https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini%C3%A9_ball#Designs
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The Minié ball is a cylindro-conoidal bullet with grease-filled cannelures on its exterior and a conical concavity in its base. Minié designed the bullet with a small iron plug and lead skirting, with the intent that the skirt of the bullet would expand under the pressure of gunpowder deflagration, causing the bullet to obturate and grip the rifling of the bore. This also maximized muzzle velocity by creating a good bullet to bore seal with minimal pressure loss.[citation needed]
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Iron won't obturate. {I wonder if they used pork grease?]
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