Bullets and Shell Casing ID help

[James Riley]

About 40 years ago I found some bullets on a non-Civil War battlefield (1830s, between Indian Tribes out west in Colorado). I can't tell if they are from that era, or if they are later, or more modern. The area is remote, on private land, but there could have been shooters other than the combatants. Or, maybe . . . Can any of you date these to an era?

Also, I would appreciate any information on the shell casing. It was found a couple hundred miles away, on the Oregon Trail on a private ranch in Wyoming. It is way over .45 cal (my 45s fall inside it) and the priming compound appears to have been integral to the center of the case.

Thanks for any education.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[Gambrinus]

You really need to get accurate measurements but just from the looks of it I would say that you have 45-70 bullets (started in 1873)
and a brass shotgun shell.

 

[pistol-pete]

Appears to be an inside primed, (Benet primed), centerfire 45-70. these cases were used 1873-1880 before standard centerfire cases became available. Appears to be 500 grain bullet for rifle. Carbines used 405 grain bullets. 45-70 was .458 bullet diameter where as 45 pistols were .454 so your cartridges would fall in to the case. These were copper cases.

 

[Rookster]

Looks kinda modern.

 

[TimberCrack]

The case is a 50-70...I got a bunch of them...used in converted trapdoor rifles redesigned after the Civil War for U.S. Troops on the western frontier..

 

[vpnavy]

I pulled this from another TN thread...

Civil War Bullet ID Chart (Sep 05, 2013)

Civil War Bullets (Sep 26, 2019)

 

[James Riley]

Thank you all for your input. I just decided to start reloading and I have a caliper on order. It will help me get dimensions off these items. I have a scale coming too, so I could weigh the bullets, although, unlike me, they may have lost some weight over the years (and after being fired and hitting who-knows-what).

 

[TimberCrack]

Here's a couple of pics of a 50-70 "Dud" while metal detecting...

 

[James Riley]

I got my new calipers up and working. The shell casing is 1.781" long, .55" o.d. and .501" i.d. The slugs are .45.