Musket ball???

[wildthunder]

MUSKET BALL

I would like to know if anyone can identify this as a musket ball. It was found next to an old stone cellar hole. In a place where I have found many old coins 1800s etc.
the dimensions of this led ball is 14.30 mm or 0.56 inches according to my research it would be within the range of a 58 caliber.
There is a big dent on one side of the ball, the only thing that is puzzling me is that the ball is not perfectly round I don't mean the dented part of the ball where it may have had something But it has a almost cylindrical aspect to it.

This would be the first musket ball I have found if it is truly a musket ball or rifle ball. Any help would be appreciated

 

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[Greylock]

It looks like a fired round ball to me. It's flat because it hit something.

 

[romeo-1]

That's what I would call it...and I've found about 50 pounds of them!

 

[wildthunder]

Thanks for the info

 

[Wildcat1750]

Looks like it could be a musket ball to me too. Nice find!

 

[l.cutler]

It is definitely not a musket ball. First it is too small, the smallest musket ball would be in the .66 caliber range for the .69 caliber musket. The cylindrical shape is from being loaded and fired in a rifle, the soft lead was deformed when the patched ball was forced down the rifle barrel and then fired. Muskets were loaded loosely with an undersized ball. I would say it is a rifle ball, not a musket ball.

 

[wildthunder]

riffle ball

It is definitely not a musket ball. First it is too small, the smallest musket ball would be in the .66 caliber range for the .69 caliber musket. The cylindrical shape is from being loaded and fired in a rifle, the soft lead was deformed when the patched ball was forced down the rifle barrel and then fired. Muskets were loaded loosely with an undersized ball. I would say it is a rifle ball, not a musket ball.

with that said, in what time period were rifle balls used ? is this just the difference between rifle and pistol , musket or rifle but still flint lock or black powder style of firearm?

 

[The Patriot]

yup a musket ball...looks like it hit and ricochet[FONT=arial, sans-serif], that's why it's not so round anymore...sweet find...[/FONT]

 

[Davers]

It look's to be some type of [lead] round ball musket/ smoothbore or whatever IMO def, larger than any modern buckshot always hard to tell/date certain round balls ,Still a keeper.

 

[l.cutler]

Muzzleloading rifles were used from at least the 1750's up until cartridge rifles took over in the later 19th century. They still saw some use even later as some people just kept using them in years, they are actually still in use today by blackpowder enthusiasts. Muskets were a larger bore, smoothbore military arm.

 

[Mekong Mike]

I read someplace that lewis and clark carried an airgun rifle that could easily take down a deer. I don't know the caliber.

 

[CASPER-2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musket