Metal Detecting

Good day all

Please can you help identify these? they are, 0.56in &0.54in dia. Length is 0.82in & 0.81in respectively. Both have five rifle/pistol barreling marks.

I think they are both Minie balls. They larger one might be .577 calibre and could have come from an Enfield rifle made in the 1860's . I am no expert so wait and see what other forum members with more knowledge say !!

You sure there lead. Could be full metal jackets. Just a guess

Not sure if minie balls have grooves at the base of the round? They could be Martini Henry rifle rounds.

hotmill wrote:Not sure if minie balls have grooves at the base of the round? They could be Martini Henry rifle rounds.

They are for the enfield rifle,.577 caliber.reason they have no grooves is because they are early.
"prichards" I believe designed them.they are of lesser caliber than .577 to allow them to be pushed down the barrel with the ramrod.the hollow base expanded on fireing.engaging the rifling.
the latter minnie "ball"/Bullets were grooved to allow tallow to lubricate the barrel clear the black powder fowling.etc.the hollow was also fitted with a "plug" to aide the expansion of the bullet iinto the rifling.These were made into paper cartridges,ie roll of cartridge paper,bullet in one end powder in tube.you had to bite the bullet,pour powder down barrel,then place paper patched bullet in barrel and ram home.In the indian mutiny the enemy told the sepoy soldiers the cartridges were lubricated with beef fat,to stop them putting them in their mouths.etc.
The martin henry used a .450 calliber bullet,

midas wrote:

hotmill wrote:Not sure if minie balls have grooves at the base of the round? They could be Martini Henry rifle rounds.

They are for the enfield rifle,.577 caliber.reason they have no grooves is because they are early.
"prichards" I believe designed them.they are of lesser caliber than .577 to allow them to be pushed down the barrel with the ramrod.the hollow base expanded on fireing.engaging the rifling.
the latter minnie "ball"/Bullets were grooved to allow tallow to lubricate the barrel clear the black powder fowling.etc.the hollow was also fitted with a "plug" to aide the expansion of the bullet iinto the rifling.These were made into paper cartridges,ie roll of cartridge paper,bullet in one end powder in tube.you had to bite the bullet,pour powder down barrel,then place paper patched bullet in barrel and ram home.In the indian mutiny the enemy told the sepoy soldiers the cartridges were lubricated with beef fat,to stop them putting them in their mouths.etc.
The martin henry used a .450 calliber bullet,

Many thanks for such a thorough reply, I really appreciate this very much, thank you

Thank you to everyone for all your advice and a real history lesson for me.

I really appreciate all the help and advice!

Many thanks