That is interesting on weighing the round ball and weighing the shot charge. Regarding the smoothbore that was meant to fire round ball, I am guessing the military muskets like the Bess and Charleville were meant to fire round ball. I have a M1777 I got new last summer and have not fired yet. I was planning on learning the smoothbore, having fun with that in my retirement, and maybe using it in smoothbore matches. I have considered the possibility of loading it with shot to do spring turkey hunts. It seems I have read posts on here of the military models being loaded with shot.