✅ SOLVED Fired Lead Bullet ID? cross hatch base

Underwonder

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Jul 31, 2017
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Hello bullet experts,

This lead bullet was found in the woods of an old farm...mid 1800s...

It does not have any rings evident so doesn’t seem like a civil war era bullet but wondered if the pattern at the base could help ID this. I looked for a source to ID bullets and found the resource for ringed bullets but not bottom patterns. Any ideas about this bullet is appreciated. Thanks!

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1609618862.068407.jpgImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1609618871.650231.jpgImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1609618881.501284.jpg
 

At measurement of the base would help. I think the pattern you see is the cannalure from one of the grooves, means it's no older that the 1880's?
 

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At measurement of the base would help. I think the pattern you see is the cannalure from one of the grooves, means it's no older that the 1880's?

That’s interesting. Thanks, Tony in SC. The base is out of round and measures 12.9 mm x 13.4 mm on the shortest and longest sides.
 

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Part of a snap grommet?

Can't find an example online, and all my web gear is packed away. Some of our gear had oval snaps on on them, similar to what you see on some marine applications.
 

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Part of a snap grommet?

Can't find an example online, and all my web gear is packed away. Some of our gear had oval snaps on on them, similar to what you see on some marine applications.

Thanks for the idea! Would lead be used for grommets? It seems like a soft material for that purpose to me, but I have lots to learn.
 

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It certainly has the look of a mushroomed bullet. The base reminds me of an old lead anchor for brick but the closed end sure looks like a flattened bullet nose.
 

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I don't remember ever seeing a set of cross hatched ridges on a bullet. Also the ridges were in the cannelure (groove) of the bullet, usually the top most groove to aid in sealing the cartridge crimp. My uneducated opinion is that this is not a bullet.
 

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That's a Hornady brand lead slug. I've reloaded hundreds of them. Gary

View attachment 1890896

Thanks, Gary. That certainly looks like it...What puzzles me is that Hornady started in 1908 but focused on ammunitions in the 1940s...Had I found it in typical woods/dirt I would have thought typical hunting on the land...but it was wedged in a bit of a rock pile that would have been there earlier than that...mid-late 1800s...but I guess a more recent hunt could have wedged itself in there...? I learned the term “cannelure” here. Thanks everyone!
 

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I think Gary's has it. I've also loaded those. They are more for target and plinking. they're really not a hunting bullet. People sometimes go into the woods just to shoot.
Thanks, Gary. That certainly looks like it...What puzzles me is that Hornady started in 1908 but focused on ammunitions in the 1940s...Had I found it in typical woods/dirt I would have thought typical hunting on the land...but it was wedged in a bit of a rock pile that would have been there earlier than that...mid-late 1800s...but I guess a more recent hunt could have wedged itself in there...? I learned the term “cannelure” here. Thanks everyone!
 

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