Post by: Puffer on October 13, 2012, 11:36:11 AM
might thi be "anti armor" ammo ?
Post by: Uncle Russ on October 13, 2012, 05:31:49 PM
If not directly intended as a "anti-armored" ball, it seems it would have served the purpose quite well.
I recall reading somewhere that one of the famous Elephant Hunters of that forgone era had special "round-balls" made up with an iron or steel Pyramid shaped object covered with pure lead into a round ball, and shot from a 8 bore, if memory serves me right
Bigsmoke may know more of this than myself, since he's the really big-bore fan.
I do know that wood was once used, and even the Whitworth had a similar configuration for their long range rifle...and the entire theory behind all this experimentation was simply to increase penetration, so why not a Cannon Ball too?
Interesting link, thanks Puff.
Uncle Russ...
Post by: Gordon H.Kemp on October 13, 2012, 10:11:37 PM
Post by: Stormrider51 on October 13, 2012, 11:21:10 PM
1. Iron is lighter than lead so a ball with an iron inclusion would fly faster and further using the same powder charge.
2. Iron may have been easier to come by/less expensive than lead.
3. As has already been suggested, they were trying for deeper penetration which links back to possibility #1.
This one will bear watching.
Storm
Post by: Fletcher on October 15, 2012, 12:33:36 AM
I did not realize that the ship had guns aboard! Now I am interested to experiment with lead casting. I wonder how I could
suspend an iron ball or hexagon or octagon shaped iron object so the lead covered ball would be symmetrical and still fly true.
Then I wonder about the ballistics and the penetration. They might just tear the hell out of hanging steel targets.
I wonder how much trouble I could get into with the club holding the Rondy
Post by: Puffer on October 15, 2012, 10:29:33 AM
Quote from: "Stormrider51"
Extremely interesting! I'd like to see several examples of the iron inclusions. Were they all shaped the same? If so, it means that not only were they placed into the mold as a separate step in the casting process but they were made and shaped specifically for that purpose. This would be considerable extra work just to cast a cannon ball. Even if the iron appears to be random shaped chunks tossed in the mold I can only think of three possible reasons for doing so right off the top of my head:
1. Iron is lighter than lead so a ball with an iron inclusion would fly faster and further using the same powder charge.
2. Iron may have been easier to come by/less expensive than lead.
3. As has already been suggested, they were trying for deeper penetration which links back to possibility #1.
This one will bear watching.
Storm
Hee Haw !
Post by: Stormrider51 on October 15, 2012, 01:59:35 PM
Post by: Puffer on October 16, 2012, 11:34:18 AM
Quote from: "Puffer"
Quote from: "Stormrider51"Extremely interesting! I'd like to see several examples of the iron inclusions. Were they all shaped the same? If so, it means that not only were they placed into the mold as a separate step in the casting process but they were made and shaped specifically for that purpose. This would be considerable extra work just to cast a cannon ball. Even if the iron appears to be random shaped chunks tossed in the mold I can only think of three possible reasons for doing so right off the top of my head:
1. Iron is lighter than lead so a ball with an iron inclusion would fly faster and further using the same powder charge.
2. Iron may have been easier to come by/less expensive than lead.
3. As has already been suggested, they were trying for deeper penetration which links back to possibility #1.
NOT ME !!!!
This one will bear watching.
Storm
Hee Haw !
Post by: Bigsmoke on October 16, 2012, 01:09:44 PM
Quote from: "RussB"
Bigsmoke may know more of this than myself, since he's the really big-bore fan.
Nope, I am not into carriage mounted cannons, only ones that can be shot from the shoulder.
Sounds to me like a way to deliver shrapnel and possibly tear through some armor plating.
As has been said, this thread will bear watching.
John
Post by: Fletcher on October 16, 2012, 08:07:40 PM
I would think that would be necessary or the projectile would tumble badly.
Of course if it were close range and just 'flock shooting' it may not matter.