Thanks fellers,
I've truly blessed to be able to make this an annual trek for many years. And to be able to share the expereince with my sons is just awesome, and we each used a Spencer for our first buffaloes.This past October Colton used his 76 45-60. This was my 14th buffalo(13cows & 1bull). Have used 56-56,50-70,44-77, 45-70,45-75, Northwest trade gunflintlock smoothbore,54 caliber 1859 Sharps , and this past October the 56-50 Spencer sporting rifle. Most have b been with 50-70,(4) two with Gemmer style Remington roller, and two with 1866 Springfield Allin conversions. Next most used is 44-77(3)original Ballard #5 Pacific model.
Loads for the 56-56. Cut down 50-70 brass, 42 grs. Goex express 2f. Drop tube and compressed.bullet from Rapine mold 546 dia.heel base. 392 grains- Only sticks in the case about 1/8" made a stab crimper from old hoof nippers. Federal 215 primers Chronoed between 1090 and 1110 fps. Shoots really quite well in the old Spencer rifle.
56-50. Starline 56-50 brass, droptube and really compressed 40 grs. Olde eynsford 2f.. bullet from Lee mold (was for 515 grn. FP, I cut it at bottom grease groove for casting bullets at 375 grs, 30/1 alloy.) Doesn't carry a lot of lube but shoots really well. Thebsoft bullets mean working the lever deliberately so they feed without hanging up and getting deformed.but they really do group nicely out of the old sporting rifle conversion. Didnt chronograph these but the bullet broke the tops of both shoulder blades and bottom half of vertebre at closeto 150 yards. Anchored the big cow bison on the spot, the big fat arteryy along the spine was severed and she bled out by the time we got up to her. Hole all the way through, high shoulder hit.
I'll try to get some pics of bullets and loadedrounds when I get a chance.
BG