New Spenser 56-50 - a few lessons learned

[Fallon Kid]

Just maybe some helpful info for anyone getting into CF 56-50 Spenser. I have/had the hots to get a Spenser Carbine and I got one from Dixie. (Great Folks) It is an Armi Sports. I chose to go with the near original cartridge because I can and there is nobody to tell me NO.  I got the Lyman 515139 340 mold but casts drops at 350gn and .515 dia. I’m using a blended lead at 12BHN. I slugged the gun (mfg states rifling at .512) and a .515 un-sized bullet  tapped through quite easy. I had to finger lube bullets as my lube/sizer die is being made by Buffalo. I went with a custom .513 sizer for my Lyman lube/sizer but after slugging I might should have went with a .515. More later to be told. I found out I did not have anything to install primer. The shell holder is too big to fit into the RCBS hand primer and I’m not springing for a Red or Blue shell plate.  God has been good to me but I have not been that good. LOL Fortunately  I have an RCBS APP Primer which I never thought I would ever use again. Here is the point to get across if you are getting into 56-50 or 50-70. Make sure you got a way to primer. Anyway I just did 14 rounds with 40gn of 2FF and I seated 1.580 OAL. Anyway just a few tid-bits I wish I knew going into this. I don’t regret one thing as I love getting any new caliber in my sea bag. You can never have enough guns. Thanks, Jerry

[Tall Tale Todd]

Thanks for sharing, looking forward to hearing more about the new cartridge. But now post pics of the rifle 

[Sedalia Dave]

I have the RCBS 90200 hand primer and it will prime 56-50 Spencer as well as 59-90 Sharps brass.  I use the #31 shell holder.

 

 

Both RCBS and Lyman make 56-50 dies. The RCBS dies are what you want for the Taylor's 56-50 cartridge. The Lyman Dies are made from cut down 50-70 Govt. dies and will not properly crimp the brass unless you are using bullets over .515 in diameter.

 

I use the RCBS dies for my Spencer reproduction and a combination of RCBS 50-90 Sharps and the Lyman 56-50 dies for my original Spencer.

[Fallon Kid]

Thanks for reply. Right now I only have a Lyman x22 shell holder but have an RCBS 31 on order. Again thank you. I feel a bit more comfortable. That's why the Pros are on this site. You guys know everything. 

[ORNERY OAF]

Excellent post, been wanting a Spencer for a long time, recently got a 50-70 and haven't had an issue with priming on my Hornaday lock and load...I also like the original cartridges 

[Fallon Kid]

Pics. You got it. Rifle seems really small but think it will be great for big bore option. As bad as I shoot I should have been looking for an 88mm.  LOL Life is good.

[Trailrider #896]

Interesting that the ArmiSport Spencer has a .515" groove barrel, which is the same as a .50-70 Gov't used.  This isn't surprising as the .56-50 rimfire cartridge probably was the father of the .50-70, the difference mainly being in the latter being central fire and longer, with a heavier bullet and powder charge. I suspect that ArmiSport used the same barrels for both. I made my .56-56 brass by cutting down Dixie Gun Works .50-70 brass.  Best of luck with your project.

[Three Foot Johnson]

Alice Palmer trying out my AS .56-.50 Spencer a few years back. I bought a box of smokeless ammo somewhere several years ago, and those 20 rounds are the only smokeless that have ever been through it. If you're going to shoot one of these, do it right, with a case full of black! It's a crowd pleaser!

 

I use either an RCBS 50-350-CM cast bullet or a Lee 515-500-F mold cut down to cast a 320 grain bullet. 

Lee on the left, pulled bullet from Ten-X factory round, and RCBS on the right.

 

 

[Fallon Kid]

Thanks for the info. And I’m gonna be polite as you don’t mess with that Lady. LOL Curious as to bullet diameter. As I stated a .515 bullet was used to slug barrel and dropped through quite easy. It did have rifle grooves cut into it but did not appear to go wall to wall. I called Buffalo and they told me the sizing die I ordered (.513) should be fine as the black powder will bump it up a bit as it chases it out of the barrel. I’m not trying for accuracy but banging a gong in the back part of stage. Maybe 60ft?  Jerry

[Three Foot Johnson]

I just measured them - the Lee is about .517" "as cast", and the RCBS is about .515". I don't remember what the barrel slugged, but I marked the sizer die I turned out .515", so that may be what it was... or I made it .515" to lube the RCBS bullet without making a mess that would likely result from a sizer a couple thousandths larger. Either bullet is quite accurate out to a hundred yards, which is the furthest I've shot it. 

 

Alice was getting a little unsteady on her feet, so gave up the game in 2018, I think.

[Fallon Kid]

Thanks for your info. I meant to get out to range today and test my loads but getting old means I have an excuse to put off another day.  I just picked up a Colt 1911 and removed that old series 80 chicken droppings some moron thought up. Got two reasons to go test fire tomorrow.  Again Thank You and I hope Alice gets back. Give her my best.

[Sedalia Dave]

I had the best luck with bullets cast using Accurate Molds #51-330S. I modified it by eliminating the crimp groove and increasing the as cast diameter to .515"

 

I size them to .513" when I lube them.

 

Another option that also works is Accurate Molds # 51-320S.

 

Both bullets would feed in my Spencers.  

[Fallon Kid]

Dave, Thanks for your info. I’m into this project pretty deep already but will look at Accurate 320S you suggested. The Lyman 515139 I bought seems to have one side sticking and this is not my first mold.  

 

 

“HELP! I bought some Dillon 1050 parts and fallen into debt and can’t get out”

[Sedalia Dave]

If you haven't already check out the Spencer Shooting Society.

 

Best source on the web when it comes to original and reproduction Spencers