Smoke,

Would you please send me a copy of your shot size table?

Thanks,
Lee Cranmer
Historical Archaeologist
Maine Historic Preservation Commission
[log in to unmask]   

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Smoke
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 10:27 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Lead Ball Conversion Table

I am writing a book on cartridges for Left Coast Press.  I have a table
on all of the shot sizes (American, British, and European) and have
illustrations of bore diameters (which will only come out in the book).
I can send the shot size table to anyone who wants it.  If you use it
reference it as personal communitcation. It has diameter in mm and
inches, lead pellet weight in grains, lead pellets per ounce, and steel
pellets per ounce.

I think 98% of all shot from historical sites has gone through the 1/4
inch dry screen.  I have been shooting, reloading and casting my own
bullets for more than 35 years.

Smoke


On 4/12/08, 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)
>



--
Smoke Pfeiffer

Remember: When seconds count, the police are only minutes away!