What caliber ball is this ?

[Southwind]

Can you tell me what caliber balls these are I'm finding and probable age? The reason I ask Is I found 45-70's along with these balls and I didn't think they would have been used at the same period.

Thanks

 

[hunter12]

Hi, The top one looks to be a 69 cal for a smooth bore musket. Military stuffs the paper around the ball from the cartridge down the bore to take up the diameter of the bore. Civilian would pillow ticking around bore to take up the slack. #2 looks like a 40 or 42 cal rifle or pistol bullet, Time frame is hard to tell, 69 cal 40 cal 42 cal all were used up to the turn of the century . when cartridge weapons came out , people didn't get rid of there self loaders. I'm no expert but hope this helps.

 

[MarkCZ]

Hi, The top one looks to be a 69 cal for a smooth bore musket. Military stuffs the paper around the ball from the cartridge down the bore to take up the diameter of the bore. Civilian would pillow ticking around bore to take up the slack. #2 looks like a 40 or 42 cal rifle or pistol bullet, Time frame is hard to tell, 69 cal 40 cal 42 cal all were used up to the turn of the century . when cartridge weapons came out , people didn't get rid of there self loaders. I'm no expert but hope this helps.

I think picture # 2 is the same bullet that's in picture # but its being weighed on a set of scales.

But I agree that the round ball probably was for a 69 cal. bore

Mark

 

[Southwind]

Yes the pictures are of the same ball. The bottom picture was to show the 45-70's found with the balls. All the balls are the same caliber and we've found roughly 20 in this small area. I just usually find the balls in the older fort( 1840's) areas and the 45-70's in the newer fort (1870's) areas. Was just unusual from my norm.