What is this object?

[AW111]

A friend found a handful of these in a box of old junk.
They are lead, judging by the weight, and about 1/2" diameter, with a hollow base and rounded nose:



A bullet of some kind, or something more prosaic?

[GYTRDave]

Look like old lead shells/bullets.

[Sebring440]

Yes, a quick Google with the image suggests American bullets from the 19th century.

[Gerard Thibault]

Yep American Civil war type rifle bullets. When I was young a chap across the road was part of a reenactment group and my dad used to cast the bullets for him. For a muzzle-loaded Springfield Rifle.

Grooves to grip the rifling and the domed base is there so the bullet expands slightly to grip the barrel tighter on the way out.

[wildoliver]

Minie balls. Quite a nice little find.

[AW111]

Thanks all. I'll let him know.

[Simpo Two]

wildoliver said:

Minie balls. Quite a nice little find.

Or from Crimea apparently: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini%C3%A9_ball