ID these lead balls

[zomby woof]

I came across these lead balls tonight. They measure about .375 but are not round. Are these buckshot?

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/100_26953.JPG

[high standard 40]

Looks like buckshot. But 000 is only supposed to be .360
Does it apear to be pure or hard lead?

[zomby woof]

They are very soft. They measure from .360-.380 not very round.

[high standard 40]

Soft then probably not buckshot. Most modern 000 would be hard. Doesn't look old (oxydized). Probably 36 caliber round ball for black powder.

[HammerMTB]

I have some buckshot bought years ago that is soft.
I know it is not the norm, but it is possible. Since the balls are not too concentric, I'd be more inclined to say they are shotgun fodder. I'd be displeased if I got round balls for a cap & ball that were that lumpy.
Wonder what would happen if ya ran 'em thru a .358 sizer and put 'em in front of a .38 Special load? Something real light....
plinking loads

[high standard 40]

I have some buckshot bought years ago that is soft.
I know it is not the norm, but it is possible. Since the balls are not too concentric, I'd be more inclined to say they are shotgun fodder. I'd be displeased if I got round balls for a cap & ball that were that lumpy.
Wonder what would happen if ya ran 'em thru a .358 sizer and put 'em in front of a .38 Special load? Something real light....
plinking loads

What caught my eye was the ball at the upper left in the picture. Looks like it has a sprue mark which made me think round ball. And if they were handled rough, they could be dented and dinged and not measure round and true.

I've done the round balls before with a 44mag. Easy for my daughter to handle.

[zomby woof]

They weigh 78-80 grains. They came in small cloth bags with around 30-40 balls in them, all sewn up. and one larger cloth bag with a few pounds in it.

[Marlin Hunter]

Dixie Gun works sells black powder balls in small cloth bags with a yellow string to tie it shut. I think there are 50 to a package

[TexRebel]

not sure, but could it be that some one tried to load some pistol round ball into a shot gun hull, and then unloaed it, that would cause the dents , but i think it is round ball, that was treated bad

[JIMinPHX]

I've seen shot vary a fair amount from it's specified diameter. I don't think that QC on shot is all that tight in many cases.

[anachronism]

.376 gives it away as muzzleloader balls instead of buckshot. They may have been dropped from the mould while they were still soft. The workmanship is pretty poor. Use them any way you see fit.