A couple of unknown bullets - Solved

[DirtDigler]

Here are a couple of recent finds that have eluded my resources so far. Someone mentioned the conical bullet might be a Hanoverian, but it's not pointed like the examples I've seen. They were found on different sites about 2 miles apart. Sorry I don't have the weights on these yet. Will try to post soon. Thanks!

 

[timekiller]

Re: A couple of unknown bullets

Modern Maxi Ball I've fired a plenty & made as many.
Take Care,
Pete,

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Re: A couple of unknown bullets

First... I see in your photos of your mystery-bullets that one is fired and one is unfired. Firing causes the tops of the (raised) body-ridges to "flatten down" somewhat, causing them to look wider than they do on an unfired specimen of the bullet.

Your bullets' raised ridges (or "rings"), flat solid base, and especially the very-distinctive short conical top seem to indicate you've found a 20th-century "Maxiball" bullet (made for modernday blackpowder shooters). Adding weight to that opinion, none of the various civil war bullet-books show a bullet which looks like yours.

The final key in determining whether you've found Maxiball bullets or not is their diameter. Based on comparison with the ruler in your photos, your bullets seem to be very close to 1/2-inch in diameter ...which closely approximates a .50-caliber projectile. All the Maxiball bullets I've been able to find advertized online are .50-caliber. So, if your bullets' diameter is within a couple of hundredths-of-an-inch of .50, they are just about certainly Maxiball bullets.

Here are two photos showing "Maxiball" bullets ...which are currently available at gun-stores and online. (Do a websearch for the word Maxiball.) The name is of course a play on the old term Minie-ball.

Please note that (as shown in one of the photos), relic-hunters have dug some of these strictly-modern Maxiballs, and if they've been in the ground long enough, they do show "dug" lead-oxide patina.

Your bullets appear to be the short version shown in one of the photos.

UPDATE: I see Timekiller has posted his (same) identification of your bullets while I was still typing my lengthy post.

 

[DirtDigler]

Re: A couple of unknown bullets

Thanks TK and CBG!! That's the way I was leaning. I have been pouring over my books and resources with no luck. Shows how quickly a patina can develop in the ground. The fired round was in a closed area for many years. I wondered if it might not be from a post CW era. Probably hard to say, since an unfired example is not available.

Again, thanks for your quick and accurate ID.