Grapeshot or Buckshot?

[USNFLYR]

Packed Lead Pellets or Buckshot?






All four pieces displayed were found within five yards of each other. Large pieces have concave pits from a "ball shaped" item being packed next to it. The small ball on the right is what I am used to seeing as "shotgun" lead. The three non round lead pieces have me perplexed. At the turn of the century troops would assemble nearby for infantry practice but I hardly find bullets from that activity. That probably rules out grapeshot?

Is this just lead from a hunting shotgun? Did hunters pack shotgun shells with large lead (non round ball) pieces?

Any stab at the era these date to?

Thanks in advance!

 

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[eyemustdigtreasure]

Lead shaped like that weren't fired, but meant to be part of a grapeshot, being able to pack tighter, more of them..., more FUN!
Gaming pieces...

 

[DizzyDigger]

The pellet on the far right looks to be around a #4 or #2 size..common
load for ducks and geese back when lead was still in use.

The other three *could be* 00 or 000 buckshot, but they appear to have
been beat to hell on rocks.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Sigh. One more time...
According to the US Ordnance Manual of 1861, grapeshot balls ranged in size from 2.02" to 3.60"-diameter. So, if a ball is smaller than 2-inches, it is not a grapeshot ball.

As the "US Standard Sizes" chart for [bird]shot and buckshot shows, buckshot balls range from .25" to .36"-diameter.

 

[USNFLYR]

Great chart.

I believe my original post rules out Grapeshot. The "grapeshot" may have been more due to obvious NOT ROUNDED lead items that were packed tightly among smaller ROUNDED lead items....IE like Grapeshot.

Thanks,

Chris