Help Indentifying Old Bullets

[toolbelt_woman]

I acquired these from an elderly man's estate back in the late 1980s; he claimed that when he was young, he had found a cache of them metal detecting a Southern Civil War battlefield. I don't remember what state it was, or which battlefield.

They are iron or steel, a magnet sticks to them. They are 1" long, not including the nipple on  the bottom, and about 1/2" or 13mm across. Weight is 17 grams.

I know absolutely nothing about ammo, and haven't been able to find anything similar in online searches. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[maxine*j]

I don't much either, and I'm trying to remember some of the stuff my late brothers had.  What you have like what they called "ringtails," but bullets in the Civil War era were made of lead, rather soft lead at that.  When you dig them up now, they often have a wonderful white patina, like many of these:

https://www.google.com/search?q=civil+war+ringtail+bullets&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjh--...

and these:

https://www.detecting.us/civil-war-related-pages-guides-history-references/civilwarbullets/

So I don't know what you have, because I'm reasonably certain there were no iron / steel bullets.

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[krazzykats]

54 caliber merrill carbine three ring minie ball bullet

[krazzykats]

A three ring Minié ball, as invented by Claude-Etienne Minié

[wastingtime101]

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@maxine*j wrote:

https://www.detecting.us/civil-war-related-pages-guides-history-references/civilwarbullets/

So I don't know what you have, because I'm reasonably certain there were no iron / steel bullets.

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Indeed, I'd do more research because that reference linked above shows the bottom of the Civil War bullets were usually concave which doesn't match what the OP has.

[wastingtime101]

You might find this forum to be a good reference @toolbelt_woman :

https://civilwartalk.com/forums/small-arms-ammunition.93/

[maxine*j]

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@krazzykats wrote:

54 caliber merrill carbine three ring minie ball bullet

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But that is lead, not steel or iron.

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[krazzykats]

Everything I read says lead was used in the civil war ammunition.   Sometimes they added a little something else to the metal mix.

Civil War Relic Hunting for Bullets | MetalDetector.com

There are also modern reproductions done with other metals.  

"There are also records saying that Confederate states troops used iron instead of lead in their bullets. One theory is Confederate troops did this because they had many melted-down church bells and other church artifacts they could use for ammunition. Another is that they wanted to make their fights unfair by using nonstandard materials against their enemies."

[krazzykats]

The Minie Ball

• Civil War Bullet Materials Civil War bullets were made out of soft lead and were not designed to go through a person's body. ...

[toolbelt_woman]

Yes, it's them being made of iron which really has me stumped, because all of the Civil War bullets I've seen are the lead ones with the white patina. The little bump on the bottom is unique too, not quite like a bore cleaner round.

[toolbelt_woman]

Thank you, I will check it out!

[toolbelt_woman]

Great link and article! Wow, it may be that these are some of those made from other materials. I don't think they are reproductions; I knew the man I got them from pretty well and he wasn't the type to pull my leg. He had a big can full of them for 25 cents each and I got a handful.

[maxine*j]

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@toolbelt_woman wrote:

Great link and article! Wow, it may be that these are some of those made from other materials. I don't think they are reproductions; I knew the man I got them from pretty well and he wasn't the type to pull my leg. He had a big can full of them for 25 cents each and I got a handful.

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Yes, Krazzykats'  link was interesting.  I'm still doubtful, based on the overall look and the fact that the

these appear to be solid steel/iron and have the button bottom -- but as I said, I don't know much beyond having seen my late brothers' collections.

If you learn what they are at Wastingtime's' link, please come back to share it with us and with people who might find the thread later.

Hope you get 'em ID'ed!

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[toolbelt_woman]

Thanks, will get back if I find out anything definitive!