Bullet with washer on "nose"

[Baxter]

In about 1970, a USAF compatriot of mine gave me a small collection of ACW bullets from his farm in VA. One of them appears to be about .54-56 cal, two definite, possibly a third top grease-grooves, and has what appears to be a solid washer-on-post protruding from the nose of the short bullet. It has a small cavity in the base, perhaps about .22" dia. and about .25" deep. "Gary" said that this is the only one like it he'd ever found on the farm and had never seen another like it. Nor have I. Anyone have knowledge or a reasoned guess? A "bore-cleaning" round? TIA.

 

[azmntman]

hotoSmile:

 

[BrownBear]

Dealing with aging brain cells here. I recall something about bullets cast with zinc "washers" in them for whatever reason. But I don't recall if that was from my early reloading days in the 1950's and 1960's or something from history.

 

[mooman76]

I heard of the ones with zinc washers also but those are still being used but not current production. They also had the sink washers on the base if I remember right. Not sure of the purpose though unless they acted like a gas check.

 

[George]

Dealing with aging brain cells here. I recall something about bullets cast with zinc "washers" in them for whatever reason.

I collected this picture of what as said to be a 'cleaning round' issued for rifled muskets in the civil war. Brain cells, as BB said, but were they Williams Patent?



Spence

 

[Baxter]

I'll ask my daughter to photograph the bullet and help me post the photo. For some reason, I have been of the impression that this round was intended for bore cleaning.

 

[Grumpa]

Minie's original design incorporated an iron plug in the hollow base of his bullet, to aid in expanding the base to fit the rifling. In practice, this was found unnecessary.

I believe the base plug incorporating the zinc washer was used to clean the bore during sustained firing.

Richard/Grumpa

 

[BrownBear]

... Williams Patent?

Here is a writeup on the "Williams Cleaner Bullet. Appears lots more common in the Civil War than I realized.

Here is another interesting read.

 

[Grumpa]

Thanks. Interesting indeed.

 

[larry wv]

Thanks BB.

Larry

 

[Baxter]

Will try posting bullet pictures: