3-ringers – MM#313 - 460In this section I am only listing comments on those minies that exhibit specific or unique features.
I think we need to keep in mind that during the Civil War the concept of tolerances and specifications as we think of them today was not commonplace. We have to accept that these minies are the stereotypical bullet of the Civil War and that most are “just another 3-ringer.” The variations are infinite because everyone and their brother made these things. The only real criteria for them was that they have a cavity, three canalures, and fit down the barrel.
Regarding variations in diameter. First, consider patina build-up and ground corrosion. Second, the standard calibers were .54, .58, .69. Yes, there were exceptions, but for the most part, to avoid a logistical nightmare, bullets were sized to fit multiple weapons. One size for .54 and .55 rifles; one size for .577 and .58 muskets, and so on. Also, some suppliers were found to have provided over-sized rounds...so having a bullet that measures .581 does not mean that it was intended for an imaginary .59 caliber weapon.
As a rule, we accept that cast 3-ringers and those with “sloppy” features are of southern manufacture while the more uniform specimens are northern machine-made bullets. While this is true to a point, it must be acknowledged that while the northern arsenals were machine-pressing almost all their bullets during the war, they could not meet the demand from the field and great quantities of cast bullets were purchased from commercial sources.
The “sloppy” features exhibited in cast bullets are usually one or more of the following: nose cast, side cast, base cast, air bubbles, layering, and cavities not centered in the base of the bullet. For those that have never tried to cast a lead bullet in a hand-held mould, I suggest you give it a try. You will learn a lot about the many characteristics found in the old bullets we collect.
#314-315 – U.S. Musketoon, plug cavity, early musketoon rounds had a wood plug.
#318-319 – Called “Belgian.” Many variations in the nose.
#320-321 – Called “Austrian.” Heavy, crude bullet with teat in cavity.
#322 – Looks to be smaller version of the “Austrian.” At .63 I wonder if it was intended for the Brunswick?
#323 – This is a monster bullet! Very deep cavity. All that I know of came from the “wishing well.”
#330-331 – side cast.
#337-339 – Northern “pressed & turned.”
#341 – Star in cavity. No mention in ANY source that these came from the Washington Arsenal. Atleast 3 sizes of raised star as well as an “*” asterisk.
#342 – “US” in cavity. Springfield was an armory, not an arsenal, so these were not made there!
#343-348 – Pressed & turned on a J.D. Custer machine at Frankford Arsenal and by commercial source in Phila. Five and six spoke varieties. Do not call these “swaged” ...that was an entirely different process!
#349 – French Triangular cavity.
#350 – Selma arsenal.
#352-353 – Williams regulation. Nose cast. Cone cavity frequently features an air bubble flaw at the tip.
#354-355 – Machine pressed and turned. See also #337-339 and #410.
#366-367 – Charleston Arsenal.
#368 – Not sure about this one. Looks like it could even be a modern Lyman mould to me.
#371 – Richmond Lab. Not made from salvaged lead or in a wood mould. Made on a machine by Lehner & White. Later-war production...I have a cartridge from a 1864-dated pack.
#375 – Thought to be CS, sometimes even called a “Macon,” but is often found in US areas. Nose cast, well made...who knows?
#379 – side cast.
#384 – Let’s stop using the term foreign mold...please...it has unusual grooves, that’s all.
#390-392 – Heavy, crude bullet with teat. See also #320-321 and #413.
#398-399 – See #384!
#410 – Machine pressed and turned. See others.
#413 – Teat base. See others.
#416 – Charleston Arsenal.
#418-419 – Crude, nose cast. Probably not from Selma however. None recovered from site.
#423 – English Snyder. Post-CW.
#430 – Richmond Lab. Lehner & White. See #371.
#434-436 – Plug cavity, not foreign. Wood plug is wrong.
#438-439 – Tennessee Rifle. Not for Kerr rifle...the .45 Kerr fired Whitworth bullets!
#442-443 – Gallager carbine. #442 occasionally shows tool marks in cavity from lathe.
#448 – See #320-321.
#449 – “re-cut” mould. Actually more like a worn or damaged mould. Extra grooves were not cut into the mould...the deepest edges of the grooves were ground off. Possibly to keep bullets from sticking. Again, try casting bullets sometime to see what a pain it is to get them out.
If I did not specifically mention a particular bullet, that probably means I think it’s just another 3-ringer!
Have at it bullet nerds!
