52 Caliber Lead Ball Bullet? Fired from musket, or dueling pistol?

[Finderskeepers13]

Dug this lead ball bullet in western North Carolina.
I was informed that it is a .52 caliber.
It measures a 1/2 inch in diameter and weighs 15 grams.
You can tell that it was fired and looks like it may have hit it's mark.
Any ideas as to how old and what could have fired it, a musket, dueling pistol and or etc.?
Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

If it is .52 now it was probably .40 or so originally in that deformed shape. But, if it weighs 15 grams that's 230 grains - and that's just what the .530" lead balls for my .54 rifle weigh. So, it's likely a rifle ball. Smushed like that it should measure .65" or better, however.

Muskets were much larger of bore - 0.69" on up.

How old? Yesterday back to 1650 or so - roughly. I still deer hunt with my .54 flintlock and know dozens of other hunters who use similar.

 

[BosnMate]

If it is .52 now it was probably .40 or so originally in that deformed shape. But, if it weighs 15 grams that's 230 grains - and that's just what the .530" lead balls for my .54 rifle weigh. So, it's likely a rifle ball. Smushed like that it should measure .65" or better, however.

Muskets were much larger of bore - 0.69" on up.

How old? Yesterday back to 1650 or so - roughly. I still deer hunt with my .54 flintlock and know dozens of other hunters who use similar.

I hunt with a knock off of a .62 Caliber British sporting rifle, and starting in the 1970's, I've left lots of large lead balls in the woods. Everything Charlie said is right on, the only way you could tell for sure what caliber your ball is with weight, it's too deformed for anything else.

 

[parsonwalker]

Welcome to T-net! The patina on your lead would indicate some age. Depends on soil conditions where you found it, but that color indicates a few years back, I'd guess at least 75 years+ or so . . . It has the same patina as many civil war leads we've found . . . impossible to say for sure though . . .