old blackpowder guns

[CharlesHarris]

All good points. While I am not certain as to historical use in the British Army, in the US, well into the first several years of the Civil War, the common smoothbore usket combat ammunition for the .69 calibre guns was a single musket ball and three buckshot. The idea was that the larger ball would hit close to point of aim, wheteas the three buckshot would disperse into a wider pattern, which increased the density of volley fire when used against tight formations of massed troops.

It would be worthwhile to experiment with this type of loading.