What Did These Come Out Of?

[Bowhunter60]

I was hiking out in the desert yesterday and found this bullet in a canyon. As you can see, it's pretty old, so, some of my measurements may be skewed a bit by its age. Here's the measurements I got:

• Weight in grains - 382
• Width (Just above the boattail) - .432
• Length - 1.427

I'm stabbing in the dark, but I'd guess it came out of a .404 or .416 caliber rifle. Without knowing what it was shot into, it would appear its an old solid of some kind. Anyone have any idea or reference that might identify this bullet?

 

[MJE2083]

That's pretty cool. I have no idea. Its interesting how the "tip" is deformed yet rounded.

 

[Lefty315]

Could it be some kind of rivet, maybe from some mining operation?

 

[MThuntr]

Could it be some kind of rivet, maybe from some mining operation?

that's my thought. Possibly something from a smelting pot but definitely looks like a rivet

 

[Walkathon]

Interesting for sure. Is it made of lead, or iron / steel ?

 

[KClark]

Cores from 50 cal AP, but not sure what would cause the tip to melt to the rivet look those have.

 

[Brian in Montana]

I was about to say what some of the others said, that doesn't really look like a bullet to me. But then, I'm just looking at a photo on my cell phone.

 

[Gr8bawana]

I agree that it's not a bullet. I may be wrong but I don't think they make boattail bullets for those long range calibers of .404 or .416

 

[Ben Lamb]

Agree w/rivets. The diameter is off for the .416 or 404 cal rifles. Plus, looks like iron to me, and not copper/ lead core.

 

[KClark]

Those are M33 50 cal steel cores shot into soft steel, copper jackets shattered, tips mushroomed.

Example of unsheathed cores with copper stripped away, M2 AP core on top, M33 core on bottom.

 

[KClark]

Double tap oops.

 

[Ben Lamb]

The diameter is what's throwing me. Is the jacket for a 50 BMG .078 thick and weigh 220 grains? The uniformity of the mushroom as well would indicate a somewhat malleable substance that it went through to get the consistent shape.

 

[KClark]

Some versions of 50 cal ball had a lead sheath between the steel and copper. I found several sources just now that list core weight around 380-390 grains.

 

[tarheel]

The diameter is what's throwing me. Is the jacket for a 50 BMG .078 thick and weigh 220 grains? The uniformity of the mushroom as well would indicate a somewhat malleable substance that it went through to get the consistent shape.

Might not have gone through at all but run into armor at distance and been forged into that shape by the depression it made in the armor. It does have a groove in it like the bottom example. Wonder if there were ever any military maneuvers in the area found.

 

[Bowhunter60]

That's pretty cool. I have no idea. Its interesting how the "tip" is deformed yet rounded.

If it's a bullet, and I believe it is, that's an indication of a well constructed solid.

 

[Bowhunter60]

Could it be some kind of rivet, maybe from some mining operation?

That's a possibility.

 

[Bowhunter60]

Interesting for sure. Is it made of lead, or iron / steel ?

Haven't done any metallurgical tests or cut it. But it doesn't feel like led. I'm thinking its some heavy alloy.

 

[Bowhunter60]

Might not have gone through at all but run into armor at distance and been forged into that shape by the depression it made in the armor. It does have a groove in it like the bottom example. Wonder if there were ever any military maneuvers in the area found.

The area was used by GEN Patton back in the day to get his troops ready for deployment. Whether it's from that, I don't know. The location where I found it, in a shallow cave, was a little curious. I did have the thought that it could be a rivet, but their aren't any mining operations in the area, nor, to the best of my knowledge has there been any in the past.

 

[Lefty315]

Maybe KClark would be willing to send one of the unsheathed cores so you could compare them?

 

[PoWdA]

Very interesting. Rivets or bullets, I am interested to see what those are and if this leads anywhere.