56 50 Spencer Ammo
GunCritic Score
50%
Critic Rating
0 Reviews
50%
User Rating
0 Reviews
MSRP:$9.59
Used Price:
$8.63
Sale Price:
$9.59
Ammo Stats
Muzzle Velocity
1200 fps
Muzzle Energy
1520 J
Bullet Drop
0.05 in
Wind Drift
0.03 in
From$8.99
See DealThe .56-56 Spencer was an American black powder rifle cartridge. Designed for the Spencer rifle and carbine, patented 6 March 1860, it was employed by cavalry during the American Civil War, first appearing at Sharpsburg in rifle form. No Spencer carbines were on issue at the Battle of Gettysburg, though two units under Custer had the rifles. The .56-56 was loaded with a slug of 350–360 gr (22.7–23.3 g) over 42–45 gr (2.7–2.9 g) of black powder. It was loaded by a
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variety of companies, and was also used in the Ballard and Joslyn carbines. It is a short-ranged cartridge, ineffective on anything larger than deer. Commercially loaded ammunition continued to be available into the 1920s and 1930s.
The nomenclature of Spencer cartridges was unique. Unlike later cartridges such as the .44-40 Winchester and .45-70, where the first number indicated caliber and the second the charge weight, the .56-56 refers solely to the case. The first 56 is the diameter of the case at the base .56 inches (14.2 mm), measured just past the rim, and the second 56 is the diameter at the case mouth, also 0.56 inches (14 mm). Later versions of the cartridge included the .56-52, .56-50, and .56-46, which had varying degrees of taper in the cases, to accommodate smaller diameter bullets. All of these cartridges are rimfire primed. The actual bullet diameter of the .56-56 varied between .54 and .555 inches (13.7–14.1 mm), depending on ammunition manufacturer. The .56-52, made by Spencer, and the .56-50, made by Springfield, differed only in the degree of crimp, with the .56-50 having a greater crimp; both fired 350 grain .512-inch (13.0 mm) bullets. The .56-46 fired a 320 to 330 grain .465-inch (11.8 mm) bullet..56-50 Spencer For Sale
.56-50 Spencer Ballistics Performance
| Distance (yard) | Elevation (in) | Energy (fps) | Velocity (ft/lb) |
| 0 | 0.00 | 245.52 | 2550.00 |
| 30 | -0.85 | 245.52 | 2550.00 |
| 60 | -3.42 | 245.52 | 2550.00 |
| 90 | -7.69 | 245.52 | 2550.00 |
| 130 | -13.67 | 245.52 | 2550.00 |
| 160 | -21.35 | 245.52 | 2550.00 |
| 190 | -30.75 | 245.52 | 2550.00 |
| 230 | -41.85 | 245.52 | 2550.00 |
| 260 | -54.66 | 245.52 | 2550.00 |
| 290 | -69.18 | 245.52 | 2550.00 |
| Distance (yards) | 0 | 30 | 60 | 90 | 130 | 160 | 190 | 230 | 260 | 290 |
| Elevation (in) | 0.00 | -0.85 | -3.42 | -7.69 | -13.67 | -21.35 | -30.75 | -41.85 | -54.66 | -69.18 |
| Energy (fps) | 245.52 | 245.52 | 245.52 | 245.52 | 245.52 | 245.52 | 245.52 | 245.52 | 245.52 | 245.52 |
| Velocity (ft/lb) | 2550.00 | 2550.00 | 2550.00 | 2550.00 | 2550.00 | 2550.00 | 2550.00 | 2550.00 | 2550.00 | 2550.00 |
GunCritic Score
Ammo Stats
Muzzle Velocity
1200 fps
Muzzle Energy
1520 J
Bullet Drop
0.05 in
Wind Drift
0.03 in
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.56-50 Spencer Specifications
Category
Caliber
.56-50 Spencer
Gun Types
Case Types
Height
2.250
Recoil
0.00
Case Material
Brass
Rim Type
Rimmed
Bullet Types
Soft Point,Jacketed Hollow Point,Full Metal Jacket
Primer Type
Large Rifle
Bullet Diameter
0.329 in
Land Diameter
0.318 in
Neck Diameter
0.355 in
Base Diameter
0.415 in
Rim Diameter
0.449 in
Rim Thickness
0.055 in
Case Length
32 in
Oal Cartridge Length
42 in
Bullet Weight
350 gr
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