3-inch and 12-lb guns

[Rhea Cole]

The early 10# Parrotts fired a 2.9"round and it wasn't until the Union standardized the rounds for the Parrott and 3" Ordnance Rifle to 3" that the Parrotts were bored to 3" in about 1863 if I remember correctly.

The outward difference is a muzzle swell on the 2.9".

 

[1st Section]

I have seen hundreds of simulated 12 pound spherical case shot fired. When the light is just right you can follow the path until it goes off with a hollow "poop!"

Apologies for for deviating from the original topic, but if you've worked out a method for reproducing reliable timed fuses I'd love to hear more!

 

[Rhea Cole]

It is also useful to note that it was standard procedure to lower howitzer trails into dug pits to increase elevation.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Apologies for for deviating from the original topic, but if you've worked out a method for reproducing reliable timed fuses I'd love to hear more!

From the 1960"s until the 1980's Stones River National Battlefield had three / day programs where we fired a veteran 12 pound Napoleon with live ammunition. The rangers at the park made up the rounds. I don't know where they sourced the fuzes.

I do have one word of advice should you wish to make up your own fuzes…. DON'T.

 

[Belfoured]

From the 1960"s until the 1980's Stones River National Battlefield had three / day programs where we fired a veteran 12 pound Napoleon with live ammunition. The rangers at the park made up the rounds. I don't know where they sourced the fuzes.

I do have one word of advice should you wish to make up your own fuzes…. DON'T.

Somebody should have given that advice to the guys manufacturing those Confederate knock-off Bormanns during the war.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

All are field guns.

Two and Three likely refer to the same gun, as do Three and Four. Seven is the 10lb Parrott (which was 2.9" until 1863 and then became 3").

Six didn't exist so far as I know. You're stepping into a real mess with "James" rifles. Six probably is intended to be the James 14lb/3.8" rifle. There were other "James" rifles, such as re-bored 3.67" smooth bores, etc.

Thank God you didn't ask about Wiards or 20 lb Parrotts ...

At the outset on the Union side - and pretty much for the duration on the Confederate - the M1841 6lb smooth bore was in use. It began getting replaced on the US side shortly before the war with the M1857 Napoleon.

I'm the same as @Stryker65, and am reading your response and all the other informative responses.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Somebody should have given that advice to the guys manufacturing those Confederate knock-off Bormanns during the war.

For good reason they packed five friction primers & I dont know how many fuzes for each round in the ammunition chests. Union depots packed 1.5 / round.

 

[1st Section]

From the 1960"s until the 1980's Stones River National Battlefield had three / day programs where we fired a veteran 12 pound Napoleon with live ammunition. The rangers at the park made up the rounds. I don't know where they sourced the fuzes.

I do have one word of advice should you wish to make up your own fuzes…. DON'T.

Oh yea, we are way past "don't". Way past.