Burnside

[Battis]

I have a 4th - 5th model Burnside .54 on hold for a week. It's in good shape - the bore is shiny and unpitted, the numbers match, the wood is a little banged up, the metal is in great shape. The action works perfectly. I see several inspector's marks throughout. It is missing the saddle bar and ring but they're available, either originals ($250) or repros ($60). It looks like a shooter with brass or plastic cases. The price looks good - around $800, and this is important - they seem to hold their value. I'm talking when I'm dead and gone "someone" will say, "He was right - it was a good investment."
Any ideas, thoughts, opinions on the Burnside .54?

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Sounds like both a good investment and a fun shooter to me! If you could get it for less, say about $650-675 it would be more attractive--I think it's just a little overpriced. By the time you replace the saddle bar and ring you'd be into it for just over $1,000. There is a good market for these among Civil War re-enactors, and the historical attachment to the founder of the NRA.

[StrawHat]

I have a 5th Model and it is a great shooter with brass cases. Not so much with the plastic ones, at least for me. Same for the collar ring that Dixie used to sell. The brass case does a great job as a gas seal and works with the round ball or the conicals I was able to get.

Kevin

[ndnchf]

Many years ago I had a Burnside and shot it a lot with brass cases. As I recall it was very accurate. I've been keeping a loading notebook for over 30 years. If you are interested, I'll go back and look up my loads any notes I have.

[varsity07840]

Many years ago I had a Burnside and shot it a lot with brass cases. As I recall it was very accurate. I've been keeping a loading notebook for over 30 years. If you are interested, I'll go back and look up my loads any notes I have.

They have gain twist rifling.

[Battis]

I'm wondering about the price - it's actually $890 (well, that's around $800, right?). Add a repro saddle ring and bar, and like Der Gebirgsjager pointed out, it'll be over $1000. Prices online are all over the place on those rifles, but they seem to be $1500 and up. Flaydermans 9th Edition lists them as Good $950 Fine $2250. This rifle seems to be somewhere in-between.
A local gunshop just sold one that wasn't in as good shape for $950 (marked down from $1600).

[ndnchf]

FWIW, I seem to recall buying mine about $25 years ago for $400. So $800 today doesn't seem out of line to me.

[BrentD]

How about pictures? All these posts and not one picture. I've seen one once somewhere. I don't recall much about it however.

[ascast]

They have gain twist rifling.

really ? I thouht the Carcano was the only one. learn sumpin ever day

[Battis]

The rifle is still at the store. I took it off hold so it's back for sale. It's still tempting, but...

[Wayne Smith]

I konow the Colt Patterson had gain twist rifling. Did the Walker and Dragoon models?

[ndnchf]

I dug up my loading notes from almost 30 years ago. I shot this 2.1" group at 50 yards with my burnside. The load was 40gr of Goex 2F over a wheelweight Dixie burnside bullet of. 562" diameter. They shoot pretty good!

[ogre]

I don't believe that it's a, "good investment" but it ought to hold or even increase in value and should to be lots of fun to boot. What's not to like?