Federal

Hotchkiss

 

DIAMETER:  3.74 inches
GUN:  14-pounder James rifle, 3.8-inch caliber
LENGTH:  7 1/8 inches
WEIGHT:  13 pounds 13 ounces
CONSTRUCTION:  Solid shot
SABOT:  Lead band
FUZING:  None
The James projectiles nearly always threw the lead sabot after firing, endangering friendly troops and tending to cause an unstable flight.  This led to the replacement of the James projectile with a Hotchkiss pattern (pictured) that could be fired from the existing James rifled cannon.  The patent date is cast into the base cup.  The fifteen lands and grooves of the James rifling is evident on the lead band.  Solid-shot Hotchkiss projectiles are also found in the following field artillery calibers:  2.6 inch, 3-inch, 3.4-inch, 3.5-inch, and in 3.67-inch.