✅ SOLVED Bullet, hopefully old

T

ted12

Tenderfoot
Feb 24, 2023
9
11
I forgot to clarify the country I live in pistols are illegal and only hunting rifles and shotguns are allowed under licence, the area I checked has a very low chance for having an illegal gun the bullet is 9mm 15mm in height bullet tip
I believe to be copper lined with maybe lead inside as it is heavy, however I’m far from an expert so that could be wrong
Found by ruins of old castle dating back to around mid 1700s and don’t know when it was burnt down or abandoned
 

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ted12 said:
9mm 15mm in height bullet tip
I believe to be copper lined with maybe lead inside as it is heavy, however I’m far from an expert so that could be wrong
Found by ruins of old castle dating back to around mid 1700s and don’t know when it was burnt down or abandoned
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Gulf Coast Pirate said:
Looks like a modern bullet.
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How sure? It’s just that guns are restricted here and there’s no legal pistols or anything that shoots 9mm and I highly doubt there was an illegal firearm used where I was
 

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ted12 said:
How sure? It’s just that guns are restricted here and there’s no legal pistols or anything that shoots 9mm and I highly doubt there was an illegal firearm used where I was
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VERY sure. I doesn't look like there is any rifling or distortion to it, so maybe it was never fired.
 

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ted12 said:
How sure? It’s just that guns are restricted here and there’s no legal pistols or anything that shoots 9mm and I highly doubt there was an illegal firearm used where I was
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A shame to read restricted no legal illegal all in one breath.

Anyways...
Bullets can be pulled. Meaning a live round have its bullet removed.
Powder reused or brass...Or all.
A bullet more suited for a particular purpose or target could be used.

So why a potentially from the looks of it unfired bullet where you found it?
A study of wartime munitions might give a hint. And the property's involvement.

Or , someone could have acquired a bunch of old bullets (not a crime it seems (yet) where you are and seeded the site and or discourage detectorists. If you find more scattered about as opposed to in a close group , it may be deliberate.

Or , a veteran could have had a pulled bullet for a souvenir , and dropped it one day.

List of World War II weapons of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 

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Judging by the discoloration on it, it sure looks old. Also from where you found it, it could be from one of the World Wars.
Is .380Auto restricted in your country, too? 9mm Luger and .380 Auto both use the same size projectile.
 

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It might be easier to find a possible explanation if we knew what country you found it in.
 

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It would be nice to be able to date your bullet to the 18th century by virtue of its' having been found on the grounds of an 18th century castle, but I am afraid that is impossible. 9mm conical jacketed pistol bullets were not made or used in the 18th century for the good and sufficient reason that there was no need or use for them in the 18th century. They were invented in the 20th century to address circumstances that arose in the 20th century. The invention of smokeless powder, which made the use of bullets as small as 9mm effective, the Hague Convention of 1899, which prohibited the military use of unjacketed lead bullets, and the invention of semi-automatic pistols, which frequently jam when used with unjacketed lead bullets all made jacketed bullets usefull. Before the 20th century there was no reason to make 9mm jacketed bullets, so they were not made.
Just because your bullet is not contemporary with the castle where it was found does not mean that it is without historical interet and signifigance, however. If we knew where it was found we could speculate on what it is and when and how it got where you found it.
 

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BAW said:
It would be nice to be able to date your bullet to the 18th century by virtue of its' having been found on the grounds of an 18th century castle, but I am afraid that is impossible. 9mm conical jacketed pistol bullets were not made or used in the 18th century for the good and sufficient reason that there was no need or use for them in the 18th century. They were invented in the 20th century to address circumstances that arose in the 20th century. The invention of smokeless powder, which made the use of bullets as small as 9mm effective, the Hague Convention of 1899, which prohibited the military use of unjacketed lead bullets, and the invention of semi-automatic pistols, which frequently jam when used with unjacketed lead bullets all made jacketed bullets usefull. Before the 20th century there was no reason to make 9mm jacketed bullets, so they were not made.
Just because your bullet is not contemporary with the castle where it was found does not mean that it is without historical interet and signifigance, however. If we knew where it was found we could speculate on what it is and when and how it got where you found it.
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Thank you it was found in Ireland so it was probably used in the civil war or war of independence, I was not keen on saying the country because metal detecting is illegal here even on your own land and I would have to hand in everything I have found with no cash compensation, but I highly doubt they will track down my account for that haha
 

Upvote 1
The 9mm round was created by Georg Luger in 1901. German Navy and Armies had adopted it as early as 1908. It's possible it could have been in use during the Irish War for Independence or Civil War.
 

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There are at least 15 different cartridges using conical jacketed bullets of 9mm (.355") diameter, or within 1/1000" or 2/1000" of .355" diameter. Almost all of them can be eliminated as extremely unlikely to have ever been used where you found your bullet. The only one likely to have been in your country is the 9x21 Luger. It was used by Germany in both World Wars and many pistols (and much ammunition) were brought home by returning soldiers. Ones brought home after WWI were commomly pressed into service in the War for independance and the Civil War. The M1935 Browning pistol and the Sterlings and Sten guns used by the British army during and after WWII also used the 9x21 cartridge. Ireland was awash with 9x21 ammunition from 1916 to the time of The Troubles and it wouldn't be surprising if there is still more squirreled away than you might suspect.
 

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