Need help to identify bullets found near Cold Harbor,VA

n3tuf

Jr. Member
Mar 4, 2008
93
90
Glen Mills,PA
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 800, Garrett ACE 400, Nokta Impact
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting

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Sorry, but they are definitely very modern-era pistol bullets. They haven't even been in the ground long enough to develop patina. If you want to know their caliber, we will need you to provide extr-precise measurement of their diameter.
 

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The bullets also have silver colored rings in the grooves. They are 13/32" in diameter and 5/8" long or .406 in diameter and .625 Long.
 

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.401 Winchester Self Loading could be it. The bullet diameter was .4065
 

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A .44 caliber is actually .429" and 13/32" is approximately.4065", and I do think they are a fairly contemporary bullet. So, based on lthat I remember there use to be a Herter's .401 Power Mag, and there is also a .41 magnum, and there use to be a .41 Colt black powder cartridge. I am guessing....I said guessing, they are revolver bullets as they have one grease groove and a crimping groove. Most semi-auto pistols don't have a crimping groove. They look a little short to be a rifle bullet perhaps? But then again, the .401 Win. self loading did have a flat nose to prevent chain fire in the magazine. Could you possibly weigh the one that is not damaged? That would help a little. I don't know myself but I am just tossing out some info for someone who might. Monty
 

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.401 Winchester Self Loading like said above , and or .40 Cal , the Mic tolerance can come from some Companies rating system.
There were two company's that made this size and had a .00400 tolerance in the process of casting the bullets.
 

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I just went out and looked up the .401 Winchester Selfloading in an old obsolete reloading manual of mine and was surprised to find it was a much smaller cartridge than I thought. It looks much like a .30 M1 Carbine, except of course it is of .40 caliber and just a tad longer. Interesting enough this was one of Teddy Roosevelt's favorite cartridges and he and his son Kermit carried one on their historical safari in Africa shortly after his presidency. They took a lot of large African game with it and it was considered quite powferful at the time. No doubt, the bullets in question are most surely of the .401 winchester Selfloading variety. Good ID! Monty
 

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