Round ball

[Barrydang]

So I’ve found several of these they measure .36 to .37 so it has been a question if they are buckshot or small caliber round balls. I consider them 1800s I have one that’s been cut in half. Today I found that clearly shows where the sprue was so I assume that would make it hand poured into a mold. I’m no expert on the subject. Also there are marks all the way around took best pictures I could trying to show those marks would that be rifling from being fired?

 

[smallfoot]

IMO, that's an individually poured round ball. Shot would normally be formed by dropping from a shot tower and don't have a sprue.

 

[l.cutler]

It would be easier to say if I could see the entire ball, but that does appear to be rifling marks.

 

[Tnmountains]

Look up buck and ball. The Confederates used a round ball and 3 buck shot in their smooth bore muskets for close contact. They seem to always have a distinct sprue on them and you often find them as drops.

 

[against the wind]

Congrats,

 

[No gold in NY]

Hey guys, enlighten me. I am not a gun person, but I was under the impression that a musket didn't have any rifling.

 

[TimberCrack]

If you are finding quite a few like that...they were likely shot in a Navy .36 Colt pistol...here's a pic of one I found metal detecting 40 years ago...

 

[Barrydang]

It would be easier to say if I could see the entire ball, but that does appear to be rifling marks.

It has marks like that all the way around but i will try to get more pictures later

 

[l.cutler]

Hey guys, enlighten me. I am not a gun person, but I was under the impression that a musket didn't have any rifling.

You are correct, muskets were smoothbore, this one showing rifling is either a rifle or pistol ball. Although to complicate things there were rifle muskets and rifled muskets during the Civil War that fired minie balls.

 

[l.cutler]

It has marks like that all the way around but i will try to get more pictures later

Also, if there is a loading plunger mark it was most likely fired from a revolver.

 

[Barrydang]

Here’s pictures all the way around and picture of the bottom opposite end of the sprue

 

[Barrydang]

Here’s all I have found in the same general area.

 

[devldog]

You are correct, muskets were smoothbore, this one showing rifling is either a rifle or pistol ball. Although to complicate things there were rifle muskets and rifled muskets during the Civil War that fired minie balls.

It was the rifled muskets that were the cause of massive Infantry soldiers being killed and wounded when their lines would come in and close in on one another. When the War first kicked off most muskets were smooth bore. This meant that in order for the Infantry to be effective they would have to come in close for the rifles to be effective and find their mark. Suddenly the rifled muskets were introduced and the results were both amazing and Deadly. The Infantrymen on either side suddenly went from being effective from 200 to 300 yards with their muskets to up to 500 yards with their rifled muskets. The results were horrifying. This is what was meant as saying that the advance in weaponry far advanced the tactics being used. Both armies were trained in Napolianic warfare when smooth bore muskets were used. Now they had the rifled muskets with the same outdated tactics. The results were Tragic.

 

[devldog]

Nice saves.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Cool relic, congrats!

 

[l.cutler]

That was fired from a revolver. Either like the one TimberCrack posted or some other .36 caliber. Your top right picture shows the loading plunger mark. Also the rifling is really pressed into the ball, generally rifles and single shot pistols were fired with a patch around the ball and the rifling would not be so sharp.

 

[A2coins]

Wow those are some cool relics and great info to boot

 

[nsdq]

Cool find , could be from a. 36 Cal squrriel rifle

 

[nsdq]

I have a 36 Cal and the balls do show rifling marks after being fired , I use a patch and it marks the lead,

That was fired from a revolver. Either like the one TimberCrack posted or some other .36 caliber. Your top right picture shows the loading plunger mark. Also the rifling is really pressed into the ball, generally rifles and single shot pistols were fired with a patch around the ball and the rifling would not be so sharp.

 

[l.cutler]

I have a 36 Cal and the balls do show rifling marks after being fired , I use a patch and it marks the lead,

Yes it does mark the lead, but not the sharp cuts as seen on this ball. On this ball you can see the flat area around the center of the ball where the lead was sheared as it was pressed into the cylinder. You can also see the plunger mark cut deeply into the ball as it was pressed into the cylinder. No ramrod on a rifle will cut in a mark like this.