Skip to main content

Civil War Artillery Projectiles & Cannon — Est. 1997

Basic Facts & Overview Cannon Gallery Cannon Identification Range Tables Firing & Ammunition Tables Shot & Shell Tables

Projectile Overview Spherical Projectiles Rifled Projectiles Canister & Grape Shot Cross-Sections (Half Shells) Sabot Systems

Heavy Artillery Projectiles Spherical Shells & Shot The Dictator — 13-inch Mortar

Fuzes Overview Bormann Time Fuze Brooke Fuzes Quick Identification of Fuzes Schenkl Combination Fuze

Inventor Overview Inventor Biographies Artillery Patents West Point Foundry

Artillery Glossary Projectile Manufacturers Confederate Manufacturers Artillery Equipment Caliber to Pounder Chart Gorgas Ordnance Report Bibliography

Fort Pulaski Fort Sumter Forts Gallery Vicksburg — Widow Blakely

Home›Heavy Artillery Projectiles›US Spherical 8 inch/50 lb (p. 34)

Federal · Spherical

US Spherical 8 inch/50 lb (p. 34)

A typical spherical shell for this caliber smoothbore.

Diameter: 7.8 inches
Gun: 8-inch Smoothbore
Length: -
Weight: About 50 pounds
Construction: Common Shell
Sabot: Wooden Cup - Missing
Fuzing: Wood Fuze Plug

US Spherical 8 inch/50 lb (p. 34) — © Jack W. Melton Jr.

Explore

Home
Artillery Projectiles
Heavy Artillery Projectiles
Fuzes
Cannon Gallery
Inventors
Artillery Patents

Reference

Artillery Glossary
Range Tables
Manufacturers
Bibliography
Historical Documents
Site Map

About

About & Credits
Contact
Copyright
Collecting Criteria

The Book

Civil War Artillery Projectiles–The Half Shell Book
Order a Copy

Safety notice: Civil War artillery projectiles may still contain live powder. A suspected shell or fuze is hazardous until evaluated by qualified explosive-ordnance professionals — photographs cannot establish that a projectile is safe. This site presents historical construction information for identification and research only; it does not provide instructions for handling, cleaning, drilling, disassembling, or deactivating ordnance.

© 1997–2026 Jack W. Melton Jr. All rights reserved. Photographs and text may not be reproduced without permission. Copyright · Contact · Site Map