the bullet has the distinct 3 ring gas check rings of the blackpowder era type of bullets used in the civil war era --this was the type of bullets used in the muzzleloader type guns ( non cartridge weapons)...the size and lack of a hollow base however is more typical of modern black powder 50 caliber lead hunting bullet used in more modern "hunting" muzzleloaders ---most civil war blackpowder rifles were 58 or 69 caliber -- however in some cases the southerners used whatever guns they could get their hands on..thus a 50 caliber "hunting rifle" from the civil war is not out of the question --if used by a southerner