Huge bullets

[BIG61AL]

Found these pair of bullets. They both weigh about 32 grams. These things are monster huge. The bullet on the left has smaller rings than the one on the right. It is also slightly shorter in length and the the flat portion on the tip is a smaller size then the other. They both have a large hollow space in the bottom which is what I assume to be a feature to expand upon firing to the barrel. Any one know anything about these?

 

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[Montana Jim]

How wide are they?

I think you have some standard three ring mini balls... maybe some maxi balls...

 

[BIG61AL]

5/8 inch .... 14mm

 

[Montana Jim]

check it against this database...

http://www.baymediapro.com/collection/bullet_search.asp

Select the number of "grooves" (3) and hit "search"...

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think what you have was the most popular caliber during the Civil War, the .58 caliber. http://sixmm.com/tech/cvtcht.htm But I think, because of the lack of corrosion and location found, you have found a modern muzzleloader .58 Cal. Minnie Ball. These were popular for primitive hunting in the 1980's and rammed down the barrel with grease. Today muzzleloading hunters use mostly saboted bullets which need no grease. I could be wrong.

Great link Jim.

 

[Monty]

If found in Colorado I would guess it was dropped by a 1970s era blackpowder hunter. Muzzleloading hunting for elk became legal about this time and the first available large bore bullets for elk were usually .58 caliber and were of the old style minniball variety due to the attempt at authenticity. Over the next decades the bullet design was improved upon greatly and now most use saboted bullets as stated by bigcypresshunter There are still some "purists " that use the old style bullets however. They don't appear to be very old due to the lack of patina. Monty

 

[CRUSADER]

If found in Colorado I would guess it was dropped by a 1970s era blackpowder hunter. Muzzleloading hunting for elk became legal about this time and the first available large bore bullets for elk were usually .58 caliber and were of the old style minniball variety due to the attempt at authenticity. Over the next decades the bullet design was improved upon greatly and now most use saboted bullets as stated by bigcypresshunter There are still some "purists " that use the old style bullets however. They don't appear to be very old due to the lack of patina. Monty

I agree that the patina on these bullets look modern & not Victorian.

 

[BIG61AL]

I agree...modern muzzle loader rifle...Found them about one inch down in a local park, there has not been any hunting in this location for decades.....still kinda neat to find.

 

[relichunters]

My first thought were civil war bullets, but they were made of different material I believe and were smaller.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

My first thought were civil war bullets, but they were made of different material I believe and were smaller.

What different material?

Most common caliber during the Civil War was .58 caliber (like the pic I posted). They had larger. I believe they are identical except for the patina or lack of.

 

[coin finder]

If You Got Hit With This Bullet, you will not be geting up!

 

[romeo-1]

They are most likely modern but don't discount them being civil war era. I have found many 19th century bullets which do not have the usual patina associated with lead of that vintage...

 

[Montana Jim]

They are most likely modern but don't discount them being civil war era. I have found many 19th century bullets which do not have the usual patina associated with lead of that vintage...

I agree... I'm diggin 130 year old .45-70 lead and some of it looks brand new. If these came outta Colorado soil you might also be finding old stuff... no way to tell IMO. I rarely if never find white oxidized lead... and I've dug several pounds of lead bullets.

 

[Monty]

Some seem to think these are Civil War bullets. I'm not discounting that they might be. I'm just telling what I know aobut that type ullet and my personal opinion. I suppose it depends on where the bullets were found. Civil War era encampment? Battle field? History of the park where found? So, figure those questions out and draw your own conclusions. No way to really prove one way or the other. Monty

 

[duggap]

I think I would be inclined to go civil war on these. One thing, he found two different types of 58 three ringers in the same location. Two, if the bullets were in ground that was constantly watered or even sometimes under water, it will keep the bullet from developing that white patina. We water hunt in the summer and all the bullets we get look like that. During the civil war, when Lincoln called for a draft, all Colorado men were left in the state to fight the Indians. That could be the reason the bullets are there. Just my guess.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

A question I have is was muzzleloading hunting popular at that location in the 70s-80's?

 

[romeo-1]

Some seem to think these are Civil War bullets. I'm not discounting that they might be. I'm just telling what I know aobut that type ullet and my personal opinion. I suppose it depends on where the bullets were found. Civil War era encampment? Battle field? History of the park where found? So, figure those questions out and draw your own conclusions. No way to really prove one way or the other. Monty

Hi Monty...I'm not saying that they are Civil War bullets but rather Civil War era bullets.

 

[l.cutler]

Is there any evidence of a casting seam anywhere on the bullets? Original Civil War bullets were generally swagged not cast and will show no evidence of a seam, modern made minies are cast and there should be a seam if you look close enough.

 

[Hutch911]

Is there any evidence of a casting seam anywhere on the bullets? Original Civil War bullets were generally swagged not cast and will show no evidence of a seam, modern made minies are cast and there should be a seam if you look close enough.

Most CS led was casted and have seams even at Richmond Arsenal they did not have the press machines they had up north during the war. As far as Civil War or Civil War period hard to say I have bullets of many colors all depends on soil type and moisture. I have one that is almost black it was dug from under a pine tree root and the sap from the tree stained it.

 

[tr snyper]

I hunt a lot in fresh and salt water. And even in the cleanest of the fresh water I hunt I haven't seen a lead bullet without some type of oxidation occurring. Even on newer bullets. But everyday I find things I've never seen before. But at first glance I didn't get a sense of age on it. What were the other metal targets in the ground around it? And how did they hold up to the ground?
Steve A