What were the advantages of the new ammo the minie ball?

Minié balls were slightly smaller in circumference than the inside of the barrel, so they could be dropped in quickly. When fired, the base of the bullet expanded and gripped the rifle grooves, which imparted a spiral on the projectile and thereby gave it its greater range and accuracy.

How accurate was the minie ball?

The long-range accuracy of the Minié ball meant that the traditional model of warfare, when infantry and cavalry assaults could be successful, was over. The rifle-musket and the Minié bullet are thought to account for around 90 percent of these casualties.

Why were the musket bullets Minie balls so dangerous?

The soft lead that allowed Minié balls to expand within the rifle barrel also caused them to flatten out and/or splinter when they hit a human target. A smoothbore’s solid shot could break bones and tear through tissue, but soft lead bullets shattered bone and ripped tissue.

How many bullets can a minie ball make per hour?

58-caliber lead projectile that could be cheaply mass produced.” One person could manufacture about 3,000 bullets an hour. Different from a regular musket ball the minié ball was cylindrical in shape with a hollow base that expanded when fired.

Why did the minie ball cause catastrophic injuries?

The soft lead of the minié ball caused the ball to flatten out upon hitting its target, and when the target was a human body, the bullet shattered bones and destroyed tissue in catastrophic ways. The increasingly grisly damage of the minie ball led to the high number of amputations performed at Civil War hospitals.

What caliber were musket balls?

Up through the Mexican-American War, the standard U.S. musket ball was . 640 caliber, with an approximate weight of . 9 oz (Lewis 1960:108, 111). An 1840 U.S. tactics manual (Scott 1840) states buck-and-ball cartridges were standard by this time, and apparently continued in use for at least another 35 years.

What was Lee offensive/defensive strategy?

Lee agreed with Jeff Davis on the primary strategy of a defensive war, designed to impede the progress of the Union Armies, which would necessarily have to conquer the entire South, and figure out a way to defeat its will to rebel simultaneously.

What is a minie ball bullet used for?

Facts, information and articles about the Minié Ball, a Civil War bullet. Minie Ball summary: The Minié ball, or Minie ball, is a type of bullet used extensively in the American Civil War. The muzzle-loading rifle bullet was named after its co-developer, Claude-Étienne Minié.

Is a Minnie ball bullet necessary for self defense?

No its not necessary and would not be effective (well, not as effective as modern bullets). The Minnie ball gets its name from the inventor, Claude Minie. The purpose was to make loading breech loaded guns faster and firing more accurate.

What is the effective range of a Minié bullet?

The effective range of a Minié bullet was from 200 to 250 yards, a huge improvement on earlier ammunition. The French army never adopted the Minié bullet, but the British did, paying Minié for his patent to use the ammunition in 1851.

Why was the Minié ball made so small?

To provide ease of use in combat situations, the minié ball was made slightly smaller than the intended gun bore so it could be pushed down the barrel with little resistance. The bullet was made out of soft lead, had a conical shape, and had anywhere from two to four rings at the base.