Confederate Bullets

[Riggleman]

Went back to the site from yesterday, where my buddy dug all sorts of bullets and calibers. Here's my lot of the same area. We believe these to be Confederate because the adjacent hillside we've dug all 3 ring 58 caliber bullets. The one that strikes my curiosity is the small 2 ringer. I believe it is a .40 cal., however the grooves are not smooth like most CW bullets I find, im no bullet expert, but the patina and depth it was dug is consistent with the rest. If anyone can tell me the caliber and type i would greatly appreciate it.

 

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[relic nut]

Those are nice finds. The bullet in question is post CW. The vertical lines in the grooves/cannelure was not used until 1880 or so. Still looks old.

HH, RN

 

[trapperart]

Nice finds congrats

 

[texjim]

Nice job

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Riggleman asked for my opinion, so here it is. Relic Nut is correct, the multiple parallel tiny ridges in the body-groove on a bullet mean it was manufactured sometime after the civil war ended. It's called a "reeded groove" or a "knurled cannelure." The earliest known example of bullets with reeded grooves date from about 1877... and they're still being manufactured today. I believe yours was made in the very-late 1800s/early-1900s.

 

[Riggleman]

Thanks to all that have responded, you guys are the best and always answer my questions.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

In revisiting this discussion thread, I see you asked for the bullet's identity, not just its age.

Your photo showing the caliper measuring the FIRED bullet's diameter, at .423-inch, indicates it is a .40-caliber whose diameter is increased slightly by the rifling-ridges on its body from firing, and 1/100th-inch or so of lead-oxide patina. I believe it is a .44-40 bullet, for Winchester and Marlin .40 rifles, from the 1880s/90s. Here's a photo showing one, next to an original box from that time-period. I realize yours is not the hollow-point version... but the box-&-bullet photo shows the .44-40's basic body-style.

 

[vpnavy]

..: NICE FINDS Riggleman :..
Thanks for sharing!​