M1842 Springfield Ammunition

[Andrew Kasmar]

Hi,

Does anyone know if soldiers issued M1842 Springfield muskets, used 58 caliber ammunition on the battlefield; if and when the 69 caliber ammunition ran out? I would think that they would use the 58 caliber ammunition if it was the only ammunition that they could find. Thanks.

[huntdaw]

I would imagine it would be more likely for them to be pulled out of the line and sent to resupply while a fresh unit moved in to take their place.

[C.R. Henderson]

I don't know if you've ever tried to fire a 60 grain powder charge out of your 42 with anything rammed on top of it but when I tried it, it didn't cook off. It was a matter of the paper covering the flash hole. I switched to a .69 cal tube with a 90 grain blank charge and it sounds like thunder. I had her barking loud at the Mill:wink_smil.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Hi,

Thanks for the information. I was just at a reenactment this last weekend, and I was using 65 grain rounds in my M1842 Springfield, and it would not fire. I have been wonder why it did not go off, but that would explain it.