The Palliser shell is similar to the Palliser shot, except that it is slightly longer and has a larger chamber. Fuses are never used with the Palliser shot or shell.
The shrapnel consists of two main parts—the cast-iron body and the wooden head. The body is nearly as thick as that of the common shell, and is scored longitudinally in order to permit it to break up easily. The wooden head is covered with a light sheet-iron case which rivets to the body. The bottom of the chamber is the powder-chamber proper, over the mouth of which rests a wrought-iron disc having a hole in the centre, tapped to take a wrought-iron tube. The upper chamber is filled with lead bullets which are set fast with resin. The fuse screws into a hole in the head, and projects into the wrought-iron tube communicating with the powder-chamber. Both the chamber and the tube are filled with powder.
Case-shot are of the ordinary form. Up to the 7-inch calibre the body is made of tin, beyond that it is of tinned sheet-iron. For the smaller calibres the bottom is of tin, for the larger it is a wrought-iron disc. The top is in all cases tinned iron. The contents of the case are packed in clay and sand, and there is an interior lining made up of three loose-fitting wrought-iron segments.
Shot and shell used with muzzle-loading rifles are now provided with a copper disc attached to the base, called a gas-check. This disc is slightly convex to the rear to enable it to spread and stop the windage on firing. It is attached to the projectile by means of a screw-plug and nut. On firing, it is expanded into the rifling and completely stops the windage. It gains a grip on the base of the shell by means of an undercut rim, whilst radial scores on the base prevent it from gaining an independent rotary motion, and enable it to assist in rotating the projectile.
Palliser Shot.
Papier-maché Wad.
Brass Gas-Check for
Projectiles.