Source for Swan Shot

[tg]

"
Several outfits have been butting heads over the actual size of "swan shot" for some time. When drop shot came in around 1790, and even the Rupert-shot before that, things get a bit more standard."

The size of swan shot probably varied but as it was a cast shot, the Rupert vs drop method would not be an issue with the size of swan shot.

 

[Itegorm]

Yeap, that's what I had it for but I found a better way to make it so prices went down a bit. As for patterns I found that the drip shaped stuff needs to be loaded a bit differnt to get consistant patterns. I have been wadding it rather lightly over the powder and rather heavy over the shot. I tend to wad with what ever I have on hand (leaves, wasp nest, tow, paper, etc). I have found that the more modern card and fiber type wads don't work as well with the shot.
My usual load is 60-65 grains of fffg and 120 grains (by volume) of shot. Below is a target I fired from just about 15 yards.

 

[Erzulis boat]

I did some research this weekend-

"Swan Drops" is classified as 15 to the ounce, or 240 to the pound. The shot was CAST in multi-cavity molds (the example noted had 10 cavities), as the shot tower was not used for such large shot, as they knew very well, that SPHERICAL shot was the ticket.

Pure lead was not desireable, and arsenic was typically added, as was antimony (but not combined every time).

Arsenic added was "hardened" shot, and antimony added was coined "chilled" shot.

The initial mathematics of the day dictated a shot tower of 200 feet (high) as the ideal, as the shot would basically become spherical and hard enough BEFORE impacting the water.

As 200 feet is a substantial structure, I do not know if this figure was followed for the actual article. I have seen an old one in Ireland years ago, and do not recall a 200 foot tall tower.

Nevertheless "Swan Drops" were a cast spherical projectile, and the modern equivalent is a ball of .27 (number 2, I believe) which would bring our count to 238 per pound, or 14.875 per ounce, which is very close to our 15 per ounce callout on "Swan Drops".

I believe that the tear-drop shaped projectiles is a modern abberation, and perhaps even back then some guys tried to mimic a shot tower in the kitchen, but non spherical shot has been known for centuries as not the correct configuration.

Also, the name "Swan DROP" would bring some people to the erroneous conclusion as to their attendant shape. The sources consistently listed the "per the pound", etc. But, in reality probably ANY cast round shot in about the size range .240-.270 (plus or minus) would be called "Swan Drops", and something appearing much larger to the untrained eye was called "Buck" etc.

We had "Buckshot", "Musket Sized Grape Shot", "Swan Drops", and "Goose Drops". All cast in cavity molds mind you.

 

[tg]

Have there not been period references to swan shot and goose shot documented? I ask because it seems odd that we go from duck, piegeon, bird SHOT thru swan and goose DROPS then back to buck SHOT the smallest of which was probably only slightly larger than the shot(drops) used for swan.I find the use of two terms interesting (maybe a bit suspect)and wonder if the Drops term was a slang or local terminology, but the part of all larger sizes being cast round in gang mouls is nice to see in print, thank you.

 

[Erzulis boat]

Yes, TG-

I saw both references as to "Drop" and "Shot", an old volume printed in the Netherlands (but addressed British terms) called it "Shot", and yet another called the size "Drops".

"Legal" to use both terms, I would say! :hmm:

 

[tg]

"Legal" to use both terms, I would say!"

I would agree as long as neither has a "tail"

 

[Erzulis boat]

Yep, gotta be spherical, or................No Dice!

 

[Scota4570]

Sounds like you just want a little home made shot? What is being described here can be made with the short drop method. Here is a way to do that with little fuss. Use your bottom pour lead pot. I have couple of Lee units, both leak a little, that helps us here. Arrange a pie tin under the spout, it will be your overflow. Inside that and under the spout place a tin can with some water or antifreeze in it. It should be full to the top and about 3/8" from the spout. Heat up your lead and allow it to drip-drip into the liquid. You might have to "adjust" the valve to make it leak a little more or less.

The lead will hit the liquid and begin to harden. The tail will be enveloped by the sphere. That is once you get everything perfect. The temperature, length of drop, rate of drops, and if you choose to make one, the size of the oriface make a difference. If you don't get it right you get "Swan Shot". : ) The stuff you get will be roughtly #8 to BBB or so. You can tumble it in a rock tumbler with some graphite to help beat it rounder.

This business about screens is implausable. You can use a heavy metal basin with small holes in it. It will have to be heated. I once saw picture of a collander looking metal device olin used in a shot tower. You will find you have to get everything right to avoild making wire or just a big mess. I doubt anyone ever made any shot by pouring lead through a screen.

I think the best idea is to cut up some lead sheet with tin snips. Make litle cubes. Tumble the cubes with graphite to beat the corners down. It will make OK shot.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I only hope everyone knows that it is illegal to shoot Swans in any part of the USA. The question, is why would anyone shoot a swan?

There is the story of the State Trooper who pulled a car over for speeding, and as he walked up to the driver's side window to get his license and registration, he sees a shotgun lying in the back seat. He tells the driver, " Don't tell me that is a real shotgun in the back seat? "
The driver says, " Okay officer, if you don't want me to say that I won't. But my momma always told me to tell the truth. "

The officer says, " Tell me that gun is not loaded, at least!"

The driver says, " Well, if that will make you happy, I will, but My momma always told me to tell the truth and I would rather not lie to you, sir."

The officer says to the driver, " Why would you be carrying a loaded shotgun in your car? Don't you know that it is unsafe to transport a loaded shotgun? Why it could go off and injure someone in another car, or just standing on the side of the road? "

The driver says, I am sorry, officer, I didn' know that. "

The officer says, " Well, tell me why you have a loaded shotgun in your car at this time of year."

The driver says, " To hunt with ".

the officer says, " Hunt with? There are no hunting seasons open at this time of year!"

The driver says, " I am sorry, officer, I didn't know that. "

The officer asks: " What were you hunting?"

The driver says, " Swan".

The officer says, " Oh, please, Lord, tell me you didn't kill a swan. Why, that is a federal offense!"

The driver says, " Well, officer, if it would make your feel better, I will, but my momma always told me to tell the truth, and I don't want to lie to you, sir."

The officer, now beside himself, says, " I don't believe this. Where is the swan you killed? "

The driver says: " In my trunk. "

The officer orders him out of the car with his keys and tells him to open the trunk. There, lying in the trunk, is a dead swan.

The officer says to the driver, " Man, why would you kill a swan? "

The driver says, " Why, to eat, sir. My momma always taught me to never waste food."

The officer says, "You were going to eat this swan? Well, what does it taste like? "

The driver says," Well, Its sort of a cross between California Condor, and American Bald Eagle!" :haha:

 

[musketman]

The question, is why would anyone shoot a swan?

Back in the day of swan shot, you could pretty much hunt and kill any animal without repercussions...