LINKS & REFERENCE MATERIALS
Check out the links below to find out more information about your finds.
American Digger Magazine - Editor Butch Holcombe came and visited our club. We can highly recommend his magazine for the latest finds and articles about relic hunting.
http://www.americandigger.com/
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Dig Dogs on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhKJheU_K_dN1yA2XzafiQ
Be sure to check out the videos of Dig Dog and his buddies as they find all types of relics and artifacts in the Middle Tennessee area. Just go to YouTube and search for Dig Dog
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Spreaker.com - this is a great podcast site to listen to metal detecting shows from all over the country. Just go to www.spreaker.com or download the app to your device and type metal detecting in the search bar. There are at least a half dozen shows each week to listen to.
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Old Maps
http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/historicalmaps/
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Shotgun shell identification
http://members.shaw.ca/cartridge-corner/shotgun.htm
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Bottles - https://sha.org/bottle/
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Seals - http://www.bagseals.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=31
Tokens - http://tokencatalog.com/
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TN Civil War GIS Project - http://tnmap.tn.gov/civilwar/
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Coin values - http://www.coinstudy.com/
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Treasure Net - good resource for finds, research, help with identification
http://www.treasurenet.com/index.php
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Buttons - http://relicman.com/
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Tennessee Virtual Archive - has some old Tennessee maps
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Historical Aerial Photos - http://www.historicaerials.com/
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Spreaker.com - listen to metal detecting podcasts - Search for
History Seekers, Relic Roundup, Hard Core Metal Detecting, and others
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Minie Ball Information
Minie Ball History
The Minie ball is a muzzle-loading rifle bullet named after its French co-developer Claude-Etienne
Minie and is pronounced (min- YAY) although we all say minie.
* Designed with 2 to 4 groves cut like v's around bullet and has a hollow base.
* Was to expand under pressure to increase muzzle velocity.
* When fired the expanding gas deformed the bullet and engaged the rifled rifling, providing
spin for better accuracy and longer range.
* Designed in 1849 along with a rifle with a grooved barrel to go with it.
* Difference of smooth bore rifle used prior to this invention had an effective range of 50 yards
and the new rifled bore was effective up to 300 yards and could travel up to 1/2 mile.
* This changed thoughts and tactics during the war on frontal assaults and cavalry.
There were also Breach load Civil war bullets towards end of war.
* Solid base (most of the time)
* Have rings that stick out from sides of bullets to catch rifling for a better spin and increased
accuracy.
Still used smooth bore muzzle loaders at start of Civil war and throughout, but as the rifled bores
began being manufactured the smooth bore rifles were used less and less.
* Round balls
* Buck and ball w/ one large round ball and 3 buck shot
The Enfield round used in Civil war had no rings or grooves and was imported from Great Britain.
* Used mostly by Confederate troops
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Identifying Ball Jars
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