Shot

Shot is a general term for projectiles launched from firearms, or possibly rockets, which are made of solid material rather than a filled warhead. Shotguns, while they can fire solid slugs, usually fire multiple round balls from one propelling cartridge. Larger artillery pieces may also fire solid projectiles; this was the first type of ammunition for artillery, and still has a role in certain applications against armor.

With English traditional measurements, shotgun loads are described with a number, which expresses the number of balls per pound of shot.