Another interesting bullet--HELP!

H

High Plains Digger

Established Users
MVC-081S.JPGThis bullet measures out to be a thin hair over .54, and is sitting next to a Sharps .54 for a comparison. There are 7 large marks that I suspect are rifleing marks, but I do not know that for sure. The base is solid, and that is what really is throwing me off. Were rifeling grooves ever that large, even in a rifled musket? They seem to be overkill at best. I could sure use some enlightenment. Thanks.
 
It looks to me that there are faint remains of rings. My best guess would be that it was fired in a .56 Colt revolving rifle The Colt rifles had 7 groove rifling.
 
Yes, there is one little patch that has very indestinc rings. I will try to post another photo. And what is 2/100th of an inch amongst friends? Were the rifling grooves in the Colt wide bands as compared to thin lines normally seen? I will have to do a little more research into the Colt. Is it relatively uncommon? And does the solid bottom match the Colt .56? Thanks for the info and the lead--I will look into it more. I will try a little more measuring.

It is interesting that some of the 3 ringers I found in the same area had very distinct and "deep" rifling lines compared to most others. I assume that it came from a new gun. I assume also that this is not an uncommon occurance. I haven't found enough bullets to know this for sure, and my reading is lacking at the moment.
 
The depth of rifling varied with the type of arm. For example, the US M1841 Mississippi Rifle had distinct 7 groove rifling and bullets fired from them have a 7-sided look. The rifling in the rifle muskets like the US M1861 Springfield was shallower. Fouling of the barrel would also make the rifling marks on the fired bullets less distinct.
The bullet for the Colt revolving rifle had a solid base. I would suggest maybe getting a copy of A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges by Dean and Jim Thomas as a reference for the bullets. It is only about $9.95 and is the best source for bullet identification. You might see if any local libraries have Reilly's United States Military Small Arms 1816 - 1865 for information on the Colt's.
 
Been there and done that with the Thomas Bros. And I have a M&M, but sometimes it doesn't all come together. And sometimes the lines get blurred, so to speak. That is why, with good photos, help is good on the forum.
 
Photo on a different angle

Here is another shot, including all of the horizontal rings on the bullet. Not much, is it No traces anywhere else. Still think it is a .56 Colt revolving rifle?

MVC-098S.JPG
 
I have taken my new bullets to my detector store, and the guy there (being quite knowledgeable) immediately identified it as a colt. Trust is good, but I verified. Then I actually discovered there were as many as 1300 colt revolv. rifles in No. Ga at the time. Now I have to try and find out from the local guys how many bullets for these have been found. Thanks for the info.
 
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