56-50 bullet moulds and meplats

[sixtus]

Hi fellas I was trying to find images of different bullets used in the gun, but not a great deal turn up on internet searches. Wondered if anyone has photos or links they could share of loaded ammo, bullets, or mould numbers I could search online? Part of the reason for this is selecting a bullet option and also curious as to the widest meplat that will feed okay through the spencers.

[Oregon Bill]

Sixtus, I have the Lodgewood/Lee .515 X 2 mold; bullets drop at about 350 grains. Meplat is .315.
That said, I recently discovered to my total chagrin that I can't get rounds to feed through my particular Spencer. The timing seems to be off regarding the retraction of the extractor blade.
This is the third Armi-Sport Spencer carbine I have had, and the only one to give trouble. I simply have to get this sorted out.

[Blair]

There are two CW carbines out there that have been around for a very long time that use basically the same bullet as the 56-50 Spencer. These are the Smith and the Maynard carbines.
I would suggest a net search for bullets and molds for these two carbines as well as the Spencer. Because the Spencer's are now center fire and of course repeaters (flat nose bullets) OAL of the finished cartridge is required to allow for proper feeding through the action.
Much has been done within the N-SSA to develop bullets over the years for these two carbines. They run in at .515 (+ or -) and around 350 gr.
Larry Ramano also offers a mold that is a little longer in the nose (but still flat nose) that may help in getting the OAL finished cartridge length to feed properly in the repeater.
Just a thought on my part.
My best,
Blair

[El Supremo]

Tx, Blair and hello, Sixtus:

Romano is no longer making or supplying his moulds for either Spencers or Maynards. 

One of my experienced Spencer shooting friends has shared that the Lyman 515149 bullet with its .200" meplat  has cycling issues in his original Spencer. It may also have inadequate lube groove capacity.
Yet the .270" meplat Rapine 350T works fine in an Armisport, as reported here in another thread by Fox Creek Kid and also in all of my Romano Spencers and at least twi original Spencers.

That .270" meplat is as wide as I have seen and cannot say if wider would cause cycling issues. 
Perhaps you can borrow some of the 350T's and try as is, then see if some that are hand filed wider, but loaded to the same OAL will cycle.

Close copies  of the Romano 315 gr bullet and a heavier, longer one for the 56-50 and 56-56 Spencer with ADEQUATE LUBE CAPACITY are available from Accurate Bullet Molds in Salt Lake City.  Accurate bores them via CNC and can make minor dimensional changes to meplat, lube groove, etc. Remember, the 315gr Romano was specifically designed to be shorter to allow more powder, yet stabilize in 32" to 36" twists.
Accurate ONLY deals via email due to hearing issues.  My emailed spec's have always been met. 
Get the IRON one for durability. 

Regards,
El Supremo/Kevin Tinny

[Drydock]

http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=21

Clicking on the image desired will give a close up with standard listed dimensions.  These can be adjusted to whatever you want when you order.

[Coal Creek Griff]

I have an Armi Sport (Chiappa) Spencer carbine in 56-50.  I use a bullet from Accurate Molds, which can be viewed here: http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=51-350S-D.png

That bullet feeds fairly well in my reproduction carbine, although I do get some hitches which I think may be somewhat inherent in the design or my technique.

[SGT John Chapman]

I bought a custom mold that was originally intended to be for a light 50-70 Govt load. It's 310gr, it casts at .512" and my bore is a .509" so it's perfect for my rifle.

[El Supremo]

Thanks, John:

That looks soooo close to the Romano bullet of the same weight and diameter -  that used Lyman blocks.

Please share who did the custom work.  And any markings on the blocks. Thanks.

It also looks like a hard alloy.  What did you use, please?

All the best,
El Supremo/Kevin Tinny

[SGT John Chapman]

The ones shown are made of wheel weights,...Approximately Lyman #2 Alloy. I load them with 9 gr Unique mentioned above in the pinned reloading notes. When I do Black I use 35gr 2F and whatever mix of sorter lead I can get my hands on at the time. I think these are the loads I used,...I'd have to check my papers to be sure..

The blocks are an old .375" ball mold it was opened up with a cherry a fellow built. I might be able to see who he was with a little digging.

[El Supremo]

Thanks:
Romano's Spencer molds were made from either Lyman round ball blocks with the round ball cavity in place or on blank Lyman uncut blocks.  Cherries were made by a fellow in western NY.  That guy used Larry's compound milling vise.  All made FOR Romano had some version of "LRRCO" and "Spencer" on them. There were at least two cherries, one with a distinct driving band and another with a less distinct driving band.

Is there any of the above mentioned lettering on yours, please?

The maker of Larry's cherries and molds has gone missing.  It would be historically interesting if he's around because there are several that would like moulds cut with the Romano cherries. I'd be one for at least three.
Seems some Romano Spencer owners let molds go separately when buyers of the Spencer had no intention of shooting it!  At least so they told me.  It's a long shot, but thought I'd ask.

Many thanks,
Kevin Tinny

[SGT John Chapman]

The only marks on the mold are from it being a .375" single ball mold from Lyman.
I'm still digging for a name, I got this almost 11 or so years ago.

[SGT John Chapman]

I have an Email in on Ebay to the guy I think I bought the mold from, waiting for a reply.

[El Supremo]

Thanks:

For me, the issue is the cherry that cut it. 
That tool can be used by other mould makers, if the original fellow is not active.
Regards,
Kevin

[SGT John Chapman]

I received an Email from him this is the response,...I'm asking permission to share his Phone number with you directly.


Shane,
I think that was me you got the mold from.
It was lathe bored and I may still have the drawing.
Thanks! Ron

[El Supremo]

Many thanks, John:

Mystery solved.

Clearly not cherry cut, so neither a "Romano" nor by Larry's mould maker.
A great design.

All the best,
Kevin

[Drydock]

If you get the drawing, send it to Tom at Accurate Molds, and he'll make if for you no problem.

[SGT John Chapman]

Drydock,...This guy still has the drawings and sounds like he will make them.
He made mine using an old Lyman .375 Ball mold. So it's a steel mold with very little extra real estate to heat up. The mold is probably the best I've ever had as far as workability.

[Greg]

Sgt Chapman

did you ever get the print for this bullet ?

[SGT John Chapman]

I tried several times with the contact info I had and I have had no response.

[Trailrider]

Just as a recommendation, the diameter of the meplat should be greater than .210", which is the diameter of large rifle primers. I would recommend at least .250" so that it is slightly larger and would rest on the outside of the primer pocket.