Lindcott Armory Rimfire · SAAMI
.56-50 Spencer
The Civil War's 7-shot repeating carbine cartridge.
- Caliber
- 0.512″ · 13.005 mm
- Introduced
- 1860
- Case
- Rimfire
- Parent
- .56-56 Spencer
- Primary use
- Military (Historical)
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1860
- Type
- Rimfire
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Christopher Spencer
- Manufacturer
- Spencer Repeating Rifle / Union Metallic
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Common
- Case capacity
- 35 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- N/A (rimfire, lever action)
- Primer
- Rimfire
- Case type
- Rimfire
- Max pressure
- 18,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 200 yd
- Max range
- 500 yd
- Recoil
- 10–16 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
- Parent case
- .56-56 Spencer
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
Wikipedia · secondary source| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 13.01 | 0.512 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 13.79 | 0.543 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 14.12 | 0.556 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 16.23 | 0.639 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.50 | 0.059 | ~ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 29.36 | 1.156 | · |
| Overall length | 41.45 | 1.632 | ~ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .56-50 Spencer is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 2 active loads across 2 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 19 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten-X Ammunition | Lead RN | 350 | Lead RN | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| Buffalo Arms | Lead RN Reproduction | 350 | Lead RN | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| Graf | Standard | 350 | Lead Round Nose | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| Spencer Repeating Rifle Co. | Lead RN Original | 350 | Lead RN | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| Graf & Sons | Graf Heritage | 350 | Lead RN | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| Bertram | Bertram Reloads | 350 | Lead RN | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| UMC | Lead RN | 350 | Lead RN | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| Eley | Sport | 350 | Lead Round Nose | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| Winchester | Lead RN | 350 | Lead RN | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| Norma | Classic | 350 | Lead Round Nose | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| Old Western Scrounger | OWS Heritage | 350 | Lead RN | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| RWS | Classic | 350 | Lead Round Nose | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| Buffalo Arms | Custom | 350 | Lead Round Nose | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| PPU | Standard | 350 | Lead Round Nose | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
| Kynoch | Classic | 350 | Lead Round Nose | 1,200 | 1,119 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Firearms chambered in .56-50 Spencer
5 models in the database chamber .56-50 Spencer. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Christopher Spencer personally demonstrated the repeating carbine to Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Lincoln test-fired it on the White House lawn and ordered adoption. Over 94,000 Spencer carbines entered service. Confederate General James Longstreet reportedly called the Spencer the weapon that prolonged the war by making Union cavalry tactically dominant.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .56-50 Spencer use?
- .56-50 Spencer typically uses a N/A (rimfire, lever action) twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .56-50 Spencer?
- .56-50 Spencer uses a 0.512″ (13.005 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .56-50 Spencer still in production?
- .56-50 Spencer is active; typical availability is common.
- What is .56-50 Spencer used for?
- .56-50 Spencer is primarily used for military (historical).
- What is .56-50 Spencer based on?
- .56-50 Spencer is derived from the .56-56 Spencer case.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 2 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →