Mark, I would sure like to have a copy! Thank you.
Ema Hanson
Metals conservator
New University of Lisbon

On Sun, Apr 13, 2008 at 3:21 AM, Mark Branstner <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hey Guys,
>
> Although I'd be very surprised to learn that I was the first person to do
> this, here goes:
>
> Given the frequency of finding round lead ball and shot on historic sites,
> and the fact that it has often been distorted in use, making it difficult to
> accurately measure, I came up with an Excel table that allows you to simply
> weigh the large shot or ball, and determine gauge and/or caliber.  Of
> course, this assumes the shot or ball was originally round and is still
> essentially whole ...
>
> I created the conversion table to range from 1-200 Gauge or 1.671 - 0.28
> caliber, which should cover most anything firearms-related (and even small
> cannon :-) ).  I realize  that there were 2 and 4  gauge market shotguns out
> there, but it would be unlikely for them to be shooting solid full-bore
> projectiles.  By the same token, anything smaller than .28 caliber would
> almost certainly fall into the buckshot or shotgun pellet range, where
> caliber measurement would be largely unnecessary.
>
> Note that I have cross-referenced GAUGE, CALIBER, GRAIN WGT, GRAM WEIGHT,
> and ROUNDED GRAM WEIGHT and ROUNDED CALIBER.   This should cross-correlate
> with historic sources, as well as modern literature, and lab data.
>
> I have not added information about standard sizes of buckshot, shotgun
> pellets, etc., as that data is pretty readily available on the web
> (Wikipedia).
>
> If anybody wants a copy, please send me an e-mail and I will forward.
>
> Mark
>
> P.S.  Again, if somebody has already done this in a easily accessible
> format, just ignore.
>
>
> --
>
> Mark C. Branstner, RPA
> Historic Archaeologist
>
> Illinois Transportation
> Archaeological Research Program
> University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
> 209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
> 23 East Stadium Drive
> Champaign, IL 61820
>
> Phone: 217.244.0892
> Fax: 217.244.7458
> Cell: 517.927.4556
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> "I hope there's pudding" - Luna Lovegood (HP5)
>