Going back to the time of the Civil War most people don't realize that over one thousand different kinds of cartridges were used. This is one explanation that Civil War cartridge collecting has become a favorite diversion. Another explanation is that during the time of the Civil War we saw changes occurring in the development of firearms and ammunition. The old circular musket balls of the Revolutionary War were being substituted with cartridges in the form we are used to.

While musket balls are found on Civil War battlefields, the most ordinary class of cartridge utilized was the .58-caliber projectile with three rings around the bottom. Numerous cartridges discovered are splattered out of form. If you've many times been fascinated by the Civil War and firearms, Civil War cartridge collecting is an avocation you probably will appreciate.

With the invention of the Internet and buying and selling on Ebay, Civil War cartridges have become more collectible, and the prices have gone up rapidly. Occasionally, sellers are not informed and ask more than the cartridge is valued. For these reasons, if you are just now starting out in Civil War cartridge collecting, you will most likely wish to buy a value manual. You may even discover a cost guide on line if that works better for you. Numerous Civil War cartridge collectors also amass cartridge molds and other relics from the Civil War era. A genuine fan may even study the possibility of becoming a Civil War reenactor, acting out battles with other collectors in towns and fields across the Southeast.

Civil War cartridges can be collected by purchasing them from other collectors, or you can start by going straight to the battlefields to dig and search. A metal detector will make Civil War cartridge collecting much easier. You may also discover buttons from uniforms, cartridge molds, sash buckles, and other metal items from the conflict. A few of the cartridges may be buried very deep. You will probably need to put on a headset and pay very close attention to the changes in sound in your metal detector. Chasing after Civil War relics is not allowed on guarded battlefields, but there are still a few old home sites where battles were fought. Be certain to get consent from the proprietor and fill up any holes you dig.

Some individuals have the concept that searching for cartridges with a metal detector indicates a lack of consideration for the soldiers who died at that location. They get this notion because occasionally cartridge hunters find bones along with the cartridges. The truth is, nonetheless, that many of the cartridge hunters who have discovered cartridges this way have chronicled and mapped out their finds, resulting in many of the facts that we now understand about the Civil War.

The Civil War fascinates Americans because of everything it stands for. While most everyone agrees that slavery is a terrible stain on the history of the U.S., there are a few persons who still deliberate the issue of states' rights versus a strong centralized government. Civil War cartridge collecting is an interesting hobby, although rather sobering at times when looking at the huge number of casualties. The recollection of kinsman fighting against kinsman out in the cornfields and pastures will not ever go away. Civil War cartridge collecting is one way to consecrate this staggering recorded episode.