Buffalo killer .50 caliber cartridges

[toasted]

Found a few of these misfired rifle cartridges at an early spot on the river. Can anyone confirm that they date to just after the Civil War and were for Some type of trapdoor breechloader. They have the similar measurements to the various rounds that they fired. Total length 2 3/8”. Case length 1 5/8. Bullet .5 “ diameter

 

[Fourman110]

what's the case stamp say?

 

[toasted]

There is no stamp

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Could be .50-70?

 

[toasted]

Could be .50-70?

Yeah I think so. Looks like when the US government adopted the 1873 Springfield and its .45 caliber round, they then sold of most of the guns chambered in .50 which often ended up in the hands of buffalo hunters like Buffalo Bill Cody

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Because your .50-70 brass casing does not have a steel base-disc, and it does have a small-ish central primer-cap, it's not one of the "early US Military .50-70 cartridges" shown here:
https://www.oldammo.com/november06.htm

The version of external primer-cap in yours was patented in 1872, so they can't be from any earlier than that. Because your .50-70 casings do not have a headstamp, AND the bullet seems to have a small flat nose-tip, I'm guessing it is the version shown in the 2nd photo here, 1st (and cutaway 2nd) on the left of the row.
> https://www.oldammo.com/december06.htm

Several of the casings in the photos have a brass base-rim which is beveled at the underside edge of the rim. I can't tell from your single photo whether or not yours have the beveled-rim bottom. So, you'll have to closely examine yours in real-life and figure out which (if any) of the ones in the photos matches exactly with yours.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Because your .50-70 brass casing does not have a steel base-disc, and it does have a small-ish central primer-cap, it's not one of the "early US Military .50-70 cartridges" shown here:
https://www.oldammo.com/november06.htm

The version of external primer-cap in yours was patented in 1872, so they can't be from any earlier than that. Because your .50-70 casings do not have a headstamp, AND the bullet seems to have a small flat nose-tip, I'm guessing it is the version shown in the 2nd photo here, 1st (and cutaway 2nd) on the left of the row.
> https://www.oldammo.com/december06.htm

Several of the casings in the photos have a brass base-rim which is beveled at the bottom edge of the rim. I can't tell from your single photo whether or not yours have the beveled-rim bottom. So, you'll have to closely examine yours in real-life and figure out which (if any) of the ones in the photos matches exactly with yours.

You never cease to amaze me with your knowledge of history my friend.
Dave

 

[pistol-pete]

Cannonballguy is correct as always. Would like to add the the military didn't use brass cases until at least the 1880's or even 1890's. They were all copper until that time. Civilian ones were nearly always brass.