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08-15-2017, 09:51 AM | #1 |
slug
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Guns of the American Revolution: Setting the Record Straight with a note on accuracy.
"British General George Hanger, who served in America during the Revolution, later wrote, "A soldier's musket, if not exceedingly ill-bored (as many of them are), will strike the figure of a man at 80 yards; it may even at 100; but a soldier must be very unfortunate indeed who shall be wounded by a common musket at 150 yards, provided his antagonist aims at him; and as to firing at a man at 200 yards with a common musket, you may just as well fire at the moon and have the same hopes of hitting your object."
during the battle for Fort Ticonderoga in 1777. As the British advanced toward the American positions, an American officer ordered a sergeant to pick off a British skirmisher only 40 yards away. This touched off wholesale unauthorized firing and the enemy dropped back, leaving the original target on the ground. The "casualty" turned out to be a drunken Irishman from the 47th Regiment who was unhurt.[B] In addition to eight cannons, the Americans had fired about 3,000 rounds from 1,000 muskets at less than 100 yards. All they hit was a British lieutenant and two Indians, with one fatality among the Indians. http://notorc.blogspot.com/2006/11/g...n-setting.html Long read on the guns and tactics of the American Revolution. If yah get bored and have interest in the old 18th century weapons give it a go. If not ignore this post. Other than the rifle used by the militia your chances of being hit on the battlefield were less than getting hit by lightning twice on a golf course.
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08-15-2017, 10:25 AM | #2 |
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And THAT is why the 'ball' was left out of the "Buck & Ball" loading.
The heavy buckshot .30? (more of it) was more effective in hitting 'something.' |
08-15-2017, 10:29 AM | #3 | |
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08-15-2017, 10:30 AM | #4 | |
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My God I could not believe how innacurate things were back then. 3,000 rounds fired at the guy at Ft. Ticonderoga plus cannon fire and they missed. Holy sheet. |
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08-15-2017, 10:53 AM | #5 |
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It sure isn't like that anymore. I reckon that's why they could fight those wars drunk....hell, you had to be drunk to stand there and let someone shoot at you, anyway.
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08-15-2017, 11:25 AM | #6 | |
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08-15-2017, 01:07 PM | #7 |
slug
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Were more men kill from the bayonets
than from musket fire?... |
08-16-2017, 01:19 AM | #8 |
slug
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Disease took out most of them I think? But bayonets were used quite a bit from what I am reading about the Revolution.
Ken Burns documentary on the Civil War the historian, can't think of his name was asked about bayonets and their use during that period. "How many troops died from the bayonet during the Civil war?" "I think one." ADD: Shelby Foote was his name. R.I.P. Mr. Foote. Damn I would have liked to have had a conversation with him. Incredible historian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelby_Foote |
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