A bullet maybe???

[romeo-1]

I know that this could be almost anything but I thought I would give it a go at identification. I found this in a farmer's field at about four inches. When I first saw it I thought it was a musketball but then I saw that it was sorta domed shaped with an almost flattened bottom. The flat bottom looks like it may have been tooled...any ideas? It is lead and looks like it was in the ground for a while...thanks for the input.

 

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[Michelle]

probably musketball fired that gives it the dented marks

 

[stoney56]

If a musketball, it either hit something very hard or it was cut in half because the shooter had more powder than balls and was trying to extend his bullet supply.

 

[Michelle]

yes,and if it hit something very hard it would be very much flatter...this one may have hit something softer or like you say was half loaded

 

[stoney56]

I was thinking of something harder than flesh. It may have already slowed it's velocity and hit just enough to put an impression of the target onto it w/o pancaking.

 

[blurr]

Kinda looks like a shotgun slug. Same shape anyways.

John

 

[stoney56]

Kinda looks like a shotgun slug. Same shape anyways.

John

Most that I'm familiar with are hollow based and usually have some kind of molded rifling pattern but not all of them.

 

[blurr]

Kinda looks like a shotgun slug. Same shape anyways.

John

Most that I'm familiar with are hollow based and usually have some kind of molded rifling pattern but not all of them.

You are right about the base being hollow. I just thought it had the same sort of shape. I will look for early shotgun slug pics and see if they had hollow bases. To be honest, I was just taking a wild guess :P

John

 

[romeo-1]

Could this be a minie ball with the bottom portion cut away? I did a little research and that is what it looks like. Additional input or opinions would be welcome!

 

[Monty]

Do you have any calipers to measure it? Take 3 readings around the circumference and average them and it should give you the approximate diameter. The fireing of the slug itself will diffuse the base of the bullet. Maybe the rounded part is the front of the bullet instead of the flat? If it is a bullet that is. Monty

 

[romeo-1]

It measures to be approximately .73 - .75 of an inch in diameter.

 

[romeo-1]

Maybe this with the ringed portion cut off or blown off when fired...

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[Monty]

Probably what's left of a 12 guage slug. Monty