Another civil war artifact? (Musket Ball)

[Wilderness medic]

Went out again looking for gold in the Shasta burn area. Another day skunked. Just more lead and rusty nails. Some guy I ran into made me pretty discourage saying it will be really hard to find any with my minelab 705. Something about a good gold detector being around 70 gigawatts and mine only being 18.75.

Also super frustrating trying to find anything small as most of the fire area is coated in what looks like rust which constantly makes it sound like there’s a small or deep target every 2 feet.



However I did find an old musket ball and bullet. The ball has an obvious sprue and is just under .50 cal. The bullet is .30.

Anyone know when or what they may have been fired from? I can’t seem to find any info on civil war stuff around Shasta online.

 

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[Tony in SC]

Hard to say with exact measurements, but if the ball is just under 50 cal it is probably an unfired 44/45 pistol ball. The bullet has a cannalure/reeding. I would say they are not very old.

 

[Timbermaster]

The rifle bullet is modern. The ball would have been used in any number of .44 to .50 cal firearms depending on its true diameter. It could have been used in the war, or before or after it. Cool finds!

 

[Wilderness medic]

Hard to say with exact measurements, but if the ball is just under 50 cal it is probably an unfired 44/45 pistol ball. The bullet has a cannalure/reeding. I would say they are not very old.

I figured the bullet was modern, but why do you think the ball is? Hand casted and up in an area that’s been inaccessible for who knows how long.

 

[Tony in SC]

It was just a guess. The spru looks the ones I get from my .45 mold?

I figured the bullet was modern, but why do you think the ball is? Hand casted and up in an area that’s been inaccessible for who knows how long.

 

[A2coins]

Good Id hope you find gold on your journey

 

[A2coins]

Welcome also from Mi Tommy

 

[Yak1366]

Nice finds, Congrats!!