Advise on Musket ball?

[tymcmurray]

I was out early this morning. Found very l
ittle clad and a Musket ball. Can anyone
give me advice on how to figure an aproximate
age. Just new or old would help. I still haven't
found a civil war bullet yet. I thought this
might be cool. Thanks!

 

[desertfox]

Ty, I hope this helps you. Old balls have a white crusty powerdy subtance that covers them, its from the lead leaching out of them over time. The newer black powder balls seem to be found clean, that's here in OK. where I live anyway. HH

Desertfox

 

[Kiros32]

Old balls have a white crusty powerdy subtance that covers them
Desertfox

Devil on my left shoulder: "Come on Jared, that is tooo easy, you have to say something"

Angel on my right shoulder: "Now Jared, you know he meant musket balls, behave"

Ugh, the conflict!!!!!

 

[BioProfessor]

Old musket balls will typically have a place where the sprue was cut off as well as a seam around it where the two halves of the mold met. If it has both it is an old ball. If it has neither, it is probably more modern, machine made, buckshot or black powder rifle bullet.

Daryl

 

[tymcmurray]

Thank you guys!
The ball is white and crusty, it has a
seam and a place where the sprue was
cut off. So, I guess it's old. Anybody have
a general idea on date, or is that asking
too much?

 

[civilman1]

I've looked at it a couple time's there Ty and think it very well could be your first CW bullet....What size is it?....

 

[romeo-1]

Old...looks like a .69 cal!

 

[godisnum1]

Old balls have a white crusty powerdy subtance that covers them
Desertfox

Devil on my left shoulder: "Come on Jared, that is tooo easy, you have to say something"

Angel on my right shoulder: "Now Jared, you know he meant musket balls, behave"

Ugh, the conflict!!!!!

Ok, I have to admit... I haven't laughed THAT hard in quite some time!!! lol!!! Thanks, I really needed the laughter right now...

Bran <><

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Good reference by the Bio professor on musket balls! It looks to have a whitish patina, I would say old musket ball, maybe pre dates CW. Most of the musket balls I find have a white patina and are old, early 1800s and way before to the 1600s. HH, Mike

 

[piggman1]

Seems to be an old one, but trying to date it is a problem in it's self. They have been used every since firearms have been around. good find though.

 

[{Sentinel}]

Congratulations Ty, this is more than likely a Confederate Musket ball. Given the area you are in and the fact that Yankees really didnt use musket balls, I would definitely say it is Civil War or older.

 

[tymcmurray]

Thanks for all the advice. Here is a closer look.
I have to admit, I'm such a novice at the civil
war stuff, that it is exciting to find something
that could be that old.