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bamaranger · August 5, 2010, 01:45 AM

I spent some time in Gettysburg and got a bit knowledge of Civil War, BP projectiles. That sure looks like a Borman fuse on that ball, (meaning some type of explosive projectile) in the photo, and nothing to take lightly. BP gets unstable, but not necessarily that less powerful.

The dud rate on smoothbore explosive rounds was pretty high, like 50%. The propellant charge and flash was supposed to lap around the ball and light the Borman fuse, which was essentially a powder train enclosed in a disk that could be perforated by the gunners at different points, effecting the time period the lit ball would fly before detonating. The fuse was forward towards the muzzle, the propellant charge to the rear, of course. Between them was a wooden sleeve/sabot. Not a reliable system.

August 5, 2010, 01:45 AM	#15
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	nothing to fool with I spent some time in Gettysburg and got a bit knowledge of Civil War, BP projectiles. That sure looks like a Borman fuse on that ball, (meaning some type of explosive projectile) in the photo, and nothing to take lightly. BP gets unstable, but not necessarily that less powerful. The dud rate on smoothbore explosive rounds was pretty high, like 50%. The propellant charge and flash was supposed to lap around the ball and light the Borman fuse, which was essentially a powder train enclosed in a disk that could be perforated by the gunners at different points, effecting the time period the lit ball would fly before detonating. The fuse was forward towards the muzzle, the propellant charge to the rear, of course. Between them was a wooden sleeve/sabot. Not a reliable system.