is an obsolete solid projectile
without explosive charge fired from small arms
. As the name implies, round shot is spherical
; its diameter is slightly less than the bore
of the gun it is fired from.
Round shot was made in early times from dressed stone, but by the 17th century, from iron. It was used as the most accurate projectile that could be fired by a smooth-bore cannon, used to batter the wooden hulls of opposing ships, forts, or fixed emplacements, and as a long-range anti-personnel weapon.
Along with pellet shot and grapeshot, round shot was one of the early projectiles used in firearms.
Round shot was popular during most of the age of sail, being replaced after the invention by Benjamin Robins of the extruded bullet around the mid-19th century.
Round shot has the disadvantages of not being tightly fitted into the bore (to do so would cause jamming). This causes the shot to "rattle" down the gun barrel and leave the barrel at an angle unless wadding or a discarding sabot is used.
Round shot has been totally replaced by modern bullets in small arms and by modern shells in artillery. Round shot is used in historical recreations and historical replica weapons.
Pellet shot (now simply called 'shot') is still used in shotguns.