Grapeshot or Musketballs - Is there a difference??

[bdahunter]

I found all three of these lead balls in the same area of my beach. The first one appears more weathered and is of course larger. The balls in the 2nd pic are the same except that the right ball has been deformed by impact. The two smaller balls are very smoothly cast and I wonder if they might be grapeshot.
Any maritime history buffs or bullet specialists out there??

Thanks,

BDA

I found the cannonball about 200 feet up the beach from these finds.

 

[Anonymous]

"musket balls" are a term generally given to round, lead projectiles fired from smooth bore long arms (muskets). Grape shot is a term given to larger iron anti personnel projectiles. Field grape would relate to smaller diameter "balls" fired from smooth bore field guns; 12 pounder Napoleons etc. These were generally "stands of grape" and had a diameter similar to golf balls. Naval grape were fired from larger bore guns and had a diameter similar to tennis balls. Smaller "musket ball" size projectiles (iron or lead) could be found inside "case shot" projectiles (spherical or elongated shells) and also found in "beer can" shot called cannister rounds. Usually, case shot will exhibit pitch (tar) on lead balls found within case shot projectiles. This looks like black paint. More information can be found in Mason/McKee's "Civil War Projectiles II" (known as the bullet book) or several other well written books on CW artillery. Good hunting, David @ Dixie

 

[bdahunter]

n/t

 

[montepollock]

buck and ball refers to a large and 3 smaller balls fired from a musket.another type used 1 large and 3 small but is quite rare.Here is a picture of a 58 caliber.They would have been cased in linen or paper.yours appears to be about a 69 caliber which was used by US an CS early in in the War,But later primarily by CS.

 

[montepollock]

srry here is the photo