What Kind of Bullet???

[Erik in NJ]

Hi, Same mid-1800's house - property has history back to colonial times. This is my first bullet/slug. Any ideas on type or age? Thanks!

 

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[Lucas]

Measure the diameter of the innermost ring, and weigh it. It was a conical, but now it is a mushroom.

 

[Erik in NJ]

Will do - what could it have hit to have taken such a shape Is it 3-ring type or more modern?

Measure the diameter of the innermost ring, and weigh it. It was a conical, but now it is a mushroom.

 

[Erik in NJ]

Inside diameter is approx 7/16" best I can measure!

 

[fyrffytr1]

That would equal a 44 caliber round. Maybe a pistol shot.

 

[Erik in NJ]

Thanks F, how long has the .44 been around for? Modern or old? Don't find many fired bullets here - just curious what could it have hit to make that shape? Thanks!

 

[wildman4910]

1840's or so for the flat nose{conical} self contained cartage, most all earlier were cap & ball percussion.

Got .44, .44 long, .44 Russian, .44 Henry, .44-40 and a few others I can't dredge up at the moment.

It looks like a flesh shot to be mushroomed like that, most hitting a hard surface look smeared.

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[Erik in NJ]

Thanks WildMan and the rest of the responders! The timeframe you quoted seems to fit as well.

 

[Monty]

I am a bit late since the green check is on this one, but it would probably take a modern high velocity cartridge to form the classic mushroom shape of that bullet. If it is a late issue .44 caliber it should measure , .429" at the base. If an older lead bullet it could measure anywhere from .429" to about .445". But it looks to me like it once had a metal jacket? Monty