✅ SOLVED Musket Ball ?

[Dismal Swampy]

Found about 6" down in woods
I know the area was part of a land grant given in 1788 to a revolutionary war veteran ( Wake County NC )

 

[Chilli]

Found about 6" down in woods
I know the area was part of a land grant given in 1788 to a revolutionary war veteran ( Wake County NC )View attachment 2183472

Looks like one. Im not in the US but musket balls are common here from the goldrush days. Is that a flat area I see where I hit something maybe when fired!?

 

[AstralDruid]

Yep..... that it is.....what it is !!

 

[Dismal Swampy]

Yep..... that it is.....what it is !!

It looks like it's been in the ground a while. Could it be early 1800s?

 

[pepperj]

It looks like it's been in the ground a while. Could it be early 1800s?

The whiter the lead becomes the longer its been in the ground.
I use this 12 lb quart for a bookend.
A few regular leads fell in, stayed in.

 

[Dismal Swampy]

WOW !!
You are my hero sir🥇

 

[Almy]

Balls for muskets are larger than yours. .40" probably would be for a "squirrel rifle", a small caliber muzzle loading rifle used for small game.

 

[pepperj]

Balls for muskets are larger than yours. .40" probably would be for a "squirrel rifle", a small caliber muzzle loading rifle used for small game.

 

[pepperj]

It looks like it's been in the ground a while. Could it be early 1800s?

Just grabbed a few out of the cabinet.
Showing the whiteness on the balls.
Also there's 3 that still have the casting spur attached.

The smallest cal.

The biggest one. Certainly a game stopper.

 

[Gare]

Not saying it is but no one mentions maybe some type of Buck Shot ?

 

[Almy]

It's a bit bigger than the largest standard buckshot. And as PepperJ shows, it is smaller than usual muzzleloader rifle calibers. That's why I suggested the "squirrel rifle".

 

[Gare]

WHat about early fishing sinkers before split shot came into being ?