Now that was the really interesting thing, and I should have stated this in the first entry. I have just returned from the Middle East after 2 years, retiring from the USN after 20 years. Bought the Spencer as a retirement gift to myself. On my way home to Missouri from Norfolk VA., was invited to the above match in NC. Had no ammunition for the gun, so 2 fellas offered me their rounds. These were about evenly devided between 180 grain Black Hills factory loads, and both 200 and 230 grain hand loads. The Spencer cycled all 3 loads no problem, including a few magazines in which I deliberatly mixed all 3. Figgered it would be a good test. I was impressed, as were many in my posse.
Surprising in that the gun has a relativly low number, under 500. I suspect, just IMHO, perhaps Taylors/Armi Sport may have shipped a number of relativly rough preproduction prototypes, perhaps numbered in the first 100, and these were responsible for the feeding troubles reported. Certianly mine is a fine piece of engineering.