Federal
Dyer
DIAMETER: 2.93 inches
GUN: 3-inch wrought iron (ordnance) rifle
LENGTH: 7 1/8 inches
WEIGHT: 10 pounds 9 ounces
CONSTRUCTION: Case shot
SABOT: Lead cup
FUZING:
Zinc fuze plug, paper time fuze
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Federal
DIAMETER: 2.93 inches |
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| This Dyer example has four flame grooves cast into the lead sabot, note the lubrication groove above the sabot. Often the lead sabot of the 3-inch Dyer projectile became separated during firing. According to a letter found in the National Archives written by Major J.G. Benton to General Alexander B. Dyer and dated October 28, 1864, this problem was corrected: "...the old cups can be easily removed and good ones put on at a cost to the Government of 15 cents. There are about 55,000 of these projectiles at this Arsenal and I think that they can be made serviceable by Mr. Taylor's plan...Forty projectiles arranged in this way were fired without a single failure or detachment of the sabot." This specimen was picked up on the 1863 Gettysburg battlefield in Pennsylvania. | ||||