A cannonball ... a pommel ... or what ?

M ELEY · 27th December 2012, 09:59 AM

I'm wondering if the reason this grapeshot (if that is what it is) was made to be octogonal? Did it make it easier to pack and stack inside of a casing? Or was it the belief that a non-round projectile would inflict more damage as it tore through tissue. Not to be graphic, but there was a time when so-called 'pain-bullets' were created, using lead balls that were purposely scored to fragment open. Other lead shot rounds had nails hammered through them to inflict more damage. Just thinking aloud.

27th December 2012, 09:59 AM	#8
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	I'm wondering if the reason this grapeshot (if that is what it is) was made to be octogonal? Did it make it easier to pack and stack inside of a casing? Or was it the belief that a non-round projectile would inflict more damage as it tore through tissue. Not to be graphic, but there was a time when so-called 'pain-bullets' were created, using lead balls that were purposely scored to fragment open. Other lead shot rounds had nails hammered through them to inflict more damage. Just thinking aloud.