Need Help to identify bullet

[Crayw]

I found this bullet in my pasture this morning. Recent record rainfall has created many new washed out areas. This bullet was sticking out of the side of a wash about an inch down from the surface. There was a fragment of metalic cartridge on the groves of the bullet side that fell away as I picked it up. I live close to the Chatahoochee river a few miles South of Atlanta, GA. There was a lot of skirmishes, etc. in the immediate area during the war. It is very large: approx. 18mm in diameter at the base and approx. 20 mm in length. I think that makes it about a 69 or 70 cal. Can anybody identify it? Thanks ahead of time.

[jimmyk]

Looks like a Burside carbine bullet, to me. Burnsides were .54 cal. Nice job eyeballing it.

jimmyk in MIssouri

[Crayw]

Thanks jimmyk. I was confused by my measurment of the diameter and your post. I was WRONG. When I re-measured (with my kids plastic ruler), it was actually about 14mm in diameter. I had gone to a web site to do the mm to caliber conversion earlier with bad data. So .54 cal is right. I am sorry for my beginner's mistake. Thank you for your expertise. How common are these?

Thanks,
Crayw

[Guthormsen1]

They aren't considered to be rare bullets, although not as common as some. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give a burnside a 3 for rarity. If it also had a complete casing, I'd give it a 5. Sounds like you should get a metal detector out there. Could be some killer relics just waiting for ya.

[longf70]

I agree 100%, definatly a burnside. We find them up here in TN some. Usualy the casing is extinct or so brittle that it falls apart upon contact. And the bullets are ate up becuase of the powder. Looks like you found a pretty good one compared to what I find up here.

Marcus, E TN

[TnCobra]

Funny how the Tn people instantly recognize the Burnside. They make up 1/2 of my bullets.

Thats usually how I find them, with the band on the bullet. Spencers that way too.

[longf70]

Absolutly TnCobra. I've never found a complete Burnside. I have found a few Sepncers complete.

[TnCobra]

Originally Posted by longf70

Absolutly TnCobra. I've never found a complete Burnside. I have found a few Sepncers complete.

About 5 years ago I found 17 complete Henry's in the lake bottom over there. They were all in pretty good shape considering they'd been under water 1/2 the year for the last 60 years.

[longf70]

I found one complete Ballard and 2 complete Spencers about 4 months ago. Suprisingly in good shape. I think being under water for 7-8 months out of the year keeps the oxygen from getting to them and corroding them. Found and eagle staff officers cuff link last week. Of course it fell apart when I started to clean it.