Hard Ball

[nkbj]

This looks like a fine sleety day to cast up some .562's.

 

[BrownBear]

Now yer talkin. Those .562's are a phenom on game!

 

[Alden]

I believe it was Selous but it was also a small smokeless rifle like a .303 or something he traded for a blackpowder cartridge gun and he MAY have had some difficulty taking game with the .311 and also in finding smokeless ammo.

 

[Joel/Calgary]

I've heard that rumor, but have never had anybody show where that idea is supported. I know that some "archaeologists" claim they found the oldest known bullet wound from a Spanish firearm in a native skull because of the iron/steel left around the hole in the skull... but they ignore the fact that the Spanish halberd had a butt with a round, iron spike, and would dispatch wounded, prostrate enemies with that spike, by placing it on the skull and applying body weight, twist it free, and move on. Plus, iron musket balls are very expensive, compared to roundish rocks.

LD

When that research was first published, there was much discussion on various boards, and someone posted a portion of a translated 15th or early 16th century Spanish text that described the routine production of wrought-iron musket balls (heat the end of the bar, bump up, reheat as needed, swadge, cut off, swadge again to round the sprue). The quotation made it sound like this was apparently the usual ammunition or at least common, and it was suggested in the discussion that this was a hold over from the need to penetrate European armor. Bear in mind that cast lead was not previously used for projectiles, except possibly for sling shot; arrow/quarrel heads were forged iron. No-one anywhere mentioned shooting rocks from muskets or calivers. The early stone cannon balls were carefully rounded and gauged.

Concerning that skull, I seem to recall that the circular divot from the wound was found within the cavity and you wouldn't get that from a pointed penetration.

Regards,
Joel

 

[Wes/Tex]

I've seen a few references to "copper" balls used in Spanish escopetas...which were lighter smoothbores used by Spanish military and colonists in North America. One was as late as the fracas in Texas in 1836. I'd have to do some serious digging through the book pile to find them. As I typed this, I believe one even spoke of Sam Houston's ankle wound at San Jacinto was the result of a "copper" musket ball.

 

[Alden]

Catalan escopta miquelet flintlock.

:thumbsup:

 

[Wes/Tex]

There appears to be a variety of the style. Narragansett Armes even did a version back when they were still making guns.