✅ SOLVED One last rainy day bullet I need an ID on please.

[creskol]

This one looks like it has four distinct rings, and the cavity is just as you see it .. what you are seeing in the cavity is lead, not dirt, with a small hole in the center. Could be a casting flaw. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[HammerHead]

I am not sure on this one, its a great bullet good find, but from a few books and a look online I can only really see one with the 4 rings and its a civil war ringtail bullet, you can look it up and if its not that maybe it can lead you to what it is, but that is all I can see on it. I hope it helps.

 

[vpnavy]

Hey, nice find creskol.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

No offense intended, but in bullet-ID terminology, those aren't rings, they are grooves. (A "ring" on a bullet's body is a raised ridge or band.)

In my opinion, the lower one appears to be a "crimping" groove, where the lip of a metallic cartridge gripped the bullet. So, despite the unusual cavity in its base, I believe you've got a metallic-cartridge bullet.

In the photos, your Caliper shows the bullet's diamter as being .657 -- an extremely unusual size. It doesn't match up with any known caliber of bullet. But your other photos seem to show some irregular-shaped "swelling" above the bullet's base. Please re-measure your bullet's diameter just slightly above the swelling.

Then, post your photos & info in the Bullets category at the following link. The Civil War Projectiles forum at bulletandshell.com is the best place on the internet for identification of civil war era (and "slightly" post-civil-war) bullets. Civil War Projectiles Forum - Index

 

[creskol]

No offense intended, but in bullet-ID terminology, those aren't rings, they are grooves. (A "ring" on a bullet's body is a raised ridge or band.)

In my opinion, the lower one appears to be a "crimping" groove, where the lip of a metallic cartridge gripped the bullet. So, despite the unusual cavity in its base, I believe you've got a metallic-cartridge bullet.

In the photos, your Caliper shows the bullet's diamter as being .657 -- an extremely unusual size. It doesn't match up with any known caliber of bullet. But your other photos seem to show some irregular-shaped "swelling" above the bullet's base. Please re-measure your bullet's diameter just slightly above the swelling.

Then, post your photos & info in the Bullets category at the following link. The Civil War Projectiles forum at bulletandshell.com is the best place on the internet for identification of civil war era (and "slightly" post-civil-war) bullets. Civil War Projectiles Forum - Index

No offense taken, Pete .. I was speaking generically when I said 4 rings .. as in the common reference to a 3-ringer .. or is that a 3-groover? Anyway, I will get some more photos and measurements and get them posted in a little while. It will be here, though, because I can't ever seem to access the Civil War Projectiles Forum .. I must have "Projectile Dysfunction." I asked "Jine" this morning to post the originals there, as I know he visits often, but I don't think he has had a chance to do so quite yet.

 

[lordmarcovan]

Nice find. Minie style, obviously, but I'm not up to speed enough on the varieties to be able to help.

 

[creskol]

The bullet itself is sorta distorted, so it's hard to get totally accurate measurements...but here are some updated photos.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

was it found in a CW or other war camp or battlefield? or around a old civilian house site?

 

[CRUSADER]

I have tons of 4 ringers, found with the normal 3 ringers on an 19th C range.

This was a quote from an expert when I was IDing mine:

'The grooved bullets are for the Snider, although some grooved bullets were tested in the muzzle loading Enfields.'

Mine are the same Cal but slightly taller than the 3 ringer. Both the 3 & 4 have red clay bases.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

When I first read this discussion, I immediately thought of a Snider-Enfield, because it's one of the very few "large caliber" 4-groove bullets. But the Snider is .577 caliber, and Creskol's bullet's diameter is significantly bigger than that.

 

[CRUSADER]

When I first read this discussion, I immediately thought of a Snider-Enfield, because it's one of the very few "large caliber" 4-groove bullets. But the Snider is .577 caliber, and Creskol's bullet's diameter is significantly bigger than that.

I think its because its fired & the base mushrooms out. I have just measure a couple of my best shaped ones at .582 & a slightly odd one at .601, so I think its in the right range. Otherwise what is it?

 

[creskol]

I am going to mark this solved, and toss this back into the bucket as an unknown. Thanks for the replies.