It is very hard to know with those. Many people cast their of bullets for modern muzzleloading. They could be 150 years old or in recent decades. Good idea is to check for signs of 'rifling' which was not used until end of Civil War. But even then...some modern enthusiasts use smooth bores.
It is very hard to know with those. Many people cast their of bullets for modern muzzleloading. They could be 150 years old or in recent decades. Good idea is to check for signs of 'rifling' which was not used until end of Civil War. But even then...some modern enthusiasts use smooth bores.
The one in the middle looks modern. That groove towards the base is a lube ring where any sort of wax type lubricant is inserted. Have 1,000's of them and still making them.
They all look 50-cal. Is that correct? If so, weren't CW bullets generally larger cal?
As for CW rifles they were around pretty much throughout the war. In the spring of 1863, in the middle of the civil war, the union started using MP&T bullets in their rifled guns. You can find them in chancellorsvillle for example.