Reloading the 56-50 Spencer with 777

[Harve Curry]

Tried 1 cartridge loaded of 777 pellet over the chronograph:

50/50 pellet of 777, Rapine 350gr 520" bullet( set to top of pellet OK in my case length) = 1356 fps.

WWLR primer beginning to show flat area from bolt surface/face.

I called Hodgdon and talked to Dave, he was unable to help much except for what is already in the manual put out by them.  I explained the above load to him. He said the side clearance inside the case should be OK, when on to say that it was important to have the bullet on top of the pellet.
Said granular 777 is 15% more energy then Pyrodex or black powder, so the pressure and velocity will also be higher.
He did say they measured 27,000CUP in the 45-70 w/777.
I have a feeing this load of 1, 50/50 pellet is over 25,000 CUP or it wouldn't have that velocity.

There's little to no published load info for the Spencer 56-50.
Anyone have a granular load of 777  for the Spencer 56-50 they use??

[French Jack]

Tried 34 - 35 gr. 777 under a Lyman 515139 bullet with CCI LRP, worked o.k., accurate.  Did not pursue it, so cannot give you any more details.  Appeared to approximate Swiss  FFG in performance.

[Will Ketchum]

I can't speak regarding Spenser loads but in my 44-40 henry a full load of 777 was pretty hot.  When I shot them in a 4" Double action New Frontier  Model they had more felt recoil than my mod 29 S&W 44 mag with full hunting loads.  777 is very hot.

Will Ketchum

[Lars]

I have consistantly found that Hodgdon's published 777 FFG loads were very reasonable and totally in line with traditional, full case 44-40 and 45 Colt BP loads with Pyrodex, etc. I full agree with Hodgdon's statement that 777 is 15% more powerfull.

I have to think that most (all?) of the reports of 777 FFG being "hot" are in some manner simply wrong.

Lars

[Dakota Widowmaker]

777 has proven very accurate in the 56-50 and taylors spencer for me.

It has more recoil, but, alot depends on the load.

I prefer to use Pyrodex P instead...its "softer" and has good speed and compresses quite well.

1100fps with 45gr under a 350gr bullet dropped from a modified Lee 50-70 mould.

Good 4" groups at 50 yards...(which is good for me...I stink worse than the smell of the BP subs)

[Dakota Widowmaker]

FYI: not to beat a dead horse...

Hodgdon specifically states NOT to use 777 pellets in cartridge cases.

They do give loading data for Pyrodex pellets in cases (just not 56-50) for other ammo.

I would not be "affraid" to put a 50gr Pyrodex (not 777) in a Starline case and load it with a magnum primer and see how it works.

I would sitll want to put a card wad under the bullet, though.

[edit: this was already stated to work as someone has posted...didn't mean to beat 2 dead horses at once]

[Ed Clintwood]

I am in the process of getting my Spencer and now need info to load for it.  Is there any place that actually publishes load for the .56-50?  Secondly, has anyone ever loaded smokeless for this round?