The Spencer Carbine

I've been collecting mainly WWII-era rifles and pistols, and right now i have every major power covered except for Japan and Italy.

Lately, i've been feeling an urge to go into the Post-Civil War era and the Spencer Carbine has drawn my attention. I've never fired one and not many video reviews have been made on it, as far as i can tell. Just wondering if anyone here has ever owned/fired one and what was their impression of it.

I was thinking of going for one of the reproductions that shoots .45LC. Would this be a good rifle to own, or would it be better to go for a different rifle from the Old West period?

I had an original Spencer rifle some years back and had no urge at all to fire it...even though it was a rim fire and center fire breech blocks were available. If it ever broke because of metal fatigue I'd never have forgiven myself or been able to get a replacement part. Just buy a Winchester of the caliber you wish and warm it up...

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Originally Posted by I.H.1989

Lately, i've been feeling an urge to go into the Post-Civil War era and the Spencer Carbine has drawn my attention

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Originally Posted by I.H.1989

I was thinking of going for one of the reproductions that shoots .45LC.

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They're a bit pricey, IMO, and like you've said there isn't a lot of info available on them. Have you considered a Springfield Trapdoor? With a bit of patience you should be able to get a nice original Trapdoor rifle in 45-70 for about half of what you'd shell out for a repro Spencer, and on a good day an original TD carbine for the same or a tad more. The 45-70 Trapdoors in good condition are normally very accurate and are fairly cheap to feed, especially if you re-load.
It's also possible, for the most part, to get a Remington Rolling Block in good shootable condition for about the same or a bit less than a Trapdoor rifle, but, depending on caliber they can be expensive to shoot and/or get set up to load for and some are finicky about ammo. I've been considering an 1879 Argentine myself.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Just buy a Winchester of the caliber you wish and warm it up...

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Easier said than done.

Easier than a Spencer in 52-52 rimfire?

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Easier than a Spencer in 52-52 rimfire?

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That ain't what I said exactly but since you asked 52-52 Spencers appear fairly easy to come by, theres at least 6 on gunbroker as we speak.:D

I've got reloading dies for a Spencer, but no rifle yet!

They shoot them in N-SSA Breach loader II competition, you might try them for reloading tips, etc. If you get an original, the centrefire breach blocks are available, they use a cut down 50-70 case. Their are also bullet moulds available.

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Originally Posted by vintage hunter

Spencers appear fairly easy to come by

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The difference in location...come up here and I'll point out the Winchesters for sale. I had one Spencer and have never seen another at the shows. I had a pair of Sharps too, and have never seen more.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

The difference in location

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Agreed. Funny how that works out ain't it? Until the early 80's my area was purely shotgun country. My great uncle was one of very very few back then that collected or even owned a rifle larger than 22RF. Nothing to hunt with it so there was no need to have one. How times have changed......

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Originally Posted by vintage hunter

They're a bit pricey, IMO, and like you've said there isn't a lot of info available on them. Have you considered a Springfield Trapdoor? With a bit of patience you should be able to get a nice original Trapdoor rifle in 45-70 for about half of what you'd shell out for a repro Spencer, and on a good day an original TD carbine for the same or a tad more. The 45-70 Trapdoors in good condition are normally very accurate and are fairly cheap to feed, especially if you re-load.
It's also possible, for the most part, to get a Remington Rolling Block in good shootable condition for about the same or a bit less than a Trapdoor rifle, but, depending on caliber they can be expensive to shoot and/or get set up to load for and some are finicky about ammo. I've been considering an 1879 Argentine myself.

Easier said than done.

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i will be honest, i haven't considered a TD Springfield, mostly because i've been considering repeating rifles. unfortunately, i don't reload that this time, but i may get into it later on down the line.

How's the ammo for it, and what about recoil? also, what is a good price for them?

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Originally Posted by I.H.1989

How's the ammo for it, and what about recoil? also, what is a good price for them?

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Ammo is easy enough to find and from what I've seen starts at $25-$26/20rds for PRVI 405gr SP and goes up from there. Just keep in mind not all factory ammo is safe for use in TD's.
I have a rifle and a carbine. The rifle is pleasant to shoot(to me anyway) but the carbine is rather stout. I shoot either Remington 405gr factory ammo or hand loads the duplicate it. Mostly hand loads anymore, the factory stuff is about $40 a box now.
I haven't kept up with prices lately but first of the year I considered getting another TD but happened across a deal on a LE No.4 Mk.1* T I couldn't turn down instead. Average going price on Gunbroker for a TD rifle at that time was between $650-$850, depending on condition. Carbines were considerably more, around $1600-$1800 IIRC. Things may've changed by now, I don't know. The urge for another one has pretty much gone away now.

I do own a repro Spencer carbine and do shoot it. It is in 56/50 cf. I would advise that this is an expensive round to shoot. Buying dies and a bullet mold can be a major task. However, that said, having the Spencer in any other caliber seems wrong. I would shoot rimifire but that is even a greater task to find and pay for. Good rifle but not a great one. The manual of arms requires cocking the hammer to halfcock before operating the lever and then to full cock to shoot. Work the lever too slow or too fast and a jam. I do love the gun, a real advance in firearms at the time but Winchester got it right (the Henry) faster. Glad to asnwer specific questions if you want.

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Originally Posted by jdmcomp

Glad to asnwer specific questions if you want.

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How about a short video next range day? Load, operate and fire...?

I've been looking for Spencer Carbines, and I've seen people pull the hammer all the way back, move the lever, and then fire. Not sure if that is safe but I was interested in US military rifles of the Post-Civil War era.

If the Spencer is not that good of an idea, what would be a well priced lever-action rifle, and a sidearm to go along with it? I was thinking of the schofield, but only if i could find one for a decent price.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I had a pair of Sharps too, and have never seen more.

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I have handled one, a genuine article at that, belongs to someone you may well know.

PM inbound to play Hinterland's Who's Who...

... HWW, That is a bit of Canadiana that should have a number of our international members scratching their heads and seeking the google.

Now I see what brought that on...