Bullet id help?

[DirtyMike]

Just dug this. Its got a hole in the bottom like some sharps bullets typically have. There is also a slight ring around it and its in the shape of a tear drop sort of. Its to large to be one of those pistol tear drop bullets...

 

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[traderoftreasures]

almost looks like a field tip from a modern arrow

 

[DirtyMike]

almost looks like a field tip from a modern arrow

Its definitely a bullet. Just not sure what type or period...

 

[Tin Nugget]

Try posting it on this site
http://cwbullet.org/bullet-relic-forum/

 

[johnnyi]

Mike, the flared base is probably not part of the bullet's design, but is probably the result of it being shot from a short unrifled barrel. It retained it's general shape (though it's a little shorter and wider at the base) from being fired into something soft enough to cushion the impact, maybe the ground.

 

[vayank54]

Looks like a Starr Carbine

 

[johnnyi]

VaYank, they didn't have the small hole in them did they? I still think for it to mushroom at the base like that it had to be fired from a short unrifled barrel. maybe a round fired from a Le mat?

 

[DirtyMike]

It really don't look fired. And I am pretty sure its not carved on.

 

[johnnyi]

It really don't look fired. And I am pretty sure its not carved on.

Mike I'll see if I can find you some pictures of fired rounds with mushroomed bases.

 

[vayank54]

I'm not sure if any of the starr's had holes or not. I know there are variants and different calibers. Does the hole look like it could have been carved into the bullet? The bullet doesn't look fired or like the sides were carved on.

 

[DirtyMike]

I'm not sure if any of the starr's had holes or not. I know there are variants and different calibers. Does the hole look like it could have been carved into the bullet?

It looks made that way.

 

[vayank54]

It could be a variant. I've dug ringtail sharps and colts that had holes in the bases and I've also dug a few sharps that had a small plug cavity instead of the small cone. I'll look and see if I can find out anything more.

 

[DirtyMike]

It could be a variant. I've dug ringtail sharps and colts that had holes in the bases and I've also dug a few sharps that had a small plug cavity instead of the small cone. I'll look and see if I can find out anything more.

Thanks for all the help. These type of things drive me nuts until I find an answer.

 

[vayank54]

In Mason's & McKee's bullet book number 202 on page 35 it has a.565 Starr Carbine with a hole in the base. Looks just like yours. I learned something this evening

 

[johnnyi]

It really don't look fired. And I am pretty sure its not carved on.

Mike, I can only find pictures of flared bullets that hit people but I'll keep looking because this is interesting. The fact that it doesn't look fired though isn't such a big deal if it was fired from an unrifled short barrel (such as a le Mat for example which had a large caliber and unrifled barrel) . There'd be no rifling and no marks if it had a high trajectory and landed on the ground, or if it hit something soft. Remember, an unrifled short barrel has a very short range also. Anyway, here's one link I found. I don't know if it will be helpful, but if you scroll down you'll see several bullets with the flared base (more dramatically flared, as they were shot from no barrel and derringer barrel, as well as a rifled bullet showing flaring which has maintained it's shape.) (don't forget to scroll) http://books.google.com/books?id=Vb...A#v=onepage&q=bullet with flared base&f=false

 

[johnnyi]

"In Mason's & McKee's bullet book number 202 on page 35 it has a.565 Starr Carbine with a hole in the base. Looks just like yours. I learned something this evening"

Vayank, is it flared like this one

 

[vayank54]

The one in the book has a more distinct ring but I've dug them with the distinct ring and then ones that look more like it's flared. Never one with a hole though

 

[johnnyi]

The one in the book has a more distinct ring but I've dug them with the distinct ring and then ones that look more like it's flared. Never one with a hole though

VaYank, I think you're right. The caliber seems right, and now that I've seen one of these close, I can see how the flare comes pretty near. Really nice i.d.man. I was sure wishing it could have been shot from a La Mat, but a Starr is pretty cool also. Here's a link I found which convinced me that it is a Starr. http://www.packhorsefordrelics.com/1_breech_loading_carbine.htm (man, I could sure could up with a case for a Le Mat though , couldn't I? Should've been a defense lawyer I guess )

 

[vayank54]

The one in the book has a more distinct ring but I've dug them with the distinct ring and then ones that look more like it's flared. Never one with a hole though

VaYank, I think you're right. The caliber seems right, and now that I've seen one of these close, I can see how the flare comes pretty near. Really nice i.d.man. I was sure wishing it could have been shot from a La Mat, but a Starr is pretty cool also. Here's a link I found which convinced me that it is a Starr. http://www.packhorsefordrelics.com/1_breech_loading_carbine.htm (man, I could sure could up with a case for a Le Mat though , couldn't I? Should've been a defense lawyer I guess )

thanks for posting that link. Yeah you had me wondering but I just couldn't believe that bullet was fired. I did learn something though because I never knew that any of the Starrs had a hole in the base. Hmm guess I don't know everything ha ha

 

[TiredIron]

Gents,
I'm enjoying your information on all the CW bullets.... I have cast my own for nearly 40 years and whenever someone has an example with a little hole in the base I reflect on all the ones I've made as my molds are coming up to temperature. Once the lead is flowing in my pot...it takes a dozen or so poured to get the Mold blocks up to temp. The first ones are always shiny and wrinkled and some have a little hole just like the pics. Finally when up to temp...they're the right finish with no holes or voids. The primitive early molds I have seen like used in the CW would have trouble maintaining temperature control and I wonder how many of those little holes are due to that issue?
Thanks and HH

TiredIron