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Thread: Buffalo Arms .520 Spencer bullet

  1. #1
    gemmer is offline
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    Buffalo Arms .520 Spencer bullet

    Have any Spencer shooters used this bullet and had issues with the narrow lube grooves? I bought a box of these to try in my .50-70 roller which has an oversize groove depth and I wanted to try them before springing for a mould.

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    mgmradio is offline
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    I use them for my Spencer?s and they are very accurate. I normally shoot smokeless loads using Unique, but have used black powder loads with no real problems, though probably not enough lube for rifle length barrel. Be aware that the loose bullets you can buy from Buffalo arms are different from the ones from the moulds they sell.

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    Eggman's Avatar
    Eggman is offline Banned
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    Using "Unique" smokeless powder in a Spencer, a BLACK POWDER gun. Hmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!

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    Jim_Burgess_2078V is offline
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    Smokeless in Black Powder Cartridge Guns

    I've used light charges of Unique (12 grains or less) in my .50-70 Sharps and .45-70 trapdoors with no problem. You have to be very careful to avoid double charges in the larger cartridges. I haven't tried it yet in my original .56-56 Spencer but a lighter charge (7 grains+/-) in the shorter case should be safe. Trail Boss is another good powder for reduced loads.

    Jim Burgess, 15th CVI

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    Lou Lou Lou is offline
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    In the North East Battle Troop skirmishes, folks normally used around 10 grains of Unique in the Trapdoors.
    back on Walt Taylor?s farm in PA
    Lou Lou Lou Ruggiero
    Tammany Regt-42nd NYVI

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    Jim Brady Knap's Battery is offline
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    I agree with Jim and Lou. Loads like that came right out of the Lyman manual of my youth in the 60's before everybody went lawyer proof.
    Jim Brady
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    CUM CATAPULTAE PROSCRIBEANTUR TUM SOLI PROSCRIPTI CATAPULTAS HABEANT

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    Follow along for the Ho Chi Minh trail of powder discussion.

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    noonanda is offline
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eggman View Post
    Using "Unique" smokeless powder in a Spencer, a BLACK POWDER gun. Hmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!
    Is it a reproduction Spencer? These are not listed as "Black Powder only" firearms. So they could use smokeless powder loads. Now if we are discussing an original spencer I cannot speak to that.
    Daryl Noonan
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    "You see in this world there are two types of people my friend. Those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig!!"

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    gemmer is offline
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    I didn't mean to start a smokeless thread. All I want to know is if anyone has had issues with the narrow grease grooves using BLACK POWDER.

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    mgmradio is offline
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    To answer noonanda, yes I use Unique in all my original Spencer?s. 8.5gr in my 56-56 rifles and 56-50 carbines. I use 9gr?s in my heavy barreled 56-50. Muzzle velocity is around 1050fps in the riffles and 970fps in the carbines. I have shot hundreds of rounds through all of them with no problems. Cases show no signs of over pressure.

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