Bullet find and ID help

neodetectorist · Oct 29, 2018

I found this bullet today and without the proper tool to measure to give specifications, can anyone ID the age and type?
It is as white as chalk so I assume it has some age to it.
I assume the hash marks on it means it was set in a cartridge.

ToddsPoint · Oct 30, 2018

I don't think bullets had a cannelure (the dotted ring) until after the civil war. Gary

Davers · Oct 30, 2018

IMO
It's Old late 1800's -1960 , my hunch tells me 1930 ish.

I like to keep old 'Good condition ' bullets like yours .

I like the way it's kinda 'off-set'.

p.s. It was in a metallic case at some point . 38 cal

Carolina Tom · Oct 30, 2018

ToddsPoint said:
I don't think bullets had a cannelure (the dotted ring) until after the civil war. Gary

Cannelures appeared around 1880, so your bullet was made after that. As white as it is, it is certainly 100 years old.

Good show!

Hawks88 · Oct 30, 2018

Nice find. Congrats

diggerdeeper · Oct 30, 2018

Hi there,
I can tell from your bullet, that it is an "outside" lubricated type .That cannelure or groove with the serrations held the lubricant, which was probably a beeswax and tallow mix.
The smooth portion below it would have been crimped into the brass or copper shell to hold it in place. This is pretty much how modern day .22 bullets are designed.
But since yours is much larger, I'm thinking .38 or possibly .44 , it could have came from any one of a dozen or so different different cartridges popular from the 1870's to the early 20th century.
I.E. .38 short, long, or extra long . Ditto for .44.