Need help identifying possible exploding Civil War bullet

[Ronin9868]

Hi everyone,

I found this unusual mini while hunting a Civil War battle area recently. It didn't occur to me until recently that it may be a exploding bullet. I have yet to find one but have read of them being used in the Civil war. The mini was fired and seems to have some melted lead shooting from the rear of it. It looks as if the base has possibly exploded. Can anyone offer any direction on this one? As always thanks for looking.

HH Ronin9868

 

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[Ramitt]

i wouldn't think an exploding bullet would do that.

 

[duggap]

That is just a melting bullet. I say melting because it wasn't hot enough to melt the entire bullet. Maybe a grass fire.

 

[PALEOMAN]

i agree. it only melted one end.

 

[Ronin9868]

Oh, That would make sense. I just never found a shot mini in this condition. Thanks for the help.

Ronin9868

 

[dozer dan]

it could also be just a bad casting.

 

[detector de metales]

agreed, partially melted bullet
I like the second pic tho.. looks like a hand with a finger pointing!
maybe I'm tired LOL
J2

 

[Baldingboy]

I know soldiers used to make a fire by cracking open a cartridge and dumping out the powder. I wonder if this is the sacrificial bullet used to make a fire and got too close to the fire?

Baldingboy

 

[MonkeyBoy]

You would know an exploding bullet if you saw it.. they are more pewter then lead.. and have a hole in the base that protrudes there the fuse was suppose to be... they are worth some pretty good $$ if you dig one...

MB

 

[douglas1]

hi,
here is a thought, i had some .36 cal round balls i melted down to make .50 mini balls. maybe the bullet you found was in the process of being melted down for a different caliber. i would look around again where you found this bullet , some guys may have stopped there to re group and get their ammo together. there might be some more stuff lying around that general area. the bullet may have only been partially melted down if who ever was doing the melting had to leave in a hurry. just a thought but ya never know
douglasb

 

[relichunters]

You can see black burn marks from a fire on it.

 

[stoney56]

I wonder if it was the result of a technique used in Vicksburg.

From the pages of The Vicksburg Mine...http://www.civilwarhome.com/vicksburgmine.htm


The sap-roller, used to protect the workmen from an enfilading fire during the opening of each section of the sap, was a wicker casing five feet in diameter by ten feet in length compactly filled with cotton. The roller was several times found to be on fire, and on the night of June 9th it was totally consumed ; but through what agency was, at the time, a great mystery. After the capitulation it was ascertained that cotton saturated with turpentine and placed in the hollow of a minnie ball had been fired from a musket into the packing of the roller.