I don't think it will work

[jeeper1]

On a gunsmithing forum I visit someone mentioned filling a ping pong ball with lead shot for use as a projectile in a mortar.
I think it would come apart in the barrel without at least a cup shaped sabot to push it.
The only way, as I see it, would be to embed the shot in some sort of solid matrix.
Could I get some thoughts on the subject please.

[Artilleryman]

About 30 years ago I crewed on a 3 inch smoothbore where the owner was using a lead shot projectile that was epoxied together (I think it was epoxy), and it worked okay.  The accuracy wasn't to good, but I think that had more to do with the way the barrel was made.  There was a lump in the bore near the muzzle, which I think caused the ball to curve to the right when it got out about 200 yards.

I don't know why he made them this way other than it was probably a lighter ball than a solid cast one.  This would help keep the breech pressure down.  

Did the person on the other forum indicate why they did this?

[jeeper1]

The person was thinking about doing it. I wanted some opinions before I naysay the Idea. A cannon is one thing but in a mortar I think it would be a waste of time and materials (unless you are trying to down a flock of birds with one lucky shot).