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Spencer Rifle

CHGOTHNDERCHGOTHNDER Member Posts: 8,936 ✭✭✭
edited October 2007 in Ask the Experts
O'k experts I have been looking to buy one of these for a very long time and the time is now. I need advice on the pro's and con's and caliber, I need advice on a repro or an antique. I want a rifle to shoot and not look at, I could possibly use it in SASS when I start shooting at their events as I've been a member for a while now. Waiting for replies and thanks guy's.

PJ

Comments

  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The original Civil War era Spencer was a rimfire which chambered various 56 caliber cartridges, which are now obsolete collectors items.


    Go with a Modern repro, that uses readily available modern centerfire handgun ammo. It will make it a whole lot easier proposition, if you just want it as a shooter..38 Special/.357 Mag would be the best for availabilty and cost of ammo, 44 Special/44 Mag would be next.
  • joeaf1911a1joeaf1911a1 Member Posts: 2,962 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Center fire breechblocks are available and you can use trimmed down
    57-70 shells (if you reload). The follower on the magazine spring should also be changed or padded as it is pointed and might cause a problem.
  • rhmc24rhmc24 Member Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    rufe is right about modern repros. There are a number on GB Auction right now. I typed in spencer russian and got 4 in that caliber. You might do the same with whatever caliber you prefer. Checking the auctions will give you info about what is available, prices, etc.
  • CHGOTHNDERCHGOTHNDER Member Posts: 8,936 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I can't decide on a caliber, what's the most readily available cartridge? I have looked at the .44 russian and seem to be leaning that way.
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Buy it in 44 Special, if you can. The 44 Russian was originally a black powder cartridge that dates to the 1870's. It has a shorter case and overall length, then the 44 Special. 44 Special ammo is more common and readily available then 44 Russian. My 2?.
  • 38anup38anup Member Posts: 42 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    givette, I heard there was someone in the Pheonix- Fulton area of Oswego county making Spencers.I will be seeing a guy at work Monday that lives up that way.He might know, if he does I will get info for you.
  • CHGOTHNDERCHGOTHNDER Member Posts: 8,936 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Givette, No problem and I'd like the info too.
  • givettegivette Member Posts: 10,886
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by givette
    Me too. Looking to buy a repro Spencer.

    .44SPL and .44 Russian...are the cartridges interchangeable?

    CHGOTHNDER: Sorry to hijack your post. Figured you would like to know the answer to this, also. Best, Joe

    EDIT: Rufe-Snow thanks for the cartridge info. Taylor's only has .44 Russian/.45 Schofield/.56-50. No common loadings. Go figure. Joe

    38anup: Thanks for looking for me. It's within driving distance from me for a F2F sale. Joe


    CHGOTHNDER: Will post 38anup's findings. Rufe-snow says .44Russian/.44 Spl. is not the same cart. (See his post Above) Joe
  • rhmc24rhmc24 Member Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    44 Russian case is shorter than the 44 Special's by about 3/16". They are not interchangeable both ways, which is to say you can shoot the 44 Russ in a 44 Spl but not vice versa. I just recently reamed one of my old S&W 44 Russ to take the 44 Special. Don't count on it being that simple to convert a Spencer. It would take some study to determine if the feeding mechanism would have to be modified - and if it was practical to do. I'm guessing the reason the 44 Russian was chosen for a repro was for ease of feeding a short 'fat' round.

    I checked, trying to find more info, and only could find one other pistol round mentioned for the Spencer repro, the .45 Schofield. Also mentioned was the .44 Russian was chosen because of its shorter length to allow more rounds in the magazine - in my opinion a lame reason because if that made enuf sense to matter, we would have a lot of other repros in 44 Russ, which we don't.
  • 38anup38anup Member Posts: 42 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    ok guys here it is:
    http://www.romanorifle.com/html/spencer.html
    They seem a little pricey to me but who am I? Only caliber listed is 56-50, maybe he can build it in whatever you want.
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