Civil War bullet experts

[Picketwire]

Whitworths were .451 and used polygonal rifling. I don't know whether the .451 was from the flats or the edges on the fired bullet. "A Handbook of Civil War Bullets & Cartridges" has a reference to a 54 cal RM with no grooves on page 32. Diameter .537, length 1.04, weight 457

 

[TerryEastTexas]

Whitworths were .451 and used polygonal rifling. I don't know whether the .451 was from the flats or the edges on the fired bullet. "A Handbook of Civil War Bullets & Cartridges" has a reference to a 54 cal RM with no grooves on page 32. Diameter .537, length 1.04, weight 457

PW I think you got it.

 

[Picketwire]

The book said they were squeezed together between two punches and the grooves and body taper were turned on a lathe later. It has examples of zero and 3 grooves. It says they were manufactured in the North. Finding a bullet made on a lathe anywhere is quite amazing.

 

[Erndog]

I'm not seeing anything like that on my page 32. They are all 44 cals. My book is a 2013 edition. Different??

 

[Picketwire]

Mine says copyright 1996, no mention of edition. The reference is in the ".54-.73 Caliber for Rifles, Rifle Muskets, and Muskets" reference 130.

 

[Erndog]

Got it. That's page 96 in my edition.

 

[autopilot42]

All drops none were fired

 

[autopilot42]

From what I have read they didn't like the cleaners they stuck in their barrels. The copper ring is long gone . I guess they used to piss in there barrel to clean it. Not sure

 

[autopilot42]

Trying to survive that is what they did. Kinda makes sense where you find stuff .they camped and tried to stay out of the wind in winter.