Case-shot

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Caseshot was a projectile used in ordnance for fighting at close quarters. It consists of a thin metal case containing a large number of bullets or other small projectiles, such as musketballs, stones, or old pieces of iron. Case-shot was formerly called canister, though the term now used occurs as early as 1625. The case (shell) was fired from the gun and the bullets left the shell case immediately they were fired and travelled individually, much like a large shotgun.

Case shot was only effective up to approximately 300 yards^[1], due to the poor aerodynamic characteristics of the individual bullets. By the 20th Century, case shot was replaced by shrapnel shells. Because the shrapnel bullets remained in their streamlined case for most of their journey and were hence aerodynamically efficient (they had less air resistance), they could be effective up to approximately 6000 yards. In emergencies (e.g. if they were being overrun by an enemy) gunners could set the time delay of shrapnel shells to 0 seconds to cause the shell to release the bullets immediately it left the gun, and hence achieve the same effect as case shot.