Help from the bullet pros

[Henry Smoot]

Help from the bullet pro's

I found this at a water site with my PI detector in an area where I have found civil war buttons etc. I didn't think much of it and someone told me it may be a rare bullet. It is .45 cal. on my micrometer and it weighs about 540 grains according to my cheap scale. Any input from the projectile experts would be great. Thanks in advance....Henry Oh yeah, meant to add Charleston, SC as location found..

 

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[d2]

Re: Help from the bullet pro's

It looks like a Whitworth bullet to me but I aint sure...d2

 

[Ken from Atlanta]

Re: Help from the bullet pro's

* 45-110 Sharps

* 45-120 Sharps

* 45-60 WCF

* 45-75 WCF

* 577-450 Martini-Henry

* 45-70 Government

* 45-90 WCF

* 458 Lott


Could be any of these.....you can probably weed out a few based on age. Also search the different calibers compared to the grain weight of your slug, that should help narrow it down.

I've removed a few that have been ruled out.

 

[JCinNJ]

Re: Help from the bullet pro's

That is a serious bullet that I would not want to be on the wrong side of. Nice find!

HH

- joe

 

[RickyP]

Re: Help from the bullet pro's

Damn thats big

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Re: Help from the bullet pro's

I don't think it's a Whitworth. Those were .45 but they were a very distinctive hexagonal shape of cast lead. It was sure enough 540 grains, though.

http://www.lrml.org/historical/whitworth/gunsandsteel02.htm

But I found one source that said the Confederates ran short on the hexagonal bullets and switched to plain cylindrical. Hmmmm.

http://www.americancivilwar.org.uk/news_whitworth-sharpshooter-rifle_21.htm


Soooooo. It's not a Whitworth bullet but may have been run through a Whitworth rifle. That's beyond me to judge.

I also found a test where the Enfield penetrated 12 1" pine boards and the Whitworth penetrated 35! That from a rifle that was accurate on a man side target out to 800 yards. No wonder wars moved to trenches.

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/firearms/britain/whitworth/whitworth.htm

 

[bakergeol]

Re: Help from the bullet pro's

Looks like the bullet on page 40 of Mc Key and Mason number 250. Dropped Whitworth cylindrical.

Whitworth cylindrical (hexagonal is 251- apparently made more than hexagonal)
diameter .45 length 1.428 weight 524 CS The base looks different. Is there some
material in the cavity to account for it's increased weight?

What other CW bullets that are almost 1 1/2 inches long
and 45 caliber? I assume this was a drop also. Here is one on E-bay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Dug-4...yZ103996QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

George

 

[Montana Jim]

Re: Help from the bullet pro's

I dunno if this is it... I'm just trying to help...

 

[chipveres]

Re: Help from the bullet pro's

Note that I am *not* a bullet expert, other than having to duck a few on my way to work. I think we can rule out a few from Ken From Atlanta's comprehensive list. The Magnum and Nitro shells should take a bullet that is jacketed or solid bronze. The present one in the pictures appears to be cast lead.

Chip V.