How old is this bullet?

[wheres_wheatie]

I found a bullet today and it looks like it's been in the ground for awhile I tried to run the numbers through google but couldn't find much just this pic. that matches the back of the shell. I'm hoping to find out if its modern or old?

 

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the 32-40 has been around since 1884.

 

[BioProfessor]

The terms "Kleanbore" and Dupont smokeless powder, along with the box design make me think they are somewhere in the 40's. As far as condition, they don't look like they were in the ground very long. Matter of fact, they don't look like they have been exposed to much at all.

Daryl

 

[Ramitt]

Prof i don't think that pic is what he foun, but a picture he found while searching with the info on the back of the shell.

 

[BioProfessor]

Oops.

Daryl

 

[wheres_wheatie]

yep that's right it's just a pic of the internet...

the 32-40 has been around since 1884.

Do they still make them today, or if they stopped when?

Thanks for the help. I'm trying to date the field I'm searching. I was surprised big time to find a shell because the location is very public and commercial. If a gun was fired It seems as though it would have been before the town became so developed.

 

[re-tek]

If a gun was fired It seems as though it would have been before the town became so developed.

not necessarily...
at least here in south FL, its still common and legal for folks to discharge firearms outside city limits. you do have plenty of people living outside city limits.

if it really seems out of place you may want to contact the homicide dept of your local police dept and tell them about what you found and where you found it. they may want to pick it up. who knows.. might be evidence in which case they'll be happy to get it.

 

[wheres_wheatie]

its still common and legal for folks to discharge firearms outside city limits

This is definitely inside city limits, it's almost our downtown.

you may want to contact the homicide dept of your local police dept

If i didn't tell them about the body's I found I'm not gonna bother tellin them about a shell...j/k

 

[ivan salis]

a 32 - 40 shell is for a rather old style lever action guns (cowboy guns ---like the a marlin 30/30 but in 32 -40 cal) from the 1884 to early 1910 ish time frame ---it fell out of favor over time and is not a "popular" caliber these days there are not modern big name ammo makers making the round these days --even so some one could have a old gun and just fired it days ago ---but as you say the area is built up so it is highly unlikely that is was fired recently but rather earlier during the guns "hey day" of popularity back before the land was developed -- since then cartiridge started being made in 1884 ---then it would be sometime between 1884 and when the area was built up (whenever that was) in my view most likely --- hope that helps--- Ivan

 

[Rob66]

Late 40s, early 50s.I place my bet.

 

[ivan salis]

the box of shells in the "referance" photo yah 1940 / 50 ish no doubt in my mind (the box is old not too many folks have any of them these days a rather odd ball caliber today --it was common around the verey late 1880's to early 1910 ish time frame but slowly fell out of favor--- but the "actual round" he found was not from the box shown but rather was a single spent casing fired most likely much earlier most likely by a hunter before his town was there -- might I ask what depth did yopu find it? -- generally speaking the deeper it is the longer time ago it was "lost"--- Ivan

 

[wheres_wheatie]

I found it about 5" down using my 10" coil. it was between two hills where water tends to build up during rain. I'm gonna look into when the property became commercial. Here's a poor pic of it(my cam doesn't do to good on close ups, no micro menu) You can see it is shredded a bit at the end of the casing so it may have been berried for awhile. Thanks again for the help and all the great info.

 

[ivan salis]

from the looks I'd say its been down there awhile --the" eatening up" of it like what has happened to the tip tends to take a fair bit of time to happen --- Ivan

 

[wheres_wheatie]

I've pulled lots of shells out of the ground and thrown them in the junk pile, but this one was in such bad condition I knew it had to be old. I can't wait to get back out to this field. It's real big and hopefully the next old find will be a coin