Burnside Case Life

[Kenneth L. Walters]

I've got a Civil War Burnside that I would like to shoot.

The cases here are not cheap. Anyone know how many reloads you can get out of a case?

Also Dixie sells a gas seal. Just a cartridge case with the powder area removed. Do these last longer than the cases?

[spadegrip]

The case are everlasting. I still shoot cases I bought in the mid 80's. The problem with using the gas seal is the the body of the cartridge is not included as you mentioned and therefore the movable breach in the back is not actuated and the hammer will not come down on the nipple as it should. Look at the relationship between the hammer and the nipple when the gun is loaded with a cartridge and when it is empty. The Burnside needs a cartridge to be used properly.

[Kenneth L. Walters]

What little I've shot mine suggested that the front lip tends to break off rather easily.

[Lou Lou Lou]

Try annealing the case mouths with a torch, quench in water. GTG

[jim14th]

Lodgewood now sells nylon/plastic Burnside cases ,alot less expensive then the brass .I have used these in both my burnside and gallager carbines . They will not last as long as the brass but again expensive wise....