Tutorial on how to properly tie a "Stand of Grape Shot"

[zulu]

Here is something you can try at home and end up with something cool.
In this case, I'm using 1" cast iron balls and making it to fit a 3" bore.
Grape shot is an incredibly destructive projectile. Imagine what damage this could do. Upon firing, the canvas will burst open and send the balls down range in a shotgun like pattern.

Here are some pictures of the process.

 

[zulu]

 

[zulu]

 

[Captndan]

I'd like to see all of the pictures but they won't load.

 

[zulu]

I'd like to see all of the pictures but they won't load.

They all load for me. Is anyone else having a problem?
There is a lot of pictures.

 

[Electrod47]

They all loaded for me OK. But Good Lord, That looks evil. No wonder they called the field Doc's back then "Saw Bones" to hack off all the mangled limbs.

 

[TDM]

Not sure if I ever had the courage to march into that.

 

[Captndan]

Loaded fine today. Gotta ask what are you going to do with them?

 

[Whughett]

where does one fire such a thing and at what.

 

[zulu]

Loaded fine today. Gotta ask what are you going to do with them?

I made them for someone else.

 

[zulu]

where does one fire such a thing and at what.

Certainly, these were fired at troops and used in ship to ship battle. Those I made were small. They just fit a 3" bore.
Most grapeshot used was very much bigger. Here are pictures of 12 pounder grape shots I made. They have twenty-five 1.5" cast iron balls in them. They are made to shoot from a 4.62" bore such as the fearsome Napoleon. They weigh just over 12 pounds and are still on the small size as far as naval cannons go.

 

[Whughett]

Yes but I meant in todays setting. Re-enactments I suppose.

 

[zulu]

Yes but I meant in todays setting. Re-enactments I suppose.

At least so far, local law enforcement frowns on re-enactors slaughtering each other for the viewing pleasure of the public.
The shot can however, be used in show and tell for the school kids to see.

 

[Eras Gone]

This is how I make them. This one is copied diectly from one in the West Point museum for a 3 pounder gun. 2.75 inch diameter with 35 one inch iron balls. It is probably War of 1812 vintage or earlier.

 

[zulu]

Eras gone, That looks great! I made a larger one for 3" bore also. 25 one inch balls.

A cool picture!

 

[zulu]

Some of mine.

 

[Big Al1]

Where did you get that cool picture.. what’s the smallest bore size that i can this for?

 

[zulu]

Where did you get that cool picture.. what’s the smallest bore size that i can this for?

I don't remember where I found it. Somewhere on the internet. The smallest I have ever made is for a 3" bore.

 

[Big Al1]

what is the smallest cannon i can make the grape load for?

 

[zulu]

what is the smallest cannon i can make the grape load for?

The smaller they get, the harder it will be. What size bore? If it gets too small, maybe a bag of small balls will work.
.36 caliber?
Small buckshot?