![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Then just as I was about to setup for another round of 5 or more shots with the flintlock, my twin's friend announces that he brought 2 original Civil War carbines -- both leverguns -- to shoot!
![Exclamation :!:](./images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif)
Yup, the flintlock quickly started to collect some dust in the corner, as I can shoot that anytime...
First up was a Spencer Carbine that has been converted to centerfire by adding a new breechblock, that is clearly marked "For Blackpowder Only". If it wasn't for that, all the rest of the gun and the "new" breechblock all looked old; as whoever made the new block put an "old finish" on it.
The block was chambered for cutdown .50-70 brass, and they looked like these (on the right) next to one of the original rimfire rounds:
Other than a slight glitch (took several attempts, while tilted 45 degrees right) on feeding the last round, each of us put the entire mags downrange as fast as we could cycle the lever. The follower in the removable tubular magazine had been dimpled so it would not hit a centerfire primer, and I'm thinking maybe it has a burr or causes the last round to tilt just a little. But boy -- all the smoke from this "Dang Yankee rifle that you load on Sunday and shoot all week" was really getting thick! Then I found that if you thumped the buttstock twice after the first hiccup, the last round would then feed easily. So I got all my rounds downrange faster than the other guys.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Here's a good image of some of the parts and inner workings of the Spencer:
Next up was a gun that probably should have been shot after the flintlock -- or maybe a caplock -- and before the Spencer, as it bridged the gap between percussion guns and fixed cartridges.
I got to handle and shoot a Burnside Carbine!
This one was a blast to shoot, with the fixed cartridge AND large musket cap. So it's not a repeater, but we sure could put a lot of rounds downrange in a hurry. The rounds are those odball "snow cones" maybe you've seen some pictures of, and the ones we shot were loaded with a round ball and 2F powder. There's a pinhole (about the size of the hole in the nipple of a cap 'n ball revolver) in the rear of the brass cone, and as long as you use 2F powder -- none falls out. And of course we tried to shake some out!
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
The owner also had some plastic "snow cones" and while those were harder to cam closed, they shot just as well and weren't burned up at all. He just doesn't know how long the pinhole at the rear will hold up, but he's aiming to find out. The image below shows you how the locking block tilts down, exposing the chamber for loading, and you insert the load, lock it up (there's a definite click when you do it right) and then cap the large nipple with a musket cap.
So that's my range report. Man, it was fun! Overall, I think I liked the Spencer the best, while my brother liked the Burnside. But for sure, after I found out what he'd paid for those, I'll only get to shoot his guns whenever he comes north again..........
Tight groups!
Old No7