15.5 lb solid lead ball dug up in Colorado - Page 2

Hawg · November 29, 2017, 09:10 PM

Maybe it was used in a ball mill for making gunpowder.

**4V50 Gary** · November 29, 2017, 09:18 PM

There is a mining museum nearby and I wonder if anyone there would know. Thanks bedbugbilly.

deserted · November 30, 2017, 01:01 AM

My half-scale Napoleon fires a 2.125" lead ball that weighs two pounds; the golf ball gun (for varmints) shoots a 1.68" lead ball that comes out at one pound (wheel weight metal). I think the standard bore diameter for a 12 pounder, whether Napoleon or Mountain Howitzer, is 4.62" (stand by, let me check...yep), but that would be the weight of an iron ball. Seems that size in lead would be considerably heavier.
Maybe there's a bar of gold in the center.

**4V50 Gary** · December 1, 2017, 04:29 PM

A neighbor told me its weight and size is about right for a shot put. Unless it's a bocci ball, as there were many Italian immigrants here, I think he's right.

November 29, 2017, 09:18 PM	#27
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	There is a mining museum nearby and I wonder if anyone there would know. Thanks bedbugbilly. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

December 1, 2017, 04:29 PM	#29
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	A neighbor told me its weight and size is about right for a shot put. Unless it's a bocci ball, as there were many Italian immigrants here, I think he's right. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

November 29, 2017, 09:10 PM	#26
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Maybe it was used in a ball mill for making gunpowder.

November 30, 2017, 01:01 AM	#28
deserted Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2015 Posts: 103	My half-scale Napoleon fires a 2.125" lead ball that weighs two pounds; the golf ball gun (for varmints) shoots a 1.68" lead ball that comes out at one pound (wheel weight metal). I think the standard bore diameter for a 12 pounder, whether Napoleon or Mountain Howitzer, is 4.62" (stand by, let me check...yep), but that would be the weight of an iron ball. Seems that size in lead would be considerably heavier. Maybe there's a bar of gold in the center.