More Documentation on the use of Wads or Wadding with Round ball in Smoothbores.

Round Ball & Wads or Wadding.

“ I slipped a boullet upon the shot and beate the paper into my gunne."

Voyages of Peter Esprit Radisson 1636-1710.  Being an account of his travels and experiences among the North American Indians, from 1652 to 1684.

Foard’’s findings are supported by Rogers (1968) who found that various unusual and unauthorised methods of loading were used by soldiers to speed up the time between firings since the time of Charles I. Powder was poured into the end of the barrel, the musket ball dropped on top without wadding. The charge was then rammed home by banging the butt of the musket on the ground. This led to the range and penetration ability of the musket ball to suffer.

file:///C:/Users/Admin/Downloads/David%20Miller%20PhD.pdf

Casting of birdshot and fowling lead balls. Diderot.

Plate I: Casting of Birdshot, Water Casting

Plate II: Casting of Birdshot, Water Casting

Plate III: Casting of Birdshot, Mold Casting

https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=did;cc=did;rgn=main;view=text;idno=did2222.0001.496

Muzzle-Loader Choices. Rifle or Smoothbore. VIDEOS.

Ammunition You May Not Have Seen Before.

Musket lead round ball joined together in 2s with brass wire. This is to inflict more damage.

17th century. Recovered from the wreck of the Batavia.

http://museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/artefacts/bat7072-lead;

17th century lead shot. The small shot looks as though it could have been made with a hole punch.

http://www.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/phips/wreck17.htm;

18th Century Bullet Boards.

Sketches I did of two bullet boards that claimed to be 18th century.

These are said to be dated to the American Revolution, but of course they could be earlier.

http://www.cottoneauctions.com/oldsite/old/images/TomWnuck/bulletboards.jpg

Moulding Round ball. Videos.

Spoon to Lead Ladle? Just a thought.

Whilst searching for items up in the old cottage today I came across a hand forged spoon that had belonged to a close friend of mine. I already have a wooden spoon that I carry in my knapsack, so I thought that this spoon might easily be turned into a lead ladle. Of course we already have a couple of lead ladles too, but we lack one for the .74 calibre fusil.

Washington Irving's Chouteau post:
"The little hamlet of the Agency was in a complete bustle; the blacksmith's shed, in particular, was a scene of preparation; a strapping negro was shoeing a horse; two half-breeds were fabricating iron spoons in which to melt lead for bullets. An old trapper, in leathern hunting frock and moccasons, had placed his rifle against a work-bench, while he superintended the operation, and gossiped about his hunting exploits."

Washington Irving (1783-1859)

Round Ball Moulds Of All Sizes.

Someone recently contacted me looking for a round ball mould. Some moulds only come in certain sizes, & the size you need may not be available. Dixie Gun Works sell round ball moulds, one of which is made from a 1950s hair straightener! It has no sprue cutter, but other than that it is perfect. You simply order the size you want.
I bought one many years ago as a single buckshot mould. Time is something I have in camp, room for a multi ball mould I don't have. I cut off the loops of the scissor like handles, & trimmed the head square of any access metal. I have seen originals that look just like it!

Ball moulds get pretty hot after a while of use, so you need to wrap the handles in leather to protect your hands.

Lead Pig.

Description

Weighing in at 134 kg this great lead pig was found in August 1975 in a gravel pit near Colwick, just over 100m west of the old course of the River Trent. Because this old course of the Trent was abandoned in 1801 the ingot can be dated to the eighteenth century. The lead is thought to be from Derbyshire, but the marks on the pig have not been identified.


Registration number NCM 1995-209
Date 18th Century
Maker possibly Derbyshire made
Country found Nottingham, England

http://gossweb.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/www/collections12/Archaeology/fulldetails.asp?id=123

Moulding Round Ball 1 & 2. Or Running Ball.

It is generally accepted that when moulding lead it is a good idea to add beeswax to help clear the lead. In this video I do not use beeswax because I am only using a small amount of lead at any one time. If you are dipping from a lead pot, then using beeswax is a good idea. DO NOT breath in the fumes from the lead. I am doing this in an open fireplace & I have windows & doors open. This is best done in the open air using a camp fire, but DO NOT do this in the rain. Water hitting the hot lead will make the moulten lead explode.

Running Ball. Part Two.