Shaving bullets?

[major bill]

When the newly formed 22nd Michigan Infantry was sent to Cincinnati to help protect it from approaching Confederates they arrived without bullets. When the Confederates neared they fixed bayonets. The 18th Michigan Infantry gave them some bullets but they too large and did not fit their Austrian muskets. The men of the 22nd Michigan used pocket knives to shave down the bullets so they would fit.

This does not sound like a very good solution to the problem. Would shaved bullets actually fire propery? Sound a bit on the dangerous side to me. Was it common to shave bullets with your pocket knife to make them fit?

 

[redbob]

I have seen carved bullets, but they were done as entertainment and not for use I would think.

 

[UCVRelics]

I have seen accounts of CS soldiers wrapping leaves around 58 cal round balls so they would fit in a 69cal muskets. Bottom line is if they could cut them down to seat in against the powder they would come out most of the time

 

[zburkett]

With a muzzle loader you can blow just about anything out the front of the barrel if you patch it. You wouldn't get much range of accuracy but up close it could be deadly. There would be little danger to the shooter and it is intended to be dangerous to the target.

 

[redbob]

Porter Alexander cut up bullets to use in his shotgun when hunting birds.

 

[UCVRelics]

When the newly formed 22nd Michigan Infantry was sent to Cincinnati to help protect it from approaching Confederates they arrived without bullets. When the Confederates neared they fixed bayonets. The 18th Michigan Infantry gave them some bullets but they too large and did not fit their Austrian muskets. The men of the 22nd Michigan used pocket knives to shave down the bullets so they would fit.

This does not sound like a very good solution to the problem. Would shaved bullets actually fire propery? Sound a bit on the dangerous side to me. Was it common to shave bullets with your pocket knife to make them fit?

Just one question, How in the H@ll did they not have bullets being sent to do battle?

 

[major bill]

Just one question, How in the H@ll did they not have bullets being sent to do battle?

They were rushed right from their camp in Michigan to Cincinnati. I can not answer why they left Michigan without ammunition. I wonder how their Colonel felt about being put into the outer defense, without bullets, as Confederate forces neared?

 

[Booner]

There's no reason why they shouldn't work. They might not be too accurate at a distance, but up close they would probably be as accurate as a smooth bore.

I've read stories of old timers, dig a flattened round ball out of a deer or tree, and then sort of chew on it to get it back into a round shape and shoot it again. And maybe again.

 

[Pollaco]

I see no reason why it would not work. You wouldn't win any sharpshooter awards for accuracy but at close range a shaved bullet should be somewhat effective.It would however act more like a patched ball than a mine ball.