A saker's barrel was approximately 9.5 ft (2.9m) long, had a calibre of 3.25 inches (8.26 cm) and weighed approximately 1900 lb (860 kg). It could fire round shot weighing 5.25 lb (2.4 kg) approximately 7400 ft (2.3 km) using 4 lb (1.8 kg) of black powder. The shot (designed well before explosive artillery had been devised) was intended to bounce along the ground to cause as much damage as possible. Tests performed in France during the 1950s show a saker's range was over 9000 ft (2.7 km) when fired at a 45-degree angle.