New Spencer Owner 26031 with Range Report (Update 8/1/2025)

[Apriestley]

Video is up! I did better than I expected especially considering the poor weather. Scored a 9.8 at 100 yds based on the match formula.

[El Supremo]

Wow!
Thanks, Adam, for a stunning example.

Couple things, please:
The 100 yard bullet holes appear symmetrical with no tipping.
If any, it is not significant.
This is a most welcome bit of knowledge about the Accurate 51-325KT bullet and your Spencer's measured 36" twist.

It may be the camera's frame rate, but watching seems to show very little follow through after shot release. I realize this is a timed event, but a second longer hold might improve group size, which is still impressive.

Oh, do I recognize your cartridge box? Smiles.

The vid is thrilling, and one of only a few, so most appreciated.
Please email me if there is anything I can do for you.  Thanks.
El Supremo/Kevin Tinny

[Apriestley]

My N-SSA unit held our annual public demonstration at a local black powder fair. We had great weather (for February in Pennsylvania) and quite the crowd. The Spencer was a big hit and several people who had never shot any Civil War era firearm had the chance to try it for themselves.

[tjiann]

Really great Adam!

[Apriestley]

Ammunition is prepared for N-SSA nationals this weekend. I've bumped up the powder charge to 38 gn GOEX FFFG. This is the maximum I can get into a case and still have the bullet seat properly. The Carbine seems to prefer stouter loads so we will give it a try this upcomming weekend. We may be getting additional bad weather in Winchester and I have not decided if I'll shoot this in heavy rain or bring out the Uberti Henry instead. Hoping to also get some Swiss powder to get some extra velocity on these full cases.

I am hoping to do some experimenting with duplex loads in the near future. They won't be competition legal obviously but may wring our the maximum performance the rifle can offer for hunting and the like.

[Apriestley]

Repeater match is wrapped up. Happy to say I kept right up with and even out shot some teammates with Henrys. I didn't do a great job of keeping score but I think I tallied around 13 hit.

 I will likely need to replace my hammer as it is peening against the firing pin and is not getting enough contact for 100% reliable ignition. Hope I can get a repro that fits.

[El Supremo]

Thanks, Adam:
Good work and useful info. Please sit tight and reach me nxt week. Peened hammers are normal on orig's, and can be repaired vs a repro which can do the same thing.  No guaranty a repro will fit correctly. Smiles.
El Supremo/Kevin Tinny

[Arizona Trooper]

Thanks for the report. Glad to hear that the repeater match came off. Looked like weather was headed your way about that time. I was hoping to be on the line with you, but when our campsite was under 3 feet of water earlier this week I decided to save my vacation time. Might not have been the best decision I ever made. But, I have 100 rounds of 56-50 and 100 56-56 ready for the next skirmish.

[Apriestley]

Thanks for the report. Glad to hear that the repeater match came off. Looked like weather was headed your way about that time. I was hoping to be on the line with you, but when our campsite was under 3 feet of water earlier this week I decided to save my vacation time. Might not have been the best decision I ever made. But, I have 100 rounds of 56-50 and 100 56-56 ready for the next skirmish.

Our campsite got hit hard. My trailer, which wasn't much to speak of before, is a total loss.

[Apriestley]

So the misfiring has gone from a minor annoyance to pretty much putting the rifle out of action. The firing pin is too heavily peened to get a strong enough strike against the firing pin block to ignite the cartridge, with each round now taking two attempts to ignite. As you will see the hammer isn't in great shape now, but alignment with the firing pin block is far from perfect.

What are my best options here? Should I replace the hammer with a new, hopefully harder one that's more wear resistant, or should I try and bend this to better align with the firing pin?

See hammer pics here

[El Supremo]

Hello, Adam:

Thanks for the clear photo's.
Sorry to see the, not uncommon, damage.

Many original Spencer's, including a superb factory sporter I've seen present some inner hammer tip peening. Some center fire upper block strikers also peen. Then there's the issue of misaligned hammer tips caused by looseness on the tumbler or misfit replacement hammers.

Peening is a challenging differential hardening aspect, and if compounded with tip misalignment, could indicate the hammer is a replacement or loose.  If your hammer is loose on the tumbler, do not try to solve that via heavy torque on the hammer screw!
Call or text me, please. Hammer fit on the tumbler involves several mating surfaces.

I do not know, because of metallurgy, if the tip can be bent, but your striker rear end and hammer tip will need welding and experienced, expert rehardening.

Larry Romano, Bob Gorsky and John Bly might be helpful. Larry has repaired one for me and one for a friend, but I do not know if he's presently inclined. Please text or call me if you wish.  Thanks, Adam.
Kevin Tinny
42NY 13667

[Apriestley]

Hello, Adam:

Thanks for the clear photo's.
Sorry to see the, not uncommon, damage.

Many original Spencer's, including a superb factory sporter I've seen present some inner hammer tip peening. Some center fire upper block strikers also peen. Then there's the issue of misaligned hammer tips caused by looseness on the tumbler or misfit replacement hammers.

Peening is a challenging differential hardening aspect, and if compounded with tip misalignment, could indicate the hammer is a replacement or loose.  If your hammer is loose on the tumbler, do not try to solve that via heavy torque on the hammer screw!
Call or text me, please. Hammer fit on the tumbler involves several mating surfaces.

I do not know, because of metallurgy, if the tip can be bent, but your striker rear end and hammer tip will need welding and experienced, expert rehardening.

Larry Romano, Bob Gorsky and John Bly might be helpful. Larry has repaired one for me and one for a friend, but I do not know if he's presently inclined. Please text or call me if you wish.  Thanks, Adam.
Kevin Tinny
42NY 13667

Thanks Kevin I will reach out in the next couple days

[Apriestley]

After a conversation with Dave Stalvo at Lodgewood, the only real long term solution is to replace the hammer with a new made one. He was surprised my hammer had so much damage with zero deformation to the firing pin block, it likely wasn't properly hardened from the start. Trying to fix this one is going to either just damage itself again, or have it hardened to the point of being to brittle to use. Replacing it will allow continued worry free shooting while preserving this one for the new owner, whenever that may be.

It will probably miss the fall Nationals but should be done in plenty of time for deer season.