Lever Gun Series: Why not the 1860 Spencer?
This video compares the 1860 Spencer Carbine and the 1860 Henry Rifle to determine why the Spencer, despite its military adoption and more powerful cartridge, was ultimately less effective than the Henry/Winchester designs. Testing reveals the Spencer's manual hammer cocking and slow cycling make it significantly slower to fire than the Henry's automatic cocking action. While the Spencer offered more stopping power and range, the Henry's superior rate of fire and capacity made it the clear winner for sustained military use.









