| The bullets above are an assortment of many types from the late 1800's and early 1900's. All are metal detector finds, many of which are copper, these are the eariest cartrige rounds. At the time the copper rounds would have been used, 99.9% of gun owners were still using muzzle loaders and black powder revolvers. The cartridge weapon was brand new technology and using copper turned out to be a mistake, it would swell in the chamber when fired and often became lodged and difficult to remove. The only people in the "west" who could affoard such a weapon were outlaws, indian raiders and priests, the law and military could not, and were out-gunned for a short time in the "no mans land" of the southwest. |
