Civil War or Post-War Bullet?

[skb8721]

I found this bullet (see below images) today while metal detecting about 800 feet from the epicenter of an 1863 skirmish that occurred at Nelson's Canal* on the outskirts of New Iberia, Louisiana.

But is it a Civil War bullet or a post-war bullet?

Any thoughts on this artifact would be appreciated!

I can tell you it seems to be .36 caliber, and measures 9/16ths of an inch. Before I dug it up, my metal-detector ID'ed as lead/zinc, but it was a bit unsure, and suggested it might be a bottle top.

Sincerely,

Shane

*"Though some details are missing, it appears that Robinson's "Louisiana" Yankees, together with Colonel Edmund Davis' 1st Texas Cavalry (Union) rode right into the trap. "Colonel Vincent ambuscaded them at Nelson's Bridge," wrote General Mouton that night, "leaving the road full of dead and wounded." Nonetheless it was but a short affair. Within moments the famed 2nd Massachusetts Battery of Light Artillery (Nims' Battery) joined the skirmish, driving off the Rebels with a barrage of screeching Schenkel shells." ~ David C. Edmonds, Yankee Autumn in Acadiana (1979)

 

[skb8721]

For scale. . . .

 

[skb8721]

This is better for scale. . . .

 

[Jobe Holiday]

In my opinion, it appears to be a full copper jacket bullet, which would eliminate any ACW use.
J.

 

[Story]

Weigh it. I'll guess you get a reading of 115 grains.

 

[Noonanda]

Weigh it. I'll guess you get a reading of 115 grains.

maybe a 9mm or even a .30 Carbine (110 Gr then) LOL

 

[UCVRelics]

Post War as stated above it has a copper jacket. McKee & Mason published a great book on Civil War projectiles.

 

[Tin cup]

Post War as stated above it has a copper jacket. McKee & Mason published a great book on Civil War projectiles.
View attachment 130354

I may be in a major minority here, but I'm getting to be of the opinion that a lot of what is listed in that book, is not correct, or even close to being verifiable.

I'm just getting real skeptical on how they list many of those bullets.

Kevin Dally

 

[Patrick H]

maybe a 9mm or even a .30 Carbine (110 Gr then) LOL

Might be a pistol bullet for sure, but I don't believe there's any way that's a .30 carbine bullet. Why? Well...first of all, I think it's about .45-inch in diameter. I think we're probably looking at a 230 grain FMJ .45-caliber ACP.

 

[UCVRelics]

I may be in a major minority here, but I'm getting to be of the opinion that a lot of what is listed in that book, is not correct, or even close to being verifiable.

I'm just getting real skeptical on how they list many of those bullets.

I'm not saying it's the Bible, but you have to remember that back in the day we would dig bullets that we didn't know what they were. These 2 good ole boys did a GREAT job for the times trying to ID over 400 different rounds that were used and dug my folks like myself.

 

[UCVRelics]

Might be a pistol bullet for sure, but I don't believe there's any way that's a .30 carbine bullet. Why? Well...first of all, I think it's about .45-inch in diameter. I think we're probably looking at a 230 grain FMJ .45-caliber ACP.

And last but not least it's a full metal jacket. The CS Ordnance Corp was just starting experiment with this in 1865.

 

[Tin cup]

I'm not saying it's the Bible, but you have to remember that back in the day we would dig bullets that we didn't know what they were. These 2 good ole boys did a GREAT job for the times trying to ID over 400 different rounds that were used and dug my folks like myself.

I'm just not convinced they did a "Great job" of it.

Kevin Dally

 

[UCVRelics]

For the times is was a GREAT job, just remember back then there were, NO remote controls ( if fact there were my Dad "Go change that channel and there were only 3), calculators, cell phones and all the others research we have now,

 

[DixieRifles]

I may be in a major minority here

I... uh.... hmmm.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

When critiquing what Mason & McKee published so many years ago, you have to keep it in the context of the time when it was published. It was a ground breaking work in its day! With the added resources available today, all it will take is someone with the personal dedication to research, time, and money for publishing, to improve upon what they gave us so long ago.
J.

 

[Tin cup]

When critiquing what Mason & McKee published so many years ago, you have to keep it in the context of the time when it was published. It was a ground breaking work in its day! With the added resources available today, all it will take is someone with the personal dedication to research, time, and money for publishing, to improve upon what they gave us so long ago.
J.

I think that Dean S. Thomas Publications has gone a long way to do just that.

Kevin Dally

 

[Noonanda]

Might be a pistol bullet for sure, but I don't believe there's any way that's a .30 carbine bullet. Why? Well...first of all, I think it's about .45-inch in diameter. I think we're probably looking at a 230 grain FMJ .45-caliber ACP.

compared to the quarter it looks too small to be .45 acp

 

[Patrick H]

compared to the quarter it looks too small to be .45 acp

Nope. I think that's what we've got. Here's a .45-cal ACP (unfired) which I just photographed next to a quarter for comparison. Note the bullet diameter is just a bit bigger than the base of Washington's neck. Look at the side of the brass case and you'll see a faint impression of the bullet base--approximately as long as the total height of Washington's head and neck on the coin. Compare with the OP image. I think our OP has found a 230 grain FMJ (copper jacketed) .45 ACP.

 

[gary]

Got a micrometer? What diameter is it? Can you weigh it? How many grains?

 

[Patrick H]

Got a micrometer? What diameter is it? Can you weigh it? How many grains?

I hope our OP follows your suggestion. I'm satisfied it's a relatively modern bullet, but I'm just speculating about weight and caliber.