bullet casing with no headstamp

[rickbrk]

Here is another bullet i have no clue on it's about 1 3/4" long the head is 95% the same size as a dime case diam. Is about 1/2" maybe a little more. There is absolutely no markings on the head. Any ideas.

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

Cannot help you until you provide precise measurements of your bullet-casing in hundredths-of-an-inch. "Estimations" with a ruler or coin are worthless because there are too many varieties of bullets and casings... and even as little as .02-inch can make a difference in a bullet or casing's identification. Need precise measurements of the diameter of the casing's cylindrical body, and its (wider) base-rim, and total length. Also need a "sideview" photo of the casing.

 

[rickbrk]

Ok cannonball i will bring the calipers home tomorrow and get the measurements and more photos for you.

Thank you

 

[rickbrk]

Here is more info.
Base rim - .664"
Case diam. - .562"
Length - 1.763"
I was told that casings without head stamps were military issue? Not sure if there is any truth to that or not.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

What you were told is not true. Bullet-casings with no headstamp (marking) can be either military or "commercial" (meaning, made for civilian usage).

Thank you for making the sideview photo of your casing, and for providing the precise measurements. They allow me to be at least 90% sure of your casing's ID, if not absolutely 100%.

According to the photos and your measurements, the casing is the "external centerfire primer" type, and its cylindrical main body is 1.76" long and .56" in diameter slightly above the base-rim. By doing extensive research to eliminate various possibilities, I believe your casing is a US .50-70 "Government" rifle bullet-casing, using the Farrington 1872-Patent external primer. Therefore, it was manufactured by the United States Cartridge Company, sometime between the mid-1870s to 1880s.

Background:
The .50-70 "Government" rifle made its first appearance in 1866, and was replaced in Army service in 1873 by the .45-70 "Government" rifle (also known as the Springfield Model-1873 rifle). Many of the now-obsolete .50-70 Government rifles were sold to the public as "Army surplus," and got used for big-game hunting, such as buffalo hunting. That is why civilian-owned ammunition companies (such as United States Cartridge Company, and Remington Arms Company) produced ammunition for Army-surplus rifles.

 

[rickbrk]

Cannon ball
Thank you, again you have amazed me with your extensive knowledge on ammunition. I am very grateful for the time and effort. As with the other bullets you have helped me with, there must have been a fair amount of buffalo hunting here. Very fascinating.