22 cal Civil War Rim-fire bullett

[Davers]

Has anyone ever seen of found a 22 cal rim-fire bullet or maybe even the case of one?
( That's was from the Civil War Period) of course..

I have heard there was & one of my reference books shows an example ( if I recall correctly) but It pictures it in it's Case.

I've dug a couple suspicious examples "Bullets" and have saved the "Short Rim-fire Cases"
that I have dug , from the area I found the bullets. [ most are post CW IMO] but I keep them JIC.

Any info or esp pictures will help
Thanks
Davers Sorry for the spelling error in the title ..D

 

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[taz42o]

Smith and Wesson 1857 was a .22 short

 

[tamrock]

Found this online
The common .22 Short cartridge dates from 1857. It is the oldest cartridge still being loaded today. It was the first American metallic cartridge, introduced in for the first S&W revolver, a pocket pistol developed for personal protection. It was popular during the American Civil War, carried as personal weapons by soldiers on both sides. My guess most the 22 cases found that would date to the time of the civil war had been fired out of boredom and the lack of action. To past the time the soldiers would do a little target practice as they waited for action. That was in a time when they figured the bigger diameter the projectile the better. But who knows maybe they first used a 22 at a charging army just to inconvenience the ones charging at them and let them have it with a full volley of fire when the saw the whites of their eyes??. I don't think I'd like running in to a hand full of 22 shorts being shot at me.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I found this photo online that claims it's a Civil War era .22 bullet:

 

[BosnMate]

I have the 1857 Smith and Wesson revolver my Great Grandfather carried as a private soldier in the 181st OVI. He was to young for the beginning of the war, and didn't get in until the very end. I'm sure he thought he was well armed, but if he ever shot a Confederate Soldier with it, and the guy found out about it, I'm sure Great Grandpa would be wearing the pistol in a place he really didn't want to. Very under powered gun. But point blank close range hand to hand, I'm thinking it would be better than a knife.

 

[tamrock]

Not sure a 22 short in those days could have penetrated your longjohns, but todays end results on a 22 does put it in the category of being lethal.

That's how Bobby Kennedy's life ended.

The ammunition "known" to have been fired that night was CCI .22 caliber "Mini Mag" gilded lead hollow points, which are is designed to "mushroom" on impact. This construction has two advantages over regular ammunition: it imparts maximum kinetic energy into the target, and is less likely to emerge and strike a bystander. Fired at a velocity of around 1,280 feet per second, the 37 gr. round packs much less "punch" than a .38 or .45 slug, but still has the potential to inflict mortal wounds.

 

[taz42o]

I think the BP shorts were 65ft lbs. energy and modern are 70ft.lbs.
So I would say even the BP .22s would have no problem ventilating your long johns.

 

[tamrock]

I think the BP shorts were 65ft lbs. energy and modern are 70ft.lbs.
So I would say even the BP .22s would have no problem ventilating your long johns.

I know, just being goofy. I can't even think of the last time I purchased any 22 shorts? They were sure good for pigeons & cottontails, cheap ammo for a kid who's only income came from finding pop bottles.

 

[BosnMate]

Not sure a 22 short in those days could have penetrated your longjohns, but todays end results on a 22 does put it in the category of being lethal.

That's how Bobby Kennedy's life ended.

The ammunition "known" to have been fired that night was CCI .22 caliber "Mini Mag" gilded lead hollow points, which are is designed to "mushroom" on impact. This construction has two advantages over regular ammunition: it imparts maximum kinetic energy into the target, and is less likely to emerge and strike a bystander. Fired at a velocity of around 1,280 feet per second, the 37 gr. round packs much less "punch" than a .38 or .45 slug, but still has the potential to inflict mortal wounds.

In my old age, that's what I pack on my body most of the time, a short barreled revolver with .22 caliber CCI magnum hollow points. According to the "American Rifleman" the hollow points are the only .22 magnum rounds to mushroom out of a short barrel. I also have a model 1911 knock off in .22 caliber, and I shoot the .22 mini mags in it, but it's hard for a pot belly old guy to hide on his body. In my truck I carry a Sig .45 caliber, but it's to big and hard to carry in my old age. Packed it when I was younger though.

