Use of fine shot in colonial America

[ligonierbill]

I have two smoothbores, a Pennsylvania Fowler (20 ga) and a Militia Musket (10 ga), both Chambers kits. I do sometimes load shot. But I wonder...how often was shot loaded in, say, the middle third of the 18th century? Not talking "gentlemen", rather farmers and backwoodsmen.

 

[andy52]

This would be a good place to start your research on the subject.

https://www.minnesotatrap.com/history-in-the-making/shot-towers-page-1.htm

 

[Texcl2]

The pilgrims referenced fowling guns and “swan” shot for fowling. They even specked out fowling guns for folks coming to the colonies. Now I believe most guns were fired at flocks sitting on the water, this was pre-flintlock at that point. I’m sure they didn’t stop fowling as it was a great source of food.

 

[ArmorerRoy]

Diy shot is easy to make by dripping molten lead into a cup of water. It’s extremely effective too.

 

[smoothshooter]

I have two smoothbores, a Pennsylvania Fowler (20 ga) and a Militia Musket (10 ga), both Chambers kits. I do sometimes load shot. But I wonder...how often was shot loaded in, say, the middle third of the 18th century? Not talking "gentlemen", rather farmers and backwoodsmen.

I don’t think it was generally available and so was rarely used.
Safe bet that even most waterfowl was killed with rifles or smooth rifles or regular smoothbores loaded with a few buckshot/Rupert shot.

 

[andy52]

Diy shot is easy to make by dripping molten lead into a cup of water. It’s extremely effective too.

you'll never get a completely round shot dropping from that height.

 

[Texcl2]

I think if you look at colonial sales flyers and records you will see bird shot was widely available. Here’s a post I found with some info…..

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/colonial-shot-sizes.64934/

 

[flconch53]

you'll never get a completely round shot dropping from that height.

They used cut shot which was a PC of flattened lead cut into small pieces with a knife. Round was not important. To the comments about shooting waterfowl with a round ball. Not so much. Shot was used alot. Think about all the pigeons that were shot by shooting into the flocks on their roost

 

[ArmorerRoy]

you'll never get a completely round shot dropping from that height.

Does not need to be round. I shoot the diy shot a lot.

 

[bpd303]

They used cut shot which was a PC of flattened lead cut into small pieces with a knife.

I read some about that a long time ago and tried it myself. Poured lead sheet, then cut it into strips. Then cut the strips into about square small pieces with a sharpened blade hit with a wood mallet. The shot was about the size of #4 shot or maybe BB. I was really surprised that the pattern was really good at 32 yards, with the same volume of 2ff Goex and lead shot. Would definitely kill turkeys. I think it would be really hard to cut smaller shot though. I did experiment with cutting solid core solder with a pair of flush cutters and got usable shot but it was too expensive to consider using that method.

 

[Trigger]

Was Birds shot not available?

 

[ArmorerRoy]

 

[Trigger]

What they use for powder. They have to make that to.

Or percussion caps.. where they get those things. They make that out there to. Dug them up

 

[Trigger]

I think it's a load of bull.. they could probably just buy it with everything else.

 

[Trigger]

Like lead grew on trees back then.. save some money. harvest your own.

 

[Trigger]

1782..

They made it round. England.

 

[French Colonial]

What they use for powder. They have to make that to.

Or percussion caps.. where they get those things. They make that out there to. Dug them up

Inventories of Baynton, Wharton and Morgan and others list shot and swan shot in their stores. I do not know where it was made.

By the way, there were no percussion caps in Colonial America... they were not invented yet.

 

[Trigger]

I thought 1800s

There shot towers here.. built 1828 i think. Baltimore or somtin.. that was for "round shot"..

Before that it wasn't round shot. It was made another way.. I didn't finish reading...

 

[Trigger]

View attachment 364662

By the looks.. like.. utility shot.

That shape size covers a good amount of game.
Being funny shaped might works better for some game..

What have you taken with it..

Hows the... damage?.. like you find one in rabbit and that's all it took?

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Was Birds shot not available?

Yes, but it was not the uniform spheres that we use today.

1782..

They made it round. England.

No 1782, one guy got the patent for the process. Took a while for that to "gear up" so that the supply of the finished product was "plentiful".

By the looks.. like.. utility shot.

That shape size covers a good amount of game.
Being funny shaped might works better for some game..

What have you taken with it..

Hows the... damage?.. like you find one in rabbit and that's all it took?

Odd shapes fly in uncharacteristic ways. The quest for the round shot was to then be able to get consistent patterns, without holes.

Square shot, which is what you get when you pour lead or pound it flat, then slice off strips, then cut the strips into symmetric cubes, was available from Europe for a while in the 1990's. It spread a pattern larger than a cylinder bore with round shot. Out to 20 yards it's popular in Europe for pest birds, etc. Might be just the thing if one is using a flintlock trade gun with one shot at the running rabbit.

LD