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Normal Topic Burnside update (Read 1109 times)
Lefty38-55
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Burnside update
Feb 3rd, 2014 at 2:14pm
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Here's the post that started this journey: 
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And my friend continues:

"This carbine is .54 cal and shoots a brass cartridge that represented the technology transition between muzzleloaders and cartridge rifles in that the cartridge does not contain a primer (rimfire or center). It has a hole in the base and the powder in the cartridge is ignited by the flash from a percussion cap. 

There are a few suppliers that sell the cartridges and bullets (S&S, Lodgewood and Dixie). I purchased the cartridges from Lodgewood and the bullets from S&S. I was surprised to find that only 2 of the 15 cartridge I ordered actually chambered successfully in my carbine. I spoke to the guy at Lodgewood and he explained that the cartridges are made oversize due to discrepancies in the chamber dimensions between the different Burnside models. So, I had to hand fit each one to the breech block on my carbine, a task that took several hours to complete. I had not read this point in my Internet searches. 

The cartridges were loaded with just under 40gr FF black powder and I lubed and hand-seated the .556 Burnside bullets from S&S Firearms. I also rubbed the lube on the cone of the cartridge to help prevent them from sticking in the breech block after firing. At the range the carbine functioned beautifully. There were no misfires and the ignition was very fast. The kick was moderate. The carbine printed an OK group at 50-yds, considering it was the first time I fired this gun. It also shot high and right. Not sure how to bring this to point of aim at 50-yds since the sights are not adjustable. I read in online articles that the Burnside with its progressive rifled barrel actually shoots better with a roundball seated in the cartridge, so I purchased a .562 Lee mold and will cast some balls to try … next time Wink ."



  

All of my single shots shoot one tiny ragged hole with cast bullets ... it's just the following shots that tend to open up my groups Wink ...
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Lefty38-55
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Location: New England
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Re: Burnside update
Reply #1 - Feb 3rd, 2014 at 2:17pm
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... and some pictures:

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Kind of 'different' than what most of us do, but I thought some would get a kick out of him restoring a historic arm, by himself, to shootable and presentable condition.
  

All of my single shots shoot one tiny ragged hole with cast bullets ... it's just the following shots that tend to open up my groups Wink ...
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