Hillman shooting a Sharps 1863 Carbine and a Burnside 4th model carbine

[artsmith1972]

I get the first one- in that it used paper "cartridges"- so you need a cap, but I dont understand the 2nd two Carbines.. if they were brass cartridges- didnt they have a built in primer ? Sorry if this seems like a ignorant question, I just assumed that they would be like modern brass cartridges...

[ilarioo23]

this is the man that you don't want to meet if you are entering in a private property without permission.

[lastchip]

Thats great, never seen a Burnside fire before. Did either hit the target at all?

[laksemann]

Mycket fin bössa!

[Thx1138d]

It is difficult for me to imagine the Union army didn't adopt at least the Sharps to be the universal weapon.

[ssimmons0602]

@Thx1138d There was a great deal of resistance to the Sharps from the Quartermaster Corps, who believed that a weapon with that rate of fire encouraged the troops to waste ammunition.

No, I am not making this up (g).

[Thx1138d]

I read about that in the book : " Misfire", which I recommend.

[IamAnticus]

Did you ever find the barrel band on your Burnside ? You can see it fall off about the 2 minute mark.

[njmvermont]

damn thats a big bullet. over 50cal right

[AUG351]

@njmvermont Both fired a .52 caliber cartridge but most rifles in the Civil War were over 50 caliber, the regular Springfield or 1853 Enfield muzzle loader rifle fired a .58 caliber mini ball, so imagine thousands of those flying around. Also the smooth bore muskets fired a .69 caliber but was a inaccurate round musket ball.

[pballmikek]

my brother just was given a old bullet from the burnside carbine from the battle of manassas. cool stuff!

[lastchip]

Love the variety of designs of breach loaders of that era. Thanks for the video, great stuff!

[Nick3889]

I like the loading idea of the first rifle you put the paper cartridge in and when you closed the breech it cuts the end off I love it