Peabody carbines in 56-50 anyone shoot them?

Good morning. Recently bought a Peabody Carbine in 56-50 caliber. Has a few issues. Muzzle crown needs to be redone cannot even get a ball in there to slug the bbl. Stock has the dings and dents of the last 140 or so years. The bore is suprisingly very nice. There are a few scattered pits but overall the bore is definitely shootable. Lock functions well, trigger works. Reason I ask if anyone has one, do they have any idea of the interior bore dimensions?. Figured that way I would get a couple moulds. Hoping to hear from anyone. Thanks, Frank

56-50 as in Spencer rimfire type cartridge?

The problem with trying shoot them is, like the Spencer they need to have a centrefire breach block made and use cut down 50-70 brass.


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Originally Posted by gsimmons

The problem with trying shoot them is, like the Spencer they need to have a centrefire breach block made

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Not necessarily so! You do not have to alter your historic original - you just have to make rimfire cartridge cases. :madsmile:

No joke. I do not have time just now to make photos for a proper d.i.y. tutorial, as I am about to drive off to France to participate in a national competition, where in the black powder cartridge revolver class I shall be attempting to hit the target with bullets fired from a Belgian copy of a S&W Russian that fires .44 rimfire cartridges, a.k.a. .44 Henry flat. Yes, I did make them myself. I am a lousy handgun shooter, and will probably finish last, but I am quite determined when it comes to getting an old banger going again...

If you can hang on for a fortnight, I shall makes some photos when I return. You need a lathe with a milling slide (or a small milling machine), reasonable experience in using the same, and a lot of patience.

:wave:
Patrick

---------- Post added at 09:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:51 PM ----------

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Originally Posted by Frank46

Reason I ask if anyone has one, do they have any idea of the interior bore dimensions?. Figured that way I would get a couple moulds.

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That could be an expensive mistake. Do not go by any published dimensions. At that age, any rifle has to be treated as an individual. You must slug the bore properly before spending substantial sums of money on a mould which will probably need to be custom-made.

Patrick, I'd love to see it, thank you. With regard to the Spencer's. Their is a drop in centre fire breach available so you don't have to permanently alter the original gun. That's what I was thinking could be done with the Peabody. But making cartridges sounds like it may be easier and cheaper to do.


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Dixie gun works carries brass rimfire cases that use a .22 blank pressed into an offset hole. They aren't cheap at 6/ $28.50. If Dixie sells them than someone else may also and cheaper.
They maybe the way to go if you just want to pop off a few rounds.
john

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Originally Posted by jamie5070

Dixie gun works carries brass rimfire cases that use a .22 blank pressed into an offset hole. They aren't cheap at 6/ $28.50.

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Quite frankly, I would get some. At least enough to give the rifle a fair trial. Making these things by hand takes hours!

Gents, this is not a spencer but an origional preabody saddle ring carbine in 56-50 caliber. I have already pruchased a spare rim fire breech block and spare rim fire firing pin. Now here is the fly in the ointment. I bought 10 each starline 5070 cases and 10 each 56-50 cases. The latter chamber easily. However some information researched leads me to believe that in the end I will end up trimming the 50-70 cases down to get the proper case length. I have been giving much serious thought to having the barrel rechambered to 50-70 to simplify getting proper cases and while this is being done, have the spare breech block converted to centerfire. Loading data I have seen indicates that for the carbine 55 grains of black powder with a 480 grain cast lead bullet should approximize the standard 50-70 carbine load. The carbine's bore is in pretty good shape and should make a good shooter. Any comments and/or suggestions are invited. Thanks, Frank

Understood it's a Peabody. Just making sure of the caliber. I'd leave the chamber as is. But if you've spare bits for the breechblock, making it a centerfire 56-50 might work best as it's a reversible mod. Once you've built a supply of cases, they'll last a mighty long while if properly tended to. No need for much crimping if any.

I'm still regretting not getting the last Peabody rifle I saw for sale. 45-70 (Rebarreled for the CT militia) But the urge to modify it was strong (i.e. fancy sights), so I let it go.

I also realised it was a Peabody. I was using the Spencer as an example, because I know centre fire breaches are available for it. I didn't know you could get new breaches for the Peabody. See I learned something today. If you've got the breach why not just cut the 50-70 brass down and not alter an original gun?


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