The label on an Age of Sail cannon refers to the weight of the projectile, so a 32-pounder fires a shot of that weight rather than weighing 32 pounds itself. At roughly 14.5 kilograms, the shot makes the scale of even a common naval gun more concrete. Muzzle-loading practice required powder, shot, wadding, a rammer, and a seal for a bore whose shot did not fit perfectly. Crews carried spare rammers because hurried loading could leave one in the bore and send it flying with the next shot. These skilled weapons operated before modern precision manufacturing and rifling, which helps explain both their effectiveness and their limitations.
Chapter · 32:02-35:19
Pounder guns and muzzle-loading practice
A 32-pounder is named for the weight of its shot, not the gun itself; the section also follows the practical limits of muzzle-loading artillery.