Grapeshot

In artillery, a grapeshot is a type of shot that is not a one solid element, but a mass of small metal balls or slugs packed tightly into a canvas bag. It was used both in land and naval warfare. When assembled, the balls resembled a cluster of grapes, hence the name. On firing, the balls spread out from the muzzle, giving an effect similar to a giant shotgun.

Grapeshot was devastatingly effective against massed infantry at short range. It was used to savage massed infantry charges quickly. Cannons would fire solid shot to attack enemy artillery and troops at longer range and switch to grape when they or nearby troops were charged.

A canister shot (case shot) is similar to grapeshot, but contained smaller and more numerous balls which did not have to punch through the wooden hull of a ship, and it is packed into a canister (case). The canister is usually made of tin or brass, and could be guided by a wooden sabot. Later, the shrapnel shell was invented that acted in a similar manner but had much better effectiveness at long range.

Scattershot is an improvised form which uses chainlinks, nails, shards of glass, rocks, etc. Although scattershot can be cheaply made, it is less effective than grapeshot due to the absence of uniformity for every projectile in terms of mass, shape, material, and terminal ballistics.

Field-expedient Claymore mines, consisting of a container, projectiles such as ball bearings or used ammo links arranged to project in one general direction, and explosives are often called grapeshot.