Dug another Civil War canister-shot OR pistor ball

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

Dug another civil war canister-shot OR pistol ball, 100 yards or so from where I dug the 3 others. this ball was only 2 inches under ground, strange. usually they run about 8 inches. they ring up around 62 on the AT Pro.

still wondering whether they are caniser-shot or pistol balls. any opinions?

Clad rosy dime for size perspective



pic below, i am holding one. i have normal size fingers (not large) for a male. maybe this will help with size perspective



I think they look a lot like the ones in this pic below (not my pic). on 2 of mine, you can see the seam around the center of the ball and the bump called the casting sprue. musket balls have these from what i have researched

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[villagenut]

I think cannister shot would be over an inch in diameter, those look like musket balls to me.

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

I think cannister shot would be over an inch in diameter, those look like musket balls to me.

i measured their diameter using a string (crude but should work). they were about 1 1/4 inch. musket balls are much larger, correct?

 

[villagenut]

musketballs are smaller ...are you measuring diameter or circumference?

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

musketballs are smaller ...are you measuring diameter or circumference?

measuring diameter. i posted another pic of me holding one in my fingers so that you may get a better idea about their size. let me know what you think.

 

[villagenut]

here is some charts for reference showing solid iron balls. There was one canister that held .69 cal. lead balls but yours looks like drops to me.http://www.civilwarartillery.com/shottables.htm

 

[villagenut]

measure round balls with a caliper or something equivalent to see how thick the ball is, not measuring around the ball. Actually, yours looks possibly like fired balls.

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

measure round balls with a caliper or something equivalent to see how thick the ball is, not measuring around the ball. Actually, yours looks possibly like fired balls.

only one is deformed and has a slash in it (middle right one in pic). prob fired or carved i guess. u still think musket balls, i thought they were smaller. i am no arms expert though. i just dig the stuff. you learn as you go in this business.

why i love this hobby. u dig something, next thing you know, you are researching what the heck it is and learning....

thanks also for the chart. saved that link!

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on your finds. The one you are holding can't be one and a quarter diameter you mean circumference I think. Looks like musket balls to me

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

Congrats on your finds. The one you are holding can't be one and a quarter diameter you mean circumference I think. Looks like musket balls to me

u may be right, i just put a string around the ball until it touched, then measured the string. the ball is small. i thought musket balls were larger? i am fine with it being a musket ball. as long as its civil war, that is all that it matters. i assume civil war.