A Few Confederate Gardner Bullet Varieties

[History hoarder63]

Pictured are some Confederate Gardners from my collection. Most are fairly common but still neat bullets as they are uniquely Confederate. The .58 cal one ring variant (center row left) is scarce as is the .58 short version next to it. The .54 big bulb nose version (top row right) is hard to find as is the really tall base .58 (center row right). The .69 cal at the bottom is rare and fairly expensive but mine is the more common shallow base, I am still trying to get a deep base variant.

There are often called Gardner Insert bullets which is incorrect. They do not have a separate insert but were cast as one piece with the skirt extending out perpendicular to the bullet body. They were then inserted into a bullet making making machine which crimped the skirt over a paper cartridge and the cast inner skirt.

With the exception of both .69 caliber variants you can build a nice collection of numerous different Gardner bullets at a reasonable price. The .69's however will cost anywhere from $100 to $275 each depending on the base type. Uncrimped Gardners exist but are very rare. I passed on one years ago for $150 and I regret not buying it now.

Good hunting !!!

 

[UCVRelics]

Nice looking group of CS Gardner's. Thanks for sharing them with us.

 

[RSMorris]

Awesome thank you, learning new stuff everyday.

 

[Kentucky Derby Cavalier.]

View attachment 417006Pictured are some Confederate Gardners from my collection. Most are fairly common but still neat bullets as they are uniquely Confederate. The .58 cal one ring variant (center row left) is scarce as is the .58 short version next to it. The .54 big bulb nose version (top row right) is hard to find as is the really tall base .58 (center row right). The .69 cal at the bottom is rare and fairly expensive but mine is the more common shallow base, I am still trying to get a deep base variant.

There are often called Gardner Insert bullets which is incorrect. They do not have a separate insert but were cast as one piece with the skirt extending out perpendicular to the bullet body. They were then inserted into a bullet making making machine which crimped the skirt over a paper cartridge and the cast inner skirt.

With the exception of both .69 caliber variants you can build a nice collection of numerous different Gardner bullets at a reasonable price. The .69's however will cost anywhere from $100 to $275 each depending on the base type. Uncrimped Gardners exist but are very rare. I passed on one years ago for $150 and I regret not buying it now.

Good hunting !!!

Do you know alot about bullet design? Like If I added more rings to a bullet what it be more accurate?

 

[History hoarder63]

Thanks for asking. The number of rings (actually they generally are considered grooves) does not have a profound impact on accuracy. What matters is that the projectile itself can expand into the rifling of the weapon's barrel. One of the most accurate weapons of the time was the Model 1853 Enfield (Tower) which usually fired ammunition that had no rings or grooves. The most accurate weapon, the Whitworth, also fired ammunition that had no rings or grooves.