Newbie Spencer Questons.

[bulldog4570]

Greetings everyone,  I'm a new guy to Spencers.  I have only seen a couple of them in my life.   Anyone remember the Disney movie from the '60's "Menace on the Mountain"?  That movie was were I first was introduced to the Spencer.
After hefting the carbine at the gun show recently, I decided to pursue acquiring one and started looking online about cost for repro vs. original, reloading, brass availability etc.  After my researching I have some questions I hope can be answered here.  I am specifically interested in the 1865 model rifle in 56-50
1.)  Besides around $300-$400, what is the difference between a Spencer from Armi sport and one from Taylor's or Cimarron?  To me they all appear to be the same, as the last two are made by Armi sport.
2.) There is no windage  settings on the rear sight?
3.)  How are the rifles for shooting steel at the 300-600 yard range?  (I currently shoot an 1888 RRB 45-70.  It does quite well from a rest of some type at those ranges.)
4.) Does the weapon have to be taken completely apart for cleaning.?  I am a blackpowder in old guns only guy.

Thank you,
bulldog4570

[ndnchf]

Welcome to the world of Spencers and the forum.

Whether sold by Taylors, Cimarron or Bubba's bait, tackle and gun shop, all the reproductions Spencers are made by Armisport and are the same except for the importers markings.    Shooting at 300-600 yards would be a stretch for the .56-60.  I'm sure you couild get bullets down range, but the sight elevation required would be enormous.  Are you thinking of a carbine or infantry rifle?  Obviously the infantry rifle would be better for long range work.  For cleaning of my infantry rifle, I remove the lever pivot screw and pull out the lever/breech block assembly.  Then I remove thr upper breech block retaining screw in the lever and seperate the blocks.  Clean and oil, then reassemble.  Its very easy to do.

I would encourage you to read through the forum.  There is a wealth of information here.

[Trailrider]

I would certainly not call the Spencer anywhere near a 300 yd cartridge. By that I mean you might accidentally hit a large (buffalo-size) target at 300 yds, and probably seriously injure or kill something out that far (danger space), but realistically, 150 yds is probably  the maximum practical limit of either the .56-50 or .56-56. Even a replica chambered in .44-40 is probably best limited to 150 yds or less.  Compared with the standard infantry weapon of the Civil War, the .58 caliber muzzleloader, which was capable of maybe three rounds a minute under ideal conditions, by an experienced troop, and which could reliably kill out to 300+ yds, the Spencer was a Civil War a$$-ult rifle, intended to provide relatively high firepower at close range. The same was true of the Henry Repeating Rifle, except the Spencer was harder-hitting, though of more limited magazine capacity.

Yes, the Spencer windage is not adjustable, except by drifting the sights.

[bulldog4570]

ndnchf and Trailrider,
Thanks for the responses.  I am going to seriously pursue a 56-50 rifle. 

[Jbar4Ranch]

Whether sold by Taylors, Cimarron or Bubba's bait, tackle and gun shop, all the reproductions Spencers are made by Armisport and are the same except for the importers markings.

Pretty much true in practice, but not in fact.

http://www.romanorifle.com/7348.html

[ndnchf]

Agreed - I forgot about the outstanding Romano. 

[Jbar4Ranch]

I'm the biggest "gun guy" around, worked in the industry for several years, and shoot different disciplines, most notably CAS, and I've never actually laid eyes on a Romano.

[Snakeeater]

Larry Romano makes some very fine Spencer replicas, and the quality of workmanship is far superior to anything we've seen made in Italy by Armi (Armisport). Indeed, Larry rebarrelled my M1860 Spencer Rifle which had been cut-down to a carbine. Though I nearly dropped my teeth when he quoted me $750 for a 30-inch barrel, I had no problem agreeing to it once I looked down the bore of one of his other rifles. Even the grooves of the rifling were polished; something rarely seen even by Hoyt or Whitacre. In fact, my first three shots at 50 yards offhand (at the N-SSA Nationals during Individuals) was two side-by-side shots in the 10s-ring and a dead centre shot in the X-ring! It shoots better than I can hold it. 

But as nice as Larry's replica Spencers are, they are unique to themselves, and their parts are not interchangeable, certainly not with any original parts such as even the magazine. Larry builds all the parts from scratch! So if you want a quality arm that has an excellent reputation for accuracy, Romano's replicas are first rate not just in appearance.

[mtmarfield]

   Greetings!

   I have to agree with the above sentiments; I have an L.Romano 1860 Carbine, and it's everything that they say it is!
I took mine out for a few shooting sessions, cleaned the hell out of it, and put it in my safe; I regularly wipe it down,
but I haven't shot it since! It's just too beautiful! Several years later, an Italian Infantry Rifle took its place, and it gets
shot!
   If you want a decent Carbine or Infantry Rifle, go Italian. If you want the Rolls Royce of Replica Spencers, you will
NOT REGRET a L. Romano.   

         Be Well!

                     M.T.Marfield:.