Howdy to the camp,
I used my 56-50 Spencer as a rifle in a Plainsmen match at the High Sierra Shootout at Railroad Flat, CA this spring. I had the magazine tube removed, and single loaded from the top. The 56-50 has the spring loaded, center mounted Lane Extractor, which makes single loading MUCH easier than the pistol calibers. (I UNDERSTAND THE 44-40S WITH HAVE A LANE EXTRACTOR, ALSO). Considering folks were using 357 handy rifles, all agreed that it was not a comepitive advantage! One person (with a handy-rifle and tricked out Ruger OLD ARMIES) complained, but I pointed out that the Indian War Cavalry used them as single shots (with stabler cut offs) and without the magazine tube, it IS a single shot. IT SHOT CLEAN.