Comments on: Two bullets that hit each other back in the 1850’s http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/ Firearms not Politics Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:46:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: joe haas http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-10133 joe haas Sun, 31 May 2009 17:54:00 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-10133 I used to own 2 civil war bullets stuck together from a collision in mid-air. It was actually legally bought from a museum in the early 70's. It may have been from Gettysburg. It's true I saw them and they were still attached to the museum card explaining this fact. I only wish I still had them. I used to own 2 civil war bullets stuck together from a collision in mid-air.
It was actually legally bought from a museum in the early 70’s.
It may have been from Gettysburg.
It’s true I saw them and they were still attached to the museum card explaining this fact.
I only wish I still had them.

]]> By: mkelly http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-7213 mkelly Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:09:09 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-7213 http://mythbustersresults.com/episode67 " During the Civil War, two soldiers’ bullets collided in midair and fused together. plausible The MythBusters first tried to mount two Civil War rifles in front of each other so that when fired, the bullets would collide in midair. However, this proved impossible because they were unable to get the guns to fire at the same time. Instead, they aimed a single rifle at a bullet suspended in the air. The fired bullet hit dead center, and the MythBusters found that both bullets had fused together into a single mass. Though incredibly unlikely, it is possible for two bullets to collide and fuse together in midair. " http://mythbustersresults.com/episode67

“

During the Civil War, two soldiers’ bullets collided in midair and fused together.

plausible

The MythBusters first tried to mount two Civil War rifles in front of each other so that when fired, the bullets would collide in midair. However, this proved impossible because they were unable to get the guns to fire at the same time. Instead, they aimed a single rifle at a bullet suspended in the air. The fired bullet hit dead center, and the MythBusters found that both bullets had fused together into a single mass. Though incredibly unlikely, it is possible for two bullets to collide and fuse together in midair.
“

]]> By: Steve http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-7189 Steve Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:46:10 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-7189 TJP, interesting, thanks. TJP, interesting, thanks.

]]> By: TJP http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-7186 TJP Sun, 08 Mar 2009 06:25:47 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-7186 A Minie bullet has a hollow base. I find it doubtful that these two were of that type. The three grooves (and the context) indicates that it's probably a French Tamisier bullet. The other is so distorted I can't really identify a shape. http://www.thomaspublications.com/civilwarprojectiles/articles/crimean_found_2.htm I have recovered plenty of bullets that collided inside berms. The flow of the lead certainly seems authentic. You'd be surprised how sticky 30:1 or 20:1 lead alloy can be. Bullet casters who hunt prefer the softer alloys due to the fact that the bullet holds together as it deforms. Antimonial and arsenical alloys tend to be brittle. Also keep in mind that a 700 grain bullet backed with black powder wasn't exactly screaming along at modern rifle velocities. In fact, I'd be surprised of one left the muzzle going faster than 1,200 feet-per. A Minie bullet has a hollow base. I find it doubtful that these two were of that type. The three grooves (and the context) indicates that it’s probably a French Tamisier bullet. The other is so distorted I can’t really identify a shape.

http://www.thomaspublications.com/civilwarprojectiles/articles/crimean_found_2.htm

I have recovered plenty of bullets that collided inside berms. The flow of the lead certainly seems authentic. You’d be surprised how sticky 30:1 or 20:1 lead alloy can be. Bullet casters who hunt prefer the softer alloys due to the fact that the bullet holds together as it deforms. Antimonial and arsenical alloys tend to be brittle.

Also keep in mind that a 700 grain bullet backed with black powder wasn’t exactly screaming along at modern rifle velocities. In fact, I’d be surprised of one left the muzzle going faster than 1,200 feet-per.

]]> By: Nomen Nescio http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-7128 Nomen Nescio Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:33:13 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-7128 with all-lead bullets, i can see this happening; but with jacketed hardball, i doubt two projectiles would stick together. smokeless powder may have put an end to this phenomenon. with all-lead bullets, i can see this happening; but with jacketed hardball, i doubt two projectiles would stick together. smokeless powder may have put an end to this phenomenon.

]]> By: 22lr http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-7100 22lr Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:11:52 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-7100 I have seen claimed examples of this at the Gettysburg battleground as well. Who knows but It would be completely logical. Fascinating piece of history. I have seen claimed examples of this at the Gettysburg battleground as well. Who knows but It would be completely logical. Fascinating piece of history.

]]> By: Bullet http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-7098 Bullet Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:24:23 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-7098 this is still a wonder, how the impact was perfect. I Bullet Am Sorry this is still a wonder, how the impact was perfect.

I Bullet Am Sorry

]]> By: Kyle Huff http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-7091 Kyle Huff Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:15:17 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-7091 I would have expected there to be enough kinetic energy to result in about 0% mass retention. I would have expected there to be enough kinetic energy to result in about 0% mass retention.

]]> By: Mike http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-7087 Mike Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:17:20 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-7087 The museum at Gettysburg had several such examples which had been collected from the battlefield. There was an awful lot of lead flying around... The museum at Gettysburg had several such examples which had been collected from the battlefield. There was an awful lot of lead flying around…

]]> By: Popcorn http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-7085 Popcorn Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:16:04 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-7085 Two ships that didn't quite pass in the night... Two ships that didn’t quite pass in the night…

]]> By: Hacko http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-7081 Hacko Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:44:54 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-7081 Another Related Post http://pishtov.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post_7436.html Another Related Post
http://pishtov.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post_7436.html

]]> By: Sven Ortmann http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/04/two-bullets-that-hit-each-other-back-in-the-1850s/#comment-7075 Sven Ortmann Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:29:52 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=5478#comment-7075 Minié balls were used at that time. Such bullets were fired from muzzle-loaded rifles. The base was sunk, allowing overpressure to move in and press the lead tot he sides - into the rifling. The bullet was undercalibre when it was loaded, but at calibre once expanded by the gas pressure. The top of the photographed item looks like such a sink to me (albeit quite shallow, possibly due to the impact). Compare: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini%C3%A9_ball Minié balls were used at that time. Such bullets were fired from muzzle-loaded rifles. The base was sunk, allowing overpressure to move in and press the lead tot he sides – into the rifling.
The bullet was undercalibre when it was loaded, but at calibre once expanded by the gas pressure.

The top of the photographed item looks like such a sink to me (albeit quite shallow, possibly due to the impact).

Compare:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini%C3%A9_ball

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