The artillerist's manual and British soldier's compendium

by F. A. Griffiths

2nd.—The Carcass, which has three fuze holes, is filled with burning composition, and is used to set fire to towns, &c.

3rd.—The Compound-shot, which is filled with lead to increase the impetus of the shot, and the extent of the range.

4th.—The Shrapnell shell, which is very destructive when used against bodies of Cavalry or Infantry, as it produces the same effect as common Case or Canister shot from guns or howitzers, but at a much greater range.[11]

Diameter and thickness of each Shell now in the Service.
Nature of Shell.		Mean Diameter.	Thickness.	Bursting Powder.
		inches.	inches.	lb.	oz.	dr.
	{ 13 Inch	12·84	2·146	6	8
	{ 10 ”	9·84	1·646	5	8
Common	{ 8 ”	7·86	1·39	2	4
	{ 5½ ”	5·595	0·936	0	10
	{ 4⅖ ”	4·454	0·746	0	5
	{ 32 Pr.	6·177	1·034	1	0
	{ 10 Inch	9·85	1·35	5	8
Naval	{ 8 ”	7·925	1·35	2	4
	{ 32 Pr.	6·177	1·034	1	0
	{ 8 Inch	7·86	0·82		10
	{ 32 Pr.	6·177	0·64		6
	{ 24 ”	5·595	0·58		3
Shrapnell	{ 18 ”	5·099	0·53
Diaphragm	{ 12 ”	4·454	0·477		1	12
	{ 9 ”	4·08	0·41		1	8
	{ 6 ”	3·55	0·356	0	0	12

All shells are now issued in the Field Service, loaded, and secured with a metal plug.

SHOT, CASE OR CANISTER.

The common Case or Canister shot consists of a number of balls packed in tin canisters of a cylindrical form: the balls being of different weights according to the size of the gun. For field service the balls are counted into the case, and laid in tiers, but for other purposes they are loosely thrown in till the case is filled. The top being soldered on, the bottom of the tin case is nailed on to the wooden bottom, and the heads of the nails are soldered. These shot should seldom be used at a greater distance than 300 yards, and even at that range they scatter so much as to be nearly unserviceable; but at from 100 to 200 yards they are very destructive.

SHOT, COMMON CASE, OR CANISTER.
Nature of Ordnance.		Weight of ball.	Number in each case.	Weight of case filled.
		lb. oz.		lb.	oz.	dr.
IRON GUNS.	10 Inch* {	1	34	}82	7
		13⅛	50
	8 Inch*	8	90	48	12
	8 Inch*	8	90	48	12
	68 Pr.*	8	90	50	4
	56 Pr.*	1	50	52	11
	42 Pr.†	8	85	45	15
	32 Pr.†	8	66	34	13
	24 Pr.†	8	46	10	7
	18 Pr.†	6	46	10	7
	12 Pr.†	4	46	12	2
	9 Pr.†	3	44	9	11
	6 Pr.†	2	40	5	10
	3 Pr.†	1½	34	3	9	8
BRASS GUNS.	12 Pr.‡	2	126	17	4
	‡	6½	41	16	14
	9 Pr.‡	1½	126	12	15
	‡	5	41	13	2	8
	6 Pr.‡	1½	85	8	13
	‡	3¼	41	8	15	8
	3 Pr.‡	1½	41	4	3	8
HOWITZERS.	10 Inch*	8	170	85	6
	8 Inch*	2	258	35	15	8
	5½ Inch†	2	100	14	11	8
	4⅖ Inch†	2	55	7	14	8
	24 Pr.*	2	140	19	0	8
	12 Pr.*	2	84	11	9
CARRONADES.	68 Pr.†	8	90	47	5	8
	42 Pr.†	8	66	33	11
	32 Pr.†	8	40	20	13
	24 Pr.†	8	32	16	12	8
	18 Pr.†	6	31	12	14
	12 Pr.†	4	32	8	3	8
	9 Pr.†	3	30	6	7	8
	6 Pr.†	2	30	4	9
* Iron Tampeon. † Wood Tampeon. ‡ Tier Shot.

SHOT, GRAPE.
Nature of Ordnance.		Weight of ball.	Number in each case.	Weight of Grapeshot.
		lb. oz.		lb.	oz.	dr.
GUNS.	10 Inch	3	24	81
Shot Quilted.	68 Pr.	} 3	15	50	7
	8 Inch
	56 Pr.	4	12	56	14
	42 Pr.	4	9	41	6
	32 Pr.	3	9	29	11
	24 Pr.	2	9	20	10
	18 Pr.	1 8	9	16	12
	12 Pr.	1	9	11	2
	9 Pr.	13⅛	9	8	12
	6 Pr.	8	9	8	7
	3 Pr.	8	9	2	9
CARRONADES.	68 Pr.	3	15	52	8
Tin Case Shot.†	42 Pr.	4	9	37	15
	32 Pr.	3	9	30	6
	24 Pr.	2	9	20	9
	18 Pr.	1 8	9	15	10
	12 Pr.	1	9	11	0	8
	9 Pr.	13⅛	9	9	1
	6 Pr.	8	9	5	2
† Wood Tampeon.