Another Old One Returns

[StrawHat]

Wasn't sure where to post this, here or in single shot rifles, coin toss got it here.

I shot this carbine when I was a teen and it recently came back to me. Looking forward to working up a load and maybe hunting with it.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/Long%20Guns/Burnside/09fc0859-8ed7-4125-aead-0e9402f0789b_zpsddf6c02c.jpg (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/StrawHat/media/Long%20Guns/Burnside/09fc0859-8ed7-4125-aead-0e9402f0789b_zpsddf6c02c.jpg.html)

I recall using a round ball and a full case of BP, (brand and granulation not remembered). I would like to use a conical and believe they origianlly used a 360 grain boolit of some sort. Any one who has better knowledge of this, please chime in.

[bigted]

guess im not sure about what im looking at but it IS tall on cool. what is the rifle and cal please? the model 1860 looks rite at home with it tho.

thanks for sharing this ol rascal and yepper im bettin you posted in the rite place.

[john hayslip]

Strawhat - It's a Burnside, probably in 54 caliber. Hoyt Bodinson did a write up on one in the Spring/summer Surplus 2013 edition that Guns magazine puts out. If you don't have access send me a pm with a snail mail address and I'll send you a copy. I don't do, nor want to learn, attachments. I'm going to be in and out for a few days so give me time to reply. Sorta triangular Brass cases are available from S&S Firearms in NY and Dixie Gun Works in Tn. Rapine bullet mold 556360 is the bullet designed for it. Good Luck. Wish I had it.

[BPShooter]

Strawhat- Go to this site N-SSA.org and ask your questions, they will be answered. I shoot a Maynard of the same era, can't help with the Burnside sorry.

[Don McDowell]

No helpful information, but dang sure interested to read your adventures with it.

[John Boy]

Some history and technical information about the Burnside Carbine ...
http://www.hackman-adams.com/guns/burnside.htm

[StrawHat]

Well, I forgot to add text to the OP! The photo is of an original 5th Model Burnsdie carbine paired up with one of my replica 1860s. It used an ice cream cone shaped cartridge ignited by a seperate percussion cap. It carries gain twist rifling andd weighs just 7pounds 2 ounces. I shot it with a gas seal between the block and the barrel and used a round ball (possibly .565) and black powder. I do not recal using lube, nor wiping between shots. Basically, I did everything wrong and it still worked like a charm. I have some cases on order and am looking for a mold. Rapine is out of business so I am looking elsewhere. I still like the idea of the round ball, and will slug the barrel to determine what size I should be using.

There is a sling bar and ring on the off side of the action. In use, it was carried attached to the soldier by a sling worn as a bandolier and fed from a cartridge box that carried twenty of the uniquely shaped cartridges.

The carbine can be fired without cartridges or a gas seal, I have done it and do not intend to repeat that performance. A wall of gas, flame and smoke erupt from the carbine mere inches in front of your eyes. A decidingly flinch inducing phoenomena! With empty brass, a casing can be left in the chamber and the carbine loaded as a muzzleloader but the lack of a ramrod makes that a bit of a chore. If I ever get a barreled action, I would restock it and include a ram rod under the barrel.

From what I have read and remembered, the Gov't thought well enough of this carbine to buy a bunch of them. Only the Sharpes and the Spencer were purchased in larger quantities. But that doesn't tell the whole story. The Spencer was ordered at the end of the war and most of them were not issued to troops, so the Burnside was the #2 issued carbine, behind the Sharps.

Original cartidges carried a 360 grain conical bullet, (not sure where H-A got the 500 grain idea). I wish I could find documentation of what the Gov't ordered. Eventually the Burnside was superceded by cartridge friearms but it is a hoot to shoot and I look forward to getting it going again.

As things progress, I will update this thread.

Any info you can share wil be greatly appreciated.

[bigted]

thanks for the explanation. I had no idea and am intrigued with this 'new to me' style rifle. it appears to be in fairly good shape tho. im like Don ... id like to hear more about the experiments with this old jewel.

[TXGunNut]

Wow, the things we learn hanging around here! Very interesting indeed, looking forward to hearing more about this rifle and its role in history. Rather pleasant to gaze upon as well.

[StrawHat]

Offside,

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/Long%20Guns/Burnside/015_zpsc2e6c056.jpg (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/StrawHat/media/Long%20Guns/Burnside/015_zpsc2e6c056.jpg.html)

Action open for loading,

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/Long%20Guns/Burnside/bc0ca11b-99c5-4211-8917-47c69f92f617_zpsa0d432cd.jpg (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/StrawHat/media/Long%20Guns/Burnside/bc0ca11b-99c5-4211-8917-47c69f92f617_zpsa0d432cd.jpg.html)

The red arrow points to the tooless take down feature, dpressing the small pin allows the larger pin to be removed and the action drops from the carbine for cleaning or repair.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/Long%20Guns/Burnside/025_zps986d32a0.jpg (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/StrawHat/media/Long%20Guns/Burnside/025_zps986d32a0.jpg.html)

[StrawHat]

Anyone have the Rapine #556360 mold? I would like to get 100 boolits from it. Let me know. The new casings came in the other day but not having luck finding boolits.

[Wayne Smith]

I'm sure that either Bernie at Old West or Tom at Accurate can get the original dimensions and make you one. Bernie has all the original Old West catalog, they may have had one.

[StrawHat]

Thank you Wayne, and others. I have had several offers for buying a mold but realistically, I need only 100 castings and probably fewer. A $200 mold is a bit more than I am looking to buy.

[StrawHat]

Just recieved 25 boolits from Masscaster. Now to locate some tophats!

[StrawHat]

Okay, the boolits are a good fit in the bore but a bit loose in the casing. How does one crimp a 54 caliber boolit? Not a whole lot of folks making crimping dies for the Burnside! Actually, all I need is to find one, or a way to jury rig it.

All suggestions are welcomed!

[dagger dog]

This info is from GUNS OF THE OLD WEST MAGAZINE from an article by TODD G. LOFGREN.

Dixie Gun Works has cases for $7.25 @ and also a brass gas seal that can be used to load with loose powder and ball.

In the article he uses a Lee push through sizer to size the boolit, and that gave me the idea to use a LEE push through sizer in the correct diameter can be used as to partial neck size, to reduce the portion of the case that grips the boolit , a drilled hard wood block could be use to set the case in and the push through sizer would be used with a mallet.