Old bullet ID

BlueHuntsCoins · Sep 22, 2020

Hi everyone!

Had a really quick hunt at an old park with civil war activity here in Chicago and found this. I'm not familiar with bullets but would anyone know if this is civil war and what type of bullet this is? It's small so probably from a pistol (?). Thanks!

VA-REB · Sep 22, 2020

Could some better pictures. First impression is that it is not civil war. Seems to be some vertical crimp marks or something....

BlueHuntsCoins · Sep 22, 2020

Added more photos. Thanks!

BlueHuntsCoins · Sep 22, 2020

VA-REB said:
Could some better pictures. First impression is that it is not civil war. Seems to be some vertical crimp marks or something....

Just added more photos. You're probably right, it might not be that old but perhaps still relatively old? Any idea on the type of gun or bullet? Trying to dig around for more info at the moment.

Thanks!

SilverSlayer98 · Sep 22, 2020

Wow not sure on age but that white patina makes me think old. The style however screams more modern to me so if I had to guess it's somewhere in between. I know not super helpful but thought it was better than nothing [emoji23]

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BlueHuntsCoins · Sep 22, 2020

Adding another picture with measurements.

BlueHuntsCoins · Sep 22, 2020

SilverSlayer98 said:
Wow not sure on age but that white patina makes me think old. The style however screams more modern to me so if I had to guess it's somewhere in between. I know not super helpful but thought it was better than nothing [emoji23]

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Yeah, that's throwing me off. Can't find anything similar but it does scream old based on the patina.

!

SilverSlayer98 · Sep 22, 2020

BlueHuntsCoins said:
Adding another picture with measurements.

I believe it's a 38 special possibly

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waltr · Sep 23, 2020

SilverSlayer98 said:
I believe it's a 38 special possibly

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Yes, also thinking .38 special so semi-modern to modern.

BlueHuntsCoins · Sep 23, 2020

Thanks, everyone! I'm doing more research now that I have a few leads. Quick question though, do 38 specials have this same 2 rings? I can't seem to compare this with ones I've found, old and new. Thanks!

JohnH · Sep 23, 2020

38's can have one two or even three groves. They are for lube. usually some form of beeswax mixed with other stuff and other types of lube. Many types out there. It for sure has been in the ground for some time with that oxidation on it. But it looks more modern as the nose is what's called a round nose flat point. I am no expert but I believe the CW bullets were all pointed. I've cast 1000's of them, the modern shaped ones.

What's interesting is the diameter. 38's are cast at about 0.357-0.359 so I suspect the oxidation is adding a bit to that diameter.

bunkeru2k · Sep 29, 2020

So there would be multiple things it could be.

1) A cast round from someone who had a very worn or out of spec barrel in the earlier days of .38 like from a .38 Long Colt.

2) A very lightweight cast round from a 38-55 rifle (which I think is unlikely)

3) My actual guess is it is a .380 Rook. British round and if you weigh it, should most likely be pretty close to 124 grains.

BlueHuntsCoins · Oct 1, 2020

bunkeru2k said:
So there would be multiple things it could be.

1) A cast round from someone who had a very worn or out of spec barrel in the earlier days of .38 like from a .38 Long Colt.

2) A very lightweight cast round from a 38-55 rifle (which I think is unlikely)

3) My actual guess is it is a .380 Rook. British round and if you weigh it, should most likely be pretty close to 124 grains.

Thanks for the info! I'll weigh it tom and let you know.

dickyoung · Dec 4, 2020

Unless it was a cast bullet from a reloaders mold it may not be a .38 Special as I don,t recall ever seeing one with the flat nose.Not sure what but I kind of lean to the .380 Rook theory.

Old bullet ID

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