Bullet ID?

[Rocky77]

I found this bullet today. It is the one pictured on the right for size comparison. Is there a way to tell if it's Confederate or Union? It was found in an area that was occupied by both sides. Thanks for looking!

 

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[goldnrelics]

confederate is two rings three rings for union, nice finds

 

[Rocky77]

Thanks, man. The bullet on the left was actually given to me as a souvenir years ago. I found the one on the right and was using it as a size comparison because it is smaller than the one on the left, which I think is a .58 minie ball. I didn't know exactly what kind mine was and if it was confederate or union. Thanks for the info.

 

[vpnavy]

Nice finds Rocky.

 

[Tnmountains]

confederate is two rings three rings for union, nice finds

Really? I learn every day. I thought the confederacy also used 3 ringers with a raised up grove as well as others?

 

[goldnrelics]

there are rumors that both sides used the same bullets which i am sure they did, but over all that's the definitive answer

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

In actuality, the old saying "2 grooves means Confederate and 3 grooves means yankee" is merely a rule-of-thumb, because it applies ONLY to the very-most-common yankee minies and Confederate minies. The McKee-&-Mason book on civil war bullets shows nearly 50 varieties of Confederate 3-groove minies.

Rocky 77, the photo shows your bullet is very corroded, which makes it difficult to tell whether it is a US or CS one. Although we can still see remnants of 3 body-groves, we'll have to rely on the shape of its base-cavity. Is the cavity the usual simple wide cone shape, or some other shape (such as a "cup-cavity")?

Please post a photo showing the base-cavity's shape. If it is a simple wide cone, there's no way to tell whether your very-corroded civil war bullet is a US one or a CS one.

 

[SCDigginWithAK]

In actuality, the old saying "2 grooves means Confederate and 3 grooves means yankee" is merely a rule-of-thumb, because it applies ONLY to the very-most-common yankee minies and Confederate minies. The McKee-&-Mason book on civil war bullets shows nearly 50 varieties of Confederate 3-groove minies.

Rocky 77, the photo shows your bullet is very corroded, which makes it difficult to tell whether it is a US or CS one. Although we can still remnants of 3 body-groves, we'll have to rely on the shape of its base-cavity. Is the cavity the usual simple wide cone shape, or some other shape (such as a "cup-cavity)?

Please post a photo showing the base-cavity's shape. If it is a simple wide cone, there's no way to tell whether your very-corroded civil war bullet is a US one or a CS one.

I was about to say the same. I have a couple of 3 ring confederate bullets. Quick question for you TheCannonballGuy does a Merrill bullet have 2 or 3 rings mine looks to be 3 but it also looks to be 2. Cool find by the way!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Every version of yankee-made Merrill .54 Carbine bullets had 3 body-grooves. The CS-made version, called a Richmond Merrill, had one groove.

Here are photos of two of the several yankee-made versions of Merrill .54 Carbine bullets. By the way, for anybody who doesn't already know, all Merrill bullets had a solid base (no base-cavity). Because the Merrill was a breechloader, unfired Merrill bullets measure between .54" and .55" diameter.

 

[mical66]

Tha CannonBall knows his stuff... always gives a answer with great detail and information..

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

Tha CannonBall knows his stuff... always gives a answer with great detail and information..

 

[duggap]

If I'm not mistaken, there was a Spencer variant that had three rings. But I could be wrong, old age you know.