Musket ball

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A musket ball was an early form of ammunition used for loading muskets. Balls like these were generally made from lead, and were muzzle loaded into the barrel of the musket wrapped in a loosely-fitting paper patch filled with gunpowder on the back end. With the widespread adoption of the bullet cartridge and the rifle, muskets and musket balls died out of fashion for their tedious loading procedure and inaccuracy.

Musket balls were made by pouring molten lead into a musket ball mould which was wrapped in a linen patch, this increased its velocity and power. At times stone musket balls were used. The lead musket balls expanded upon entering a body, often causing a large exit wound. If the musket ball was not wrapped in the linen patch, it could bounce from side to side upon exiting the musket barrel