Are these fired musket balls?

[ekeisler]

 

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[MarkDz]

They certainly could be, especially if you found them in a battle area. They tend to splat like that if they hit a rock or something very hard.

 

[gsxraddict]

they look small, it's hard to judge the size of them from that picture.

If they are small, I'd guess pistol balls.

 

[ekeisler]

Thanks guys! They are about the size of the tip of my pinky. I found all of them in the same hole, like they could have been taken out of something or someone. I live near the battle of stono ferry site.

 

[MarkDz]

Considering they're very small and clustered so closely, my best guess would be that it's a single large load of buckshot fired into one target, probably at close range. It may be battle related or non-military. Either way, keep hunting that area!

 

[ekeisler]

Thanks! Check out my horse snaffle bit too! Found that in the other woods

 

[GMD52]

Being found in the same hole, they appear to be shrapnel from a n exploding device or munution.

 

[MarkDz]

Being found in the same hole, they appear to be shrapnel from a n exploding device or munution.

I'm no expert, but I'm not familiar with any shell from that era that would hold such small shot. I think generally artillery "shrapnel" shot would be the size of regular musket balls or larger. These seem to be buckshot size.

 

[ekeisler]

I'm no expert, but I'm not familiar with any shell from that era that would hold such small shot. I think generally artillery "shrapnel" shot would be the size of regular musket balls or larger. These seem to be buckshot size.

How about .30 cal swan shot?

 

[MarkDz]

Yep, I think it could be.

 

[kuger]

....any "shot",I have ever seen spreads out after shot?

 

[MarkDz]

Good point. I guess it depends on how far they traveled to the target, and how big the dig hole was.
Maybe sometimes it's just impossible to know for sure.