Campfire Chat - General DiscussionsThis is a forum for posting discussion topics, questions, current events, and anything else you'd like to chat about. Please post serious Civil War History threads in appropriate History Forums.
If there's another thread that contains this info, please refer and accept my apology for the repeat.
My question, for the ammo experts out there is exactly how did they process .58 caliber minie' ball cartidges? How did they incorporate the lubrication into the grooves, wrap it in paper and keep it from fouling the powder/becoming a greasy mess?
The back end of the bullet was dipped into a melted lube coating the grease rings w/ a liberal bit of grease the bullets were then loaded into a prerolled cartidge w/ powder. Some factories used machines for most of the process others little old ladies so the amount of grease could vary considerably from batch to batch.
The grease didn't soak through the paper thus keeping greasy mess to a minimum. There is more to it than that but that is the process in a nutshell. Gotta go, lunch is over.
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
If there's another thread that contains this info, please refer and accept my apology for the repeat.
My question, for the ammo experts out there is exactly how did they process .58 caliber minie' ball cartidges? How did they incorporate the lubrication into the grooves, wrap it in paper and keep it from fouling the powder/becoming a greasy mess?
Thanks.
There was the "theory " behind it like johann said, but the practice didn't amount to much. The fouling/ greasy mess was very much a reality. Even with the lubricant and the rifled self cleaning rounds, the guns still got fouled up beyond use. From barrels becoming so hot that the powder flashed in the muzzle as you were pouring it, the guncky mess in the barrel would just build up to the point where it just wouldn't work anymore. Ram-rods got stuck in the barrel, or the gunk clogged up the hole in the nipple so the spark couldn't get through. After a good pitched battle you were lucky if your rifle wasn't ruined forever.
__________________ "In mortal combat, a man may and will become so infuriated by the din and dangers of a bloody fight that his heart will turn to stone and his every de sire [be] for blood."
John Hadley, 7th Indiana after the battle at Port Republic
Dred alot of that is incorrect; fouling was particularly bad in smoothbores but in rifled pieces not nearly so severe or dramatic. I've fired 15-20 rounds w/ no serious issues and done near to 40 w/ the only real issue being a drop in accuracy. A lot of that has to do w/ the lube, or lack thereof. Serious fouling was the exception rather than the rule. While it happened... it wasn't as widespread as you might think.
I've done quite a lot of experimentation w/ varying loads & lubes... one rather embarassing one where I skimped on the lube and got a round stuck while ramming. Frankly my belief is the more lube the better and there appears to have been quite a lot of variance in amount of lube from various factories w/ most erring on the side of caution. It always amazes me how much less fouling there is between live fire and blanks. Blank fouling buildup is HORRIBLE and frankly, I believe many of the stories of severe fouling has come from re-enactors.
Flashes due to hot barrels were all too common resulting in the mangling of many a hand.
The most effective way to clean a CW arm is w/ water... modern shooters use various peroxide, dish soap or alcohol but the soldiers of the day used water.
IMO many of the problems acredited to fouling resulted from poor training.
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
Most likely correct. After thinking more on the accounts I have read where soldiers guns were that fouled up, none of them state one way or the other if it was rifled or smoothbore. And as you pointed out most likely they are the latter. On another note about reenactors.. yea... I've had my gun fould up pretty bad to the point I coudln't get the ramrod out. Then it's time to take a hit and walk back to camp lol.
__________________ "In mortal combat, a man may and will become so infuriated by the din and dangers of a bloody fight that his heart will turn to stone and his every de sire [be] for blood."
John Hadley, 7th Indiana after the battle at Port Republic
I've often wondered, about how many rounds would you need to fire before the powder flashes when loading?
5-6 rounds rapid fired gets the barrel plenty warm. I prefer a more measured pace, about 1.5 rds per minute... I'm content w/ my groups. I know anyone on the receiving end would not be very appreciative though. Of coarse paper targets & clays don't shoot back.
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
Am a bit disurbed by the reenacotrs exacple. When you get into a serious situaion, you're going to stuff that puppy and shoot like there's no tomorrow. It would seem that, in such situations, you're going to reach a point where fouling becomes a problem. Why were 40 rounds issued? Because that's about as many as you can expect to shoot without turning around (cleaning) and getting another 40. Fast, slow or otherwise, 40 rounds was turnover time.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Sometimes in battle you take one between the eyes. Then it's not a problem? Gentlemen, this is a very informative and interesting discussion. Please pardon my intrusion and thanks to you all!
__________________ Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
CivilWarTalk.com -
A free and friendly Civil War community. 
Ammunition question 
Linear Mode
