12 pdr case shot

[Kelly408]

Is there a generally accepted number for the number of balls in a 12 pdr case shot? Even a ball park number would work.

 

[UCVRelics]

Generally there was not as it depended on several factors such as the amount of matrix and the size of the case shot which varied from manufacturer. If you count the ones below it will give you a ball park.

 

[Kelly408]

I decided to try my hand at calculus to answer my question. Assumptions: the 12pdr is 4.5 inches in outer diameter with .5 inch walls. Inner diameter is then 3.5 inches. To be filled with .69 cal musket balls. Packing done by random placement. Then a core has to be drilled for the charge and I'm going with 1 inch diameter the length of the inner diameter of the shell.

The numbers come out like this: 83 balls would fit inside the shell, and 39 balls would fit inside where the core was taken. The result is 44 balls remain. How accurate this is is anybody's guess. At least it's a ball park.

 

[DixieRifles]

44 balls

I will be impressed if your calculations are close. But seems really high number.
If I would have guessed, I would have said 12-15 balls but with a diameter of .5 inch. In the above cross-section, I would say we can "see" at least 15.

Cant wait to see the answer.

 

[John Winn]

The 1864 manual says a 12 pdr. case round contained 76 musket balls (p. 9). Jack Coggins in his Arms And Equipment Of The Civil War says there were 78 (p. 67). Warren Ripley in his Artillery and Ammunition of the Civil War says there were 78 (p. 379).

I have read that various types of projectiles were used so while the standard seems to have been 78 balls I'd guess that it was sometimes less than that depending on what was available. I know I've seen cross-sections where things like cleaning bullets were used instead of round balls.

 

[alan polk]

The 1864 manual says a 12 pdr. case round contained 76 musket balls (p. 9). Jack Coggins in his Arms And Equipment Of The Civil War says there were 78 (p. 67). Warren Ripley in his Artillery and Ammunition of the Civil War says there were 78 (p. 379).

I have read that various types of projectiles were used so while the standard seems to have been 78 balls I'd guess that it was sometimes less than that depending on what was available. I know I've seen cross-sections where things like cleaning bullets were used instead of round balls.

That is about the number I have come to understand as well, especially when .69 caliber balls are considered.

I have also read that a recovered 24-pounder from South Carolina was emptied of all its case-shot and it contained 100 balls. So, considering the size difference between a 12 and 24 (if the 100 is correct for the 24) then a number of 78-80 for a 12 would seem correct.