Question about Civil War breechloading carbines

kcsteve

kcsteve

Established Users
The area I hunt has yielded bullets that are primarily .50 Smith's, .50 Gallagher's and .58 minies. I'm very curious as to what weaponry were issued to these soldiers at this location. This is a Union camp. My question is in reference to the weapons that shot these bullets. Does a .50 caliber Smith breech loading carbine fire only the .50 Smith bullets or can it be loaded with a different variety of .50 caliber bullets? Same for the .50 Gallagher breech loading carbine? How about the US Model 1855 rifle-musket, does it require just one kind of bullet? Sorry for all the questions but I'm just trying to find out what weaponry was at this location in 1862. Thanks.
 
The Smiths and Gallagers were fired or used in the Smith and Gallager carbines,The .58 minies could be fired in the many .577/.58 and rifles and carbines and anything they would fit in,some .58 caliber bullets have been found stretched out from being fired from .54 caliber carbines.
Regards,Robert
 
Thanks for the reply Robert, that really does help me. Got one more question, Smith's and Gallagher carbines were they issued primarily to Infantry or Cavalry or both?
 
Calvary,I have seen the lowly infantryman with a carbine in some pics but he probably picked it up from some battlefield but probably later discarded b/c it was easier to get regulation .58 musket ammo_On another carbine,the Sharps was issued to infantry or they already had one.Keep diggin and post some pics!!Robert
 
Thanks for all the information Robert. I'll be heading out Friday out to this campsite again. We'll see what I can dig up! Thanks again.

Steve
 
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