Brown Bess (Long Land Pattern Musket - various versions 1722 to 1860) had a 0.75" bore and used 0.69" balls in paper rolled cartridges. They were more interested in continued fast & easy loading in a fouled bore than accuracy. Both sides used them in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812; thought by the latter most American troopss were using 0.65" balls in 0.690" bore Committee of Safety Muskets.
The 0.50" ball could be for a .52 caliber rifle. Or, more likely, it's a deformed 0.53" for a .54 caliber rifle (popular in the early US and Colonies,- I still hunt with one)
. I found these on a river bank in Kent county md a spot with a lot of history dating way way back probably from 1600 to George Washington visited to the war of 1812 British attack. These are the first bullets I’ve found metal detecting. I’m super excited. If any body knows what they are please tell
