✅ SOLVED Old bullet found foot down. What is it?

[That1Guy616]

I found this bullet today about a foot down and just wondering if anyone has any ideas what it might be thanks.

 

[duggap]

It's either a modern wad cutter or possible a military 45-70.

 

[BosnMate]

Just off hand it looks like a fired 45-70 bullet, but to be sure we need measurements in the 1/1000's of an inch, like .458, and also if possible the
weight in grains. Welcome to T Net. Where are you located? I'm asking because it's an historic bullet most commonly used in the west. The 45-70
cartridge was used mostly during the Indian Wars of the 1870's, but it's still in use today by folks that shoot the old trap door rifles and carbines. There
are other bullets that are very close to the .45, like the .44, which is why an exact measurement is required for definite ID.

 

[That1Guy616]

Thanks guys for the info I live in Michigan, and I'm don't have the right tools to get exact measurements but it's about 1 inch tall and 7/16 around I think comes to .0625. Thanks for the welcome I just started hunting this year and I'm sure this will not be my last post. I will make sure I put solved if this is enough info. Have a good night.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Doing the math... 7/16th-inch equals .4375-inch. So, your bullet is probably a .45-70 "Government" Springfield Rifle bullet. That rifle was in US Army service from 1873 through the Spanish-American War (in 1898), and was retained a bit afterward for training new recruits. Also, tens-of-thousands were sold to civilians as "war surplus" and used for hunting. The photo below shows two length-variations of .45-70 bullets, both of which are fired, dug at the Fort Custer (Montana) 1880s/90s target-practice range.

 

[That1Guy616]

I just want to thank everyone for the info and I marked as solved. Have a good night.