 

[BosnMate]

I do believe shorts were something like two bits a box. Longs and long rifles were .50 cents a box. Dad had a Winchester pump, 06 I believe, open hammer. Neat gun. Ammunition was a real problem, the gun would feed anything, and I would shoot anything. In those days you could rummage in boxes in the junk stores, and find loose .22 ammo, and buy it for penny's. I'm sure I even shot black powder rounds acquired that way. I remember the firing pin punching a hole in the rim of one case, and I never again got punched in the eye as hard as the one that hit me coming out the breech. Didn't change my ways though, couldn't afford to until I got the paper route. In those days in San Luis Obispo, California, an 11 or 12 year old kid could take 50 cents into the gun store, and walk out with a box of .22 long rifle ammo, and nobody thought twice about it. Hell, we had a rifle team in Jr. High School, and shot targets on campus. I shot my first possible at the school. All those years of being a gun nut, and I've never shot anyone, never shot myself, never pointed a gun at anyone, except one time in Japan when I was a young sailor, but that's a different story, rightly called a sea story and I won't go into it now.

 

[tamrock]

I remember 22 shorts were maybe a buck & half for a box of 50 or maybe it was 25? about 25 5cent pop bottles worth. I had a short 4" barrel Colt woodsman that I let this Texas fella talk me out of long time ago. Boy! that was dumb trade. Also had an H&R revolver that went missing and in my mind I think I was drunk and tied the trigger guard to a wire and wrapped the wire around the furnace flue and dropped it behind the furnace and that's how I think I hid the thing. That thought came to my mind years after I moved from the place I lived in back then. I looked all over that mobile home and never found it. I also never locked the place either, I hate it when I got drunk and forgot the things I did. Sure a lot better not drinking anymore.

 

[Helix]

My local high school in the 1970's had a rule you had to check in your guns during hunting season. No Joke these were the days of gun racks on pick up trucks. So many students would hunt before school the made a rule you had to bring your guns into school drop them off at the office then pick them up after school. A bit before my time. When I was there it was still ok to have the occasional 12 gage round rolling around on you dash or in your cup holder no one thought twice about it. Sorry if im off topic.

 

[NVNutcase]

I've picked up a couple in an old site that were shorter than a 22 short. I just figured they were percussion caps.

 

[Davers]

Thanks for all the reply,s
& the walk through memory lane the stories were a good read.

The bullets are almost identical to the ones pictured with the revolver in the first photo
& and look like the one pictured in the second photo.

They were dug in a US Calvary camp in Ga.
99% sure they were not fired & as for the cases I have dug many longs, shorts even percussion caps .
I have saved all the cases from that site, so a little inspection is in order ( on the shorts).

One more ? ; would the bottom of the cases be blank or maybe have some type of makers mark to look for?

I thank everybody for the reply's and esp, the photos.
They have been very helpful.
Davers

 

[Davers]

2019 info / or opinions will still be helpful.
HH & GD everyone .

 

[fyrffytr1]

I can't help but I kick myself for throwing all those 22 caliber bullets and shell casings out over the years!

 

[Reanm8er]

The Sharps 4 barrel derringer was also in .22 short. Favorite "Garter Gun" for the ladies of the evening!

 

[baspinall]

Interesting. I found this one in Culpeper VA last week at a DIV. Colt bullet for size ref.

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

I know, just being goofy. I can't even think of the last time I purchased any 22 shorts? They were sure good for pigeons & cottontails, cheap ammo for a kid who's only income came from finding pop bottles.

Agreed, me neither. The shorts may even been used in shooting galleries at the old state fairs....(yes, I'm that old!)

 

[Davers]

I do believe shorts were something like two bits a box. Longs and long rifles were .50 cents a box. Dad had a Winchester pump, 06 I believe, open hammer. Neat gun. Ammunition was a real problem, the gun would feed anything, and I would shoot anything. In those days you could rummage in boxes in the junk stores, and find loose .22 ammo, and buy it for penny's. I'm sure I even shot black powder rounds acquired that way. I remember the firing pin punching a hole in the rim of one case, and I never again got punched in the eye as hard as the one that hit me coming out the breech. Didn't change my ways though, couldn't afford to until I got the paper route. In those days in San Luis Obispo, California, an 11 or 12 year old kid could take 50 cents into the gun store, and walk out with a box of .22 long rifle ammo, and nobody thought twice about it. Hell, we had a rifle team in Jr. High School, and shot targets on campus. I shot my first possible at the school. All those years of being a gun nut, and I've never shot anyone, never shot myself, never pointed a gun at anyone, except one time in Japan when I was a young sailor, but that's a different story, rightly called a sea story and I won't go into it now.

Cool info here , R.I.P. Mr. BosnMate.