✅ SOLVED .50 Cal Round Ball???

[SweepNbeep]

I think I may have found my first round ball. Looks to me like it was flattened on one side upon impact. It measures .556, which would make sense because it mushroomed out a little bit when it made contact. It weighs 151 grains. It's definitely lead. I found it way off the beaten path, in some wooded hills. There is very little other metal around this place. What do you guys and gals think? Cool artifact from the pioneer days, or just a piece of junk lead?

 

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[Peyton Manning]

I recall back in the 70's my friends and I went through a black powder phase after 'jeremiah johnson ' came out

 

[DirtyPockects]

Lead balls have looked the same for a long time. So have calibers of black powder fire arms. At that diameter is would be too big to be buck shot

 

[SweepNbeep]

Sure enough it could be a modern round ball. Plenty of guys shoot muzzle loaders around here, but almost everybody shoots conical shaped bullets nowadays, and much heavier than 150 gr.

 

[DirtyPockects]

It does appear to have a large area from where it was poured or the sprew was cut

 

[SweepNbeep]

It does appear to have a large area from where it was poured or the sprew was cut

If that is the case, I would wager the ball is an antique, as most the round balls of today are swaged.

 

[vpnavy]

I moved this request from Today's Finds! over to What Is It? for more exposure.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

It looks whole, though smushed, and 151 gr would work out to around 0.465" pure lead round ball. Tight fit to use with a cloth patch in a .475" cal. Which would be an odd duck but possible. Also possible it is not pure lead or a bit is missing.

0.490" balls used in a .50 cal weigh 178gr.

 

[SweepNbeep]

So, regardless of diameter or weight, is it a round ball bullet in your opinion? It's pretty hard to tell just how much it mushroomed out, or weight was lost during the firing and impact. In my imagination, it connected pretty solid with a bear. That's hard on lead.

 

[gunsil]

Yes, it IS a round ball. I melt the ones I find down for fishing sinkers or new round or minie balls.

 

[SweepNbeep]

Okay, thanks guys. I know it might be a pretty insignificant find, but it was the coolest thing I found that day, and to me it's cool. I will be leaving mine intact.