Buck' n Ball and Swan Shot ?

[CrackStock]

Crockett,

Last time I checked, the Carolinas were part of Dixie. :grin:

Where are you from?

As to the taking of multiple birds with one shot, this happened to a friend this past Spring.

By the way, don't let him fool ya. Ole Slippy has some experience with wing shooting. He is a bit bashful, so I'll crow for him.

CS

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Two with one shot most often happens by accident. When attempted on purpose it most likely results in missing both.

 

[renovato]

I just did that for the first time a couple days ago hunting dove. What an odd feeling that was. Worked out in the end, as I wouldn't have gotten my limit otherwise. Yes, it was an accident.

 

[rudy parnell]

Old Southern Proverb: "when the leads in the air...the danger is there!" This may seem contrary to the idiom of "one shot one kill" but maybe not. If the prefered tactic in land warfare is to create casualty...then the delivery of multiple hits at the expense of some accuracy is qualified and surely bears heavily on the mind of your opponent. In other words, it don't matter if the hit is well aimed... :winking:

Oh! you are correct CS. The lead would drop and spread exponentially. I was trying to come up with a simple explanation for the practice of loading more than one projectile in both rifles and smoothbores.

One nagging paradox to me is the seemingly low casualty rates for pitched battles with volley fire at close ranges with muskets loaded with Buck'n Ball. I wonder about the battlefield statistics...bayonet,hawk,sword,pistol,musket,rifle,and cannon? It would be interesting to learn just how effective each weapon system actually was. Just my thoughts...Buck'n Ball and Swan Shot must have been extremely frightening to those who had to face it...I can only imagine that it carried great value as a deterrent as well.