Converting 45 Schofield Spencer to 56-50

[Preston County Rider]

Looking at converting my 45 Schofield Spencer to 56-50. I used the gun for CAS but have now gotten deeply into Reenacting and 56-50 works better. Also getting/making blanks for the 45 Sch is, quite honestly, seemingly impossible. So, we convert..

Besides the barrel/breech, anything else I will need to do? Am not sure if the extractor will work for the larger shells, think the block should work. Would appreciate any thoughts/suggestions

Preston County Rider
1st WVa Cav/17th Pa VC

[major]

I would say that the best way to go would be to sell your 45 and buy one in 44-40.  Blanks for the 56-50 are expensive.  You can make blanks for a 44-40 out of 410 shotgun shells and they can be very cheap.  If you haven't read my article about blanks in a Spencer here is a link. http://www.9thnycavalry.webeditor.com/publications/spencer_article.html
Terry

[WaddWatsonEllis]

When reenacting with the Holy BP in our '51 Colts, we simply use floral foam as a wad ... cause it all disappears before it could get our of the barrel and kill/maim someone close. We simply take a .45 Colt case and use it as a cookie punch to make .44 wads.

I imagine that the same could be done with a .45 Colt case .... making the wadds and putting them in used Schofield cases after powder had been poured in and a new primer installed ....

Of course, they would have to be single fired to get the much shorter, bullet-less ammon into the breech ... but it might be a partial solution ....

[12 th Illinois]

I use the 5-in-1 for blanks in my 45 Schofield. They are available from Midway USA, or Starline.

[Preston County Rider]

Terry - buying a 44-40 would seem to defeat the purpose of saving funds! FYI - I've read your posts on both the Spencer and the Sharps-Hankins. Instead of modifying my S&H, I'm going with brass from Bob Hadley in Texas - expensive but, I believe, worth it
You know, I tried using the floral foam for my Smith and it would not pack down hard enough - all my powder kept slipping forward and the caps would not ignite it; went back to toilet paper jammed in on top of the powder - makes paper andf smoke but the rounds all fire. The Spencer won't feed 45 Sch rounds because without the bullet they are too short and fall through the block when coming out of the magazine.

Do the five-in-ones allow you to feed rounds through the magazine? I can (and have) handloaded Schofield rounds and fed them one at a time in the Spencer but would like to use the full advantage of the repeater in reenacting.

[12 th Illinois]

I've had the same problem with the Schofield rounds...... Yes, the 5-in-1 will feed through the magazine.

[major]

Preston
Buying a Spencer in 44-40 may actualy be more cost effective than spending the funds to make something into something it is not.  Use the funds that you were going to use to modify your existing Spencer along with the money you get from the sale of your 45 to buy a new 44-40. 
You will also gain the lane extractor which works much better than the two paddels in the 45.
As for the 5 in 1, I don't think that they will be cost effective for full scale use.  I fire 100 to 150 blanks in each battle so for one weekend I could easly fire 300 blanks.  At 32 cents each for just the brass that's $96.00 per weekend for just the brass.  Plus you need to add the cost of powder and primers.  Just my 2 cents.
Terry

[Sean Thornton]

You would probably be money ahead if you sold your Spencer in . 45 and bought a .56-50.  There are a few options for blanks.  I have owned a couple of originals that were converted to centerfire and used them in reeacting.  I have just purchased a Taylor Spencer rifle in .56-50.  In doing a little calculation, blanks should run around 20 to 25 cents.  I plan on carrying 150 to 200 depending on the battle and for the weekend maybe 400 rounds.  I just like the bigger caliber.
Andrew L. Bresnan