Baby Rolling Block Chambered for .56/.50

[Grapeshot]

Years ago I purchased a Baby Rolling Block Carbine in .45 Colt. I had no luck in shooting or extracting the .45 Colt cases when I took it out to the range. So I had it rechambered and bored out to .56/.50 Spencer byNorman Johnson @ "High Plains Reboring & Rerifling" E-Mail: nrjonsn@westriv.com.

Here's what it looks like.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/Grapeshot_2006/Rolling%20Block%20Carbine/RollingBlockcarbine008-1.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/Grapeshot_2006/Rolling%20Block%20Carbine/RollingBlockcarbine007.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/Grapeshot_2006/Rolling%20Block%20Carbine/RollingBlockcarbine002.jpg

[Ben]

Might be my computer or monitor settings, but those photos are awful small here on this end of things. Looks good from what " little " I can see of it.

Ben

[herbert buckland]

What twist rate did he put in it ,and how does it shoot

[NickSS]

I have a 5650 spencer carbine (replica) and two friends of mine have originals in both carbine and rifle configurations. They shoot quite well out to 200 yards. I load mine with 19 gr of AA 5744 with a rapine 370 gr flat point bullet sized to 512" This load is fine for hitting 200 yard silhouettes with the issue sights. It will print around a 2 to 3 inch group at 100 yards. My buddy just bought a rifle version that was rebarreled and refurbished at Springfield armory in 1871. It has the same 3 groove barrel that the army was putting on the 50-70 rifles at that time so my buddy is using 515 dia 350 gr bullets and 45 gr of FFG in his gun. He built a rear sight that replaces the Spencer rear sigh that provides a peep aperture and elevation and windage adjustments. He was shooting it last week and after adjusting the sights in he hit 5 silhouette targets in a row at 200 yards with it. I was impressed. I hope your carbine shoots as well. By the way one of my buddies has an original 50 cal carbine rolling block. This carbine uses a round that is about 1/4 inch longer than the 56-50 spencer round and it hold 50 gr of FFG easily along with a 350 gr bullet.

[Grapeshot]

I have a 5650 spencer carbine (replica) and two friends of mine have originals in both carbine and rifle configurations. They shoot quite well out to 200 yards. I load mine with 19 gr of AA 5744 with a rapine 370 gr flat point bullet sized to 512" This load is fine for hitting 200 yard silhouettes with the issue sights. It will print around a 2 to 3 inch group at 100 yards. My buddy just bought a rifle version that was rebarreled and refurbished at Springfield armory in 1871. It has the same 3 groove barrel that the army was putting on the 50-70 rifles at that time so my buddy is using 515 dia 350 gr bullets and 45 gr of FFG in his gun. He built a rear sight that replaces the Spencer rear sigh that provides a peep aperture and elevation and windage adjustments. He was shooting it last week and after adjusting the sights in he hit 5 silhouette targets in a row at 200 yards with it. I was impressed. I hope your carbine shoots as well. By the way one of my buddies has an original 50 cal carbine rolling block. This carbine uses a round that is about 1/4 inch longer than the 56-50 spencer round and it hold 50 gr of FFG easily along with a 350 gr bullet.

The carbine your friend has is a .50-.45 cavalry carbine and was also used in the Navy Rolling Blocks.

To Hebert Bucland: The bore is .512 and the twist is 1 in 20. It initially shot high. I've replaced the front sight with a higher one on a ramp and it shoots well for me. I can keep all rounds on a 12 inch plate at 75 yards.

[Grapeshot]

Might be my computer or monitor settings, but those photos are awful small here on this end of things. Looks good from what " little " I can see of it.

Ben

There are better pictures over at the Spencer forum on http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,36611.0.html

[herbert buckland]

The Springfield converted Burncide Spencer carbines were fitted with 1868 Springfield 50-70 barrels and chamberd for 56-50,they have a 1 in 42 twist and yoused with the Lyman 515-139D bullet at 1050 fps (a achivable velocity for this cartridge yousing 40gr Swiss FF) is the most acurate of the Spencer 56-50s I have yoused ,I have a Burncide Spencer carbine with a 1 in 34 twist rate and I canget it to groop in 3 inches at 100 yousing the BACO 520-375 bullet and 40gr of WanoPP ,I allso have a Armi Sports 56-50 with a 1 in 20 twist rate and acuracy is terible,L.Romano makes a musem quality spencer quality Spencer with a 1 in 36 twist rate that is very acurate and the proper twist rate for BP loads that can be achived with modern 56-50 loads