who knows their bullets?

[unclemac]

I've found many stray on the beach but nothing this size...can anyone help me out here...seems to be a half inch in diameter, 3 rings but no concave bottom...old? new?....can't determine?

 

[jamesbibb]

most likely a 45-70

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Yep I think James is right. Cool find

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I am 100%-certin that the bullet is not a .45-70 or .45-55 (etc), because it does not match the profile and length of those bullets. Its profile, length, and grooves do match up with an 1866-to-1870s-era .50-45 or .50-70 Government Rifle bullet. That ID would seem to be confirmed by the description from its finder (Unclemac) that it is a half inch in diameter. To see one (which is identified as a .45-50 bullet by a US National Park Service archeologist), go to the following webpage's .pdf document showing bullets & cartridges recovered from the 1876 Custer's Last Stand battlefield. Scroll down to page 46 to see the photos of the .50-45 bullet (and some .45-70 bullets for comparison). http://www.nps.gov/mwac/publications/pdf/tech94b.pdf

 

[Gunrunner61]

CBG, Man that's an amazing site,Thanks for posting the link. And I agree it's a .50 cal ....................HH

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

You're welcome, Gunrunner. I figured some of y'all would feel it is an interesting AND educational archeological report. I found it a few years ago while doing research on post-civil-war bullets. One of the cool things about the Custer Battlefield site is that it has stayed almost completely un-contaminated by post-1876 stuff. As you know, that's a huge problem for us civil war relic diggers. I myself dug an 1870s era fired .45-70 bullet on the Fredericksburg civil war battlefield. So, it is helpful for diggers to know (with certainty) what 1870s-to-1890s bullets look like. The problem is, nearly all the ones you see on the internet have the bullet's lead body mostly hidden by the metal cartridge. So, when I found that National Park Service Custer Battlefield archeological report (with its "naked" bullet photos), it was like finding a different kind of treasure trove.

I recommend y'all bookmark that webpage, and share the link to it with your digging-buddies. Here it is again:
http://www.nps.gov/mwac/publications/pdf/tech94b.pdf

 

[tennessee digger]

Your bullet kind of resembles a Sharps carbine variant, not sure as you would have to have some exact and accurate measurements. Thanks for the link cannonball guy. Tennessee digger

 

[unclemac]

I am 100%-certin that the bullet is not a .45-70 or .45-55 (etc), because it does not match the profile and length of those bullets. Its profile, length, and grooves do match up with an 1866-to-1870s-era .50-45 or .50-70 Government Rifle bullet. That ID would seem to be confirmed by the description from its finder (Unclemac) that it is a half inch in diameter. To see one (which is identified as a .45-50 bullet by a US National Park Service archeologist), go to the following webpage's .pdf document showing bullets & cartridges recovered from the 1876 Custer's Last Stand battlefield. Scroll down to page 46 to see the photos of the .50-45 bullet (and some .45-70 bullets for comparison). http://www.nps.gov/mwac/publications/pdf/tech94b.pdf

appreciate the I.D. and the time you took to look into it for me. I found this in close proximity...do you think any connection?

Custer battlefield is one of the many "must see" places out west. I prefer it to any Yellowstone type experience.

 

[tennessee digger]

That is a buttplate to an old musket (don't know what kind it went on) so yes, your bullet my be related. Tennessee digger

 

[euler1977]

out run my bullet .... Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks [Mark Foster]... god bullets are beautiful