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Period Correct Minie Ball Reproductions

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  • #1

    Period Correct Minie Ball Reproductions

    Hello,

    I've been trying to find a place that sells pre-made .58 minie balls for live firing in my M1861 and M1841. I tried searching through old threads and found plenty on casting my own bullets, but have yet to find anything on purchasing bullets. It would not be easy for me at this time to go about casting my own bullets, but I want to ensure that I get ones that are correct if I bring them to a living history, where I will be showing bullets and cartridges to the public. I know dixie gun works carries many different manufacturers, but those that do include a picture show decidedly modern, NSSA style bullets, not period Burton conicals. I was hoping someone could give me a hand or point me in the right direction.
    Andrew Roscoe,
    The Western Rifles - An Authentic Civil War mess in PA, MD, VA, NC, and SC
    24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
    Old Northwest Volunteers
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Period Correct Minie Ball Reproductions

    Hallo!

    I may be "out of the loop," so others may have to chime in, but..

    I am not aware of anyone offering commercial swedged "CW Minie" balls ( their step-child...aka in the casting arena as "Old Style').

    I have seen the molds for nose-casting "Old Style" Minies, but never the poly-bagged commercial offerings. ALL of the commercially available ones are nose-cast 'New Style" modern versions.

    I think, at times, or over time, some of the N-SSA lads occassionally may offer some. A "want ad" on their site may produce a lead (no pun intended) or two... Sometimes lads with the molds may volunteer a few to helpout a presentation.

    (Granted though, it will be a finer student of the CW who will know or appreciate the differrence between a Federal swedged CW Minie and its modern cast "new style" version, but that is a longer conversation regarding what is "clsoe enough" and "getting it right" [BIRD]. As well as cast Confederate style bullets.)

    Curt
    Curt Schmidt
    In gleichem Schritt und Tritt, Curt Schmidt

    -Hard and sharp as flint...secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster.
    -Haplogroup R1b M343 (Subclade R1b1a2 M269)
    -Pointless Folksy Wisdom Mess, Oblio Lodge #1
    -Vastly Ignorant
    -Often incorrect, technically, historically, factually.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Period Correct Minie Ball Reproductions

      Hello,

      There's a gentleman that advertises in the N-SSA Skirmish Line that sells bullets. He trades under the name Bulletman bullets. His e-mail is cwbulletman@aol.com. As Curt said, a cast "old style" minie is probably as close as you can come to the original these days.

      Regards,
      Kevin French

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Period Correct Minie Ball Reproductions

        If your interested, I have many different examples of dropped & fired bullets from the Valverde Battlefield & Fort Craig New Mexico area...
        [B]"I chewed bullets, trying by these means to excite the salivary glands," [/B] -Lt. Isaac Bowman during the retreat of Sibley's Brigade from New Mexico.

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        • #5
          Re: Period Correct Minie Ball Reproductions

          Perhaps I am missing the subtleties of what you are seeking since I really am not a shooter nor studied muzzleloading projectiles. Is this what you are looking for? (I noticed these don't come to a point quite like originals)
          Bullets and Ball-ets for muzzle loading guns - Track of the Wolf
          http://www.trackofthewolf.com/categories/tablelist.aspx?catid=2&subid=25&styleid=65&partnum=ball-54-425&as=1
          Bullets and Ball-ets for muzzle loading guns Track''s traditional MINIE bullets, named after French Captain Minie, are Civil War era designs to meet NSSA rules. Use a modest load, a 60 grain Service load in .58 caliber. Excess pressure may flare the skirt on exit! Early editions of "Lyman''s Black Powder Handbook" show such bullets in flight. Track''s improved MINIE bullets were developed by Lyman''s staff, with a thick skirt, for heavy loads. Ideal for Enfield and Springfield Muskets, it is allowed in most Civil War Musket matches. MINIE bullets are hand cast of pure lead, with grease grooves, and a hollow base. They load easily, then expand, to fit your rifled bore. The thin skirt of a soft lead Minie ball is easily dented in transit if the parcel is roughly handled. We do not replace or refund Minie balls damaged in transit. We highly recommend purchasing a Minie ball mold and hand casting them to the assure a consistent size and undamaged ball. Track''s MAXI-BALLS, designed by Thompson Center, have large grease grooves. Undersize bands load easily, front band engraves rifling. Hand cast pure lead. Use #LUBE-SPG lubricant on MINIE bullets and MAXI-BULLETS. Fill the base with lubricant. Hornady GREAT PLAINS bullets are swaged pure lead, with lubricant knurled into the surface. Packed in foam pockets, in a hard box, each bullet arrives in perfect condition. Current production is hollow base, hollow point. Need help selecting the right bullet for your specific barrel? Call our experts, at 763-633-2500, or click our "Contact Us" link to send your question.


          Paul McKee
          Paul McKee

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          • #6
            Re: Period Correct Minie Ball Reproductions

            Paul,
            That's just it, I think he's wanting it to come to a point much like an original. FWIW, I looked into this several years ago, but had to look into molds. FWIW, I bought a "lot" of machine cut Minie's at the Nashville show about '90 or '91, must've been 100+ in the bag. I figured to use them for talks.

            Warren Dickinson
            Warren Dickinson


            Currently a History Hippy at South Union Shaker Village
            Member of the original Pickett's Mill Interpretive Volunteer Staff & Co. D, 17th Ky Vol. Inf
            Former Mudsill
            Co-Creator of the States Rights Guard in '92

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Period Correct Minie Ball Reproductions

              If you just need some to show people for education you might consider searching for spent bullets in a relic shop. Many of them do not have and deformation and it ought to be able to get the lead oxide off the projectile. At least it would be worth a try, that would be as close as you can get.
              Jan H.Berger
              Hornist

              German Mess
              http://germanmess.de/

              www.lederarsenal.com


              "Und setzet ihr nicht das Leben ein, nie wird euch das Leben gewonnen sein."( Friedrich Schiller)

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              • #8
                Re: Period Correct Minie Ball Reproductions

                Originally posted by J.H.Berger View Post
                If you just need some to show people for education you might consider searching for spent bullets in a relic shop. Many of them do not have and deformation and it ought to be able to get the lead oxide off the projectile. At least it would be worth a try, that would be as close as you can get.
                Precisely what John said. I have to assume that "drops" are still relatively cheap and plentiful, and would serve the purpose.

                Warren Dickinson
                Warren Dickinson


                Currently a History Hippy at South Union Shaker Village
                Member of the original Pickett's Mill Interpretive Volunteer Staff & Co. D, 17th Ky Vol. Inf
                Former Mudsill
                Co-Creator of the States Rights Guard in '92

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Period Correct Minie Ball Reproductions

                  Originally posted by dixieflyer View Post
                  Precisely what John said. I have to assume that "drops" are still relatively cheap and plentiful, and would serve the purpose.

                  Warren Dickinson
                  They go for about 2$ or less from what I've seen. For the .58 Cal. Minie anyway. So... not bad.
                  Nathan Bruff

                  [email]Nbruff@gmail.com[/email]

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Period Correct Minie Ball Reproductions

                    Here are some examples of Civil War bullets.Hope it helps. I think these examples come from Va.
                    Attached Files

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