.54 Rimfire anyone?

[Orion42]

Me and my detecting buddy hit an untouched homestead site this morning and I came across a .54 cal. rimfire case. Having a hard time finding any solid info on it. Does anyone have any information? It's .540 ID and .903 overall length. I found a few references to a civil war round. Thanks.

John

 

[Alan Applegate]

When in doubt, here's the book of books! http://www.amazon.com/Cartridges-World-11th-Frank-Barnes/dp/0896892972

I grew up in a sporting goods store in Kansas City, MO. Up until a couple of years ago, I was doing much more reloading, varmint hunting, and plinking as I was detecting. Although I never collected old ammo, I know a lot of folks who do. A .54 cal. rim fire is a rare cartridge, but really not worth very much. Perhaps a buck or two to a real collector, based on the condition. Since it is at least 90 years old, that's all it is good for. However..... The one thing to remember about old cartridges, you cannot rely on them being 100% inert. While they might not have the power they once did, they can still maim! So treat them with the same respect they used to have, when they were loaded into a firearm pointed at you!

Alan Applegate

 

[Orion42]

Thanks Alan. It's just the empty case but in good condition. One for the artifact shelf I guess.

John

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah the older the more unstable - like dynamite.

Bill

 

[Ed in SoDak]

I found what seemed to be .50 cal rimfire casing near here at a site that dates to around 1880-1890. It was a common round for a rolling block pistol and was made for many years. Might be yours was fired from a similar weapon?

-Ed