I think I may have figured a way to cheat the devil on the lead insert.
BUCKSHOT.
here's a table with shot#, diameter, # of pellets per ounce:
Size _ Diameter ______________ Pellets/oz
#000 diameter .36" (9.1 mm)__ 6 pellets/oz
#00 .diameter .33" (8.4 mm)__ 8 pellets/oz
#0 ..diameter .32" (8.1 mm)__ 9 pellets/oz
#1 ..diameter .30" (7.6 mm)_ 10 pellets/oz
#2 ..diameter .27" (6.9 mm)_ 15 pellets/oz
#3 ..diameter .25" (6.4 mm)_ 18 pellets/oz
#4 ..diameter .24" (6.0 mm)_ 21 pellets/oz
#2 ..diameter .27" (6.9 mm)_ 15 pellets/oz
hrmn...
that looks like my best option.
might be time to buy (and gut) me some shotshells loaded in #2 buck.
You probably could buy some loose shot as well. I know black powder shooters shoot it. Next year, if I get my flintlock fowler that hubby and I keep talking about, I know we'll be getting some loose shot. But we don't have any on hand. I do have some roundballs for my .54 caliber flintlock, though...
grrrrrrrrrrrrr...........
by my calculations, a line of #2 pellets extending 34" (the proposed channel length) would consist of 126 pellets and have a total weight of only 8.33 ounces.
I don't know, yet, but I don't think that will do.
dammitall, I was HOPING to avoid having to melt lead... how am I to make a controlled fire above Pb's melting temperature of 621F?