Is this a 54cal georgia teat base?

[DigIron2]

I put it next to a 58cal for scale.It has three ring's,with the bottom ring almost right at the base line of the bullet and what appears to be a teat that protrudes a little from the base.It looks a little crudely made.I would guess 54cal,but not sure?I hope the 58cal helps some!I need a measuring tool really bad.joe

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

Sorry, but no, although it appears to be a .54 Minie-bullet it is definitely not a "Georgia Teat-Base" one (McKee-&-Mason book's bullet #413). First, the "teat" in yours is too small to be the Georgia version. Second, you bullet's body-grooves are too shallow and too close together to be a .54 Georgia Teat-Base... which is shown in the photo below.

By the way... we know have evidence that the "Georgia Teat-Base" minies were made at the Confederate Augusta GA Arsenal.

Your bullet appears to have been rammed and fired, which "complicates" efforts to identify it specifically. I've seen some in real-life which closely resemble yours, but it isn't shown in the McKee-&-Mason book on civil war bullets.


You said "I need a measuring tool really bad." Harbor Freight Tools is currently running a very good sale on Calipers. I recommend getting a stainless-steel one, because the "composite" (plastic) ones wear out quickly. The 4-inch version is all you need for super-accurately measuring bullets, buttons, coins, and buckles. But personally, I prefer the analog-dial version, because it doesn't use a battery. Go to the following webpage, or to a Harbor Freight Tools store.
Search results for: 'caliper'

 

[fyrffytr1]

I bought my calipers at a local auto parts store. They are just like the first ones pictured in the Harbor Freight ad. I think I paid about $20.00 for them.

 

[DigIron2]

thanks again Pete!

 

[DigIron2]

I bought my calipers at a local auto parts store. They are just like the first ones pictured in the Harbor Freight ad. I think I paid about $20.00 for them.

$20.oo isn't to bad for a poor mans budget!Might have to check out the Napa auto down the road.thanks!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

You're welcome.

There's a way to achieve absolute certainty about whether your bullet is a .54 "Georgia Teat-Base" or not, if you care enough about its ID to do additional effort and expense. Your bullet has been fired, and the gunbarrel's rifling-grooves changed the shape of your bullet's body-grooves. Because I had only your photos, without any measurements, all I could do is make my best "logical" guess based on the photos. But you can examine it in real-life. Go to the following webpage which shows an unfired .54 "Georgia Teat-Base" bullet, and carefully compare your bullet with the sideview and baseview photos:
19th Century Bullet Collection - Tom Henrique

That webpage also gives the bullet's precisely-measured length and weight in Grains (not Grams). You'll need to borrow or buy (costs about $15) a Jeweler's Scale for weighing your bullet in Grains. According to the M&M book and T&T book, a "Georgia Teat-Base" bullet weighs 435 to 450 grains.

Also according to those books, the length should be 1.02 to 1.08 inches.

The gunbarrel's rifling-grooves changed your bullet's diameter... therefore, it won't match up with the diameter of an unfired one.

By the way, I see you live in Virginia. I'll have a sales-table at the North/South Trader magazine's National Civil War relic show in Richmond on July 19 & 20. If you are coming to that show, bring your bullet so I can measure it with my digital caliper and weigh it on my Jeweler's Scale. Ask the show's staff for the location of Pete George's table, and introduce yourself. My table is usually very close to Steve Sylvia's table.

 

[DigIron2]

I live up here in Spotsylvania,not too far away at all ,I would like to get down there for that!Always got so much going on here,sometimes it is hard to get out and do anything anymore.But I would look forward to meeting you and learning some stuff.I have a few things to show you.Thanks for the link Pete!