .002-.003" interference fit between the bullet and the inside of the case wall.  My old .50-70 cases were thicker walled when shortened, and required reaming when used with inside-lubed bullets.  I haven't tried any of the newer .56-56 brass, so it may NOT be necessary.

[Four Sixes]

Hi Four sixes,
Did you solve your bullet mold problem? I've had my Spencer for some time now, I used it in the sass matches and black powder rifle shoots. I have a lathe so I was able to make some tooling to convert .348 winchester cases that I use in my Spencer. They work perfectly "shooting and exracting". If you or anyone would like to know what I did I'd be happy to share. I have a Rapine mold, tho I believe C-H also makes it.

I only modified 20 rds and still have 30 rd of cut-down 50-70 brass brought from BA. Sure, please post the information on how you convert the 348 winchester case for spencer. I am sure we all would like to know an alterative way in reloading 56-56 cartridge. Thank you in advance! Do your rapine mold cast a heeled bullet? what size?

4-sixes

[Herbert]

If anyone wants a custom 56-56 mould Brooksmoulds will make a custom mould ,you will have to send him a drawing with dementions,he can deliver in 3 weeks from payment,a bit expencive but all custom work is ,web address Email   gayle@brooksmoulds.com  ,I have heard his work is top notch but have not personly seen any