Help Identifying Bullet

[Relic]

While cleaning out the trash side of my finds bag, I pulled out a lump of melted slag, or so I thought. A closer look showed a hollow in it and washing it off revealed a dropped 3-ring bullet. I about swallowed my Copenhagen! I've seen these in CW videos on YouTube and in posts here, but I never expected to find one coinshooting in southeastern Wisconsin. I looked in the skirt and found no stamping. The best estimate I can make after measuring it is that it's 56 caliber. Now I have some of questions:

When were these bullets and the firearms that used them introduced?

Since there was no Civil War action in Wisconsin, I assume these weapons were brought back and used for hunting after the war?

What are good references for research?

Thanks for your help,

Relic

 

[ConfCav]

Looks like a .58 cal Minie' to me. Several manufacturers made rifles to accomodate this type of bullet; too many to list here but google can help with that.

It was introduced prior to the CW and increased range and accuracy tremendously over smoothbore firearms that fired a round ball. Most certainly some were used for hunting after the war, but is it possible you could be in a Wisconsin Militia troop training area prior to and/or during the CW before deployment? I would research the history of the site you were in and see what that may bring ya. Could be some other CW relics in there, as well as period coins.

 

[cw_relic_hunter]

It looks like a .58 Georgia Teat Bullet it was shot from a rifled musket during the war, it was common for soldiers to take the weapons they used during war back home with them, so there is no telling. Could I get a pic of the cavity, what left any way.

Cw

 

[Relic]

This is the cavity about as good as I can get it, CW. The cavity is conical, coming to a point at the bottom. I don't see any evidence of a "teat" in it. The nose of the bullet is blunt. Hope that helps.

Thanks,
Relic

 

[cw_relic_hunter]

The teat was just the name of the bullet here is a pic, notice the way the rings on this droped bullet look compared to yours how they "slant" Its the pic on the right

 

[Relic]

I see the similiarity. The cavity matches and the "slant" or "flair" toward the top of the rings is there, though not as pronounced as your example. Do you think we have a positive identification?

Relic

 

[Nemo]

You probably have a good ID. the little ring at the nose is probably a ramrod impression and the ramrod would have blunted the nose a little. If you have a caliper measure the ring diameter and I'll try to come up with a weapon.

Nemo

 

[Relic]

The diameter at the top ring, the only on that's undistorted, is .590"

Thanks,
Relic

 

[Relic]

n/t

 

[Nemo]

Measure with calipers at point indicated. This might be impression of ramrod.

Nemo

 

[Relic]

n/t

 

[Nemo]

Best I can tell this looks like it was fired from M1855 Rifle Musket or Rifle and .58 Caliber. One last check see if there are 3 rifling lands and grooves down side of bullet this will probably confirm.

Hope this helps
Dave Poche

 

[Relic]

I don't see any evidence of rifling which is what lead me to believe it was a drop. The only vertical marks are the fine line you can see in the photo, going along the length and another line like it on the opposing side that I attributed to the mold.

It helps a lot and I really appreciate your taking the time to look at it for me. Thanks, Dave!

Steve

 

[cw_relic_hunter]

Its not a drop it may have been ramed in the barrell on top of another bullet and they were both fired at the same time

 

[Relic]

Lacking experience, what are the characteristics of a drop, as opposed to the one I found? Typically, how prominent are the rifling marks on a fired bullet?

Thanks,
Relic