Massive port Hudson bullet?

[Tigerdude]

Found this big boy at Port Hudson. Weighs 1.45 oz ( the standard .58 next to it weighs 1.11oz). The head is not uniform. .58 one way,.69 the other. Weird perforation at bottom where it’s mashed in. Any ideas?

 

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[d2]

Looks like someone made a fishing sinker out of, perchance, a .69 Mangeot? We find them up here in Arkansas and some places in NW LA, but don't know about Port Hudson, but it does look like a fishing sinker...d2

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

As the bullet's finder noted, its weight of 1.45 oz./634 grains is too much for a .58 minie-bullet. Speaking as an oldtimer Port Hudson digger, the very rounded shape of the bullet's nose strongly suggests it is a .69 Tower Enfield minie... and what looks like a bit of carving on one side suggests that is how it lost some of a .69 Tower's original weight (758 grains). Adding to that ID theory... Port Hudson LA is the number-one source of excavated civil war .69 Tower Enfield minies.

Sidenote:
A .69 French triangle-base minie also has the very-rounded nose, and is very commonly found at Port Hudson -- but the .69 French's weight (516 grains for large triangle, and 581 grains for small triangle) is a good bit less than your bullet's weight.

 

[Tigerdude]

Good info as always, Canonball.

 

[BuckleBoy]

I’ve dug many bullets turned into sinkers in the same exact manner down here in Louisiana.