Thinking of getting a Taylor's Spencer

will52100 · March 06, 2015, 04:49:01 PM

Been looking at a spencer from taylors for a while now. I'd want it in carbine and 56-50. Most likely it'd get a mostly pure diet of black powder, with the occasional smokeless thrown in.

I've been looking over the site some and haven't really seem much in the way of reviews on them. How do they compare action wise to a Henry that I've done a bit of slicking up of the action? I know the basic operation, just wondering how smooth they are, or how smooth they can be made to cycle. Also I'm a lefty, any lefty's have issues with the big hammer on the rite side? Also, how's the power of the 56-50 centerfire compare to black powder loaded 45 Colt?

Thanks,

Will

matt45 · March 07, 2015, 09:55:27 AM

There is all kinds of info on the ORI threads on this site that make getting and caring for an Armi- Sport Spencer easier. As to energy of the 56-50 w/ B.P. vs. the 45 L.C. much depends on your bullet selection. I would reckon (and this is a ball- park guesstemate) that you can plan on 1/3 more energy. I've killed one deer w/ mine loaded w/ B.P., and I would hesitate to do so w/ a 45 L.C. with the same (our ranges are a little longer out here.

Major 2 · March 07, 2015, 12:33:27 PM

comparing one to a Henry, action wise is undo-able

We know the toggle link whether Henry , improved Henry (66) or 73 can be blindingly fast.
The Spencer in addition the manual hammer , has much more mass & lever stroke to overcome , not to mention 7 round capacity.

Now on the other hand , as to style , well you just need to have both !

Like comparing a Sports 4/4 to a "Deuce-and-a-half" both will get you there , but Oh! the jollies of the ride

will52100 · March 07, 2015, 02:01:01 PM

Thanks, the bigest thing is what about for lefty shooters? I think I may have to get one just to have one, but hope the hammer doesn't get in the way.

As for power, my basic load for 45 Colt is a 250 grain big lube bullet with 38 grains of 3F Graf's black powder, I load a few up with 2F Swiss for extra power once in a while. I have taken a deer with this load at 75 yards running up a hill, droped him in his tracks.

Not worried about using it for a main match rifle, just something fun to play with once in a while.

I know it's got a different action than the Henry, but what I'm asking is how ruff is the action? I keep thinking back to a Lighting rifle and didn't like the one I handled because you had to get mean with the action to make it cycle properly.

Major 2 · March 07, 2015, 04:05:40 PM

I had one in 45 Schofield , cycled fine
A friend has one in 45 colt , and it shoots quite accurately , both were right out of the box.

can't relate to a left handed hold , sorry

Coal Creek Griff · March 08, 2015, 03:54:22 PM

I'm not a left-handed shooter, but I would not expect it to be much of a problem.

As for as the action, the Henry and the Spencer are so different that it's hard to compare. If you read through the archives, you'll see that the Spencer action can require firm levering. I would consider mine to be smooth, but I do have to be intentional in its operation. I'd strongly advise handling one if at all possible.

CC Griff

will52100 · March 08, 2015, 06:35:21 PM

Kinda what I was thinking, unfortunately nobody around my parts has one that I know of. Only ever saw one at a match, and the shooter was having issues with it jaming, if I remember rite it was a 44-40 or 45 Colt, might have been an overall length issue, or the fact it was new out of the box. Anyway never did get to handle it.

matt45 · March 08, 2015, 08:13:42 PM

... and the comment from Major 2 is exactly right. Each has hie own vrtrues, and in many ways they are inferior to the old rifled musket. having said that... The Spencer, for its day, was unequaled in simplicity and ruggedness. I have a Uberti Henry that will almost always outshoot my Spencer, but I would carry the Spencer every day of the week just because it does 'good enough' if not better, and is easy to maintain with quite a bit of stopping power. The Henry is a beautiful, high maintenance girl. The Spencer is a beautiful gal you marry and raise a family with.

Pay Dirt Norvelle · July 22, 2015, 10:46:48 PM

I am glad I ran across this thread as I am about to get a Taylor's Spencer Carbine and before I spend that much money I wanted some idea of what they are like. It will be a fun gun and I may shoot it as a main match CAS rifle once in a while for the heck of it.

treebeard · July 23, 2015, 12:23:30 AM

I have both the rifle and carbine versions of Taylor's. I have found that I was surprised at how cocking the
Hammer became so automatic that I did it without thinking about it. It just happened as I was working the lever.
Your speed really comes up with a little practice.

El Supremo · July 23, 2015, 05:30:19 AM

Just my two cents on ballistics:
A 230 grain bullet ahead of 35 gr 3Fg in a 20" - 22" barrel will be pretty close to a 45ACP out of a pistol or 45LC from a revolver. Around 1,000fps to maybe 1,200fps with a slightly stouter smokeless load. Several here have used the 56-50 on deer with good results AT SHORT RANGE. That's a nice, relatively heavy bullet.

Overall, it's 45 caliber handgun performance out of a carbine, as detailed in the 1998 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN "DOPE BAG" test of the Romano Rifle Company version. Only room for so much BP in that case.

As you've been advised, the SORI Section here will help considerably. For me, with everything else resolved, the HARDNESS of the bullet mattered most for cycling. Soft bullets are prone to hang up more. Alloy of at least 18Bhn to as much as 22Bhn reduced my nose gouging, cycling frustrations.

We're stuck with open sights and a relatively short sight radius. If your eyes are a bit weary/older, try a Merit Optical Attachment (iris disk) on your shooting glasses. Then focus on the front sight without shifting your focus between the rear sight, front sight and target.

Regards,
El Supremo/Kevin Tinny

Two Flints · July 23, 2015, 07:28:52 AM

If you really need any information on the Taylor Spencer just go to the SORI Thread and read, read, read

Lots of information there. You may want to do a search on SSS and type in Left-handed and Spencers, and see if anything pops up.

Matt45, I like your comment "The Spencer is a beautiful gal you marry and raise a family with." The only thing I would change in your comment is the word beautiful . . . "The Spencer is like the gal next door you marry and raise a family with."

Two Flints

PvtGreg · July 23, 2015, 09:10:27 PM

My Taylor's Spencer rifle is my ONLY main match gun.

I load my 56-50 with 430gr lead over as much FF I can get in. I have knocked plates off with this load.

In other words its a blast!

Pay Dirt Norvelle · July 23, 2015, 10:29:24 PM

Pvt. Greg, do you also do Civil War reenacting? I was wondering after looking at your avatar.

PvtGreg · July 24, 2015, 06:10:46 PM

Yes sir!

pakm · September 28, 2015, 02:03:14 PM

I had a spencer in .45 schofield. it's not even a 100 yard gun I aimed up at about a 20 degree angle and the bullet hit the grown at 100 yards. I have had several 56-50 spencers from Taylors and that's where it's at. get the 56-50, and work the action with Vigor, like the book says. you can't go wrong. I shoot a 350 gr. bullet from Accurate molds(it's the bullet for the spencer) and I think it was 10.5 gr.s of Trail boss. (I also load a friends black powder spencer but just fill the case up to the bottom of where the bottom of the bullet will be. that works pretty good. but with black powder you get your seven shots and then the barrel is too fouled to be accurate any more. (TB works good.)
Dirty McPill