Comments on: Weaponry: The Rifle-Musket and the Minié Ball http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:15:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: melissa http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball.htm#comment-788686 melissa Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:07:13 +0000 #comment-788686 How much would a musket minie ball be worth today? How much would a musket minie ball be worth today?

]]> By: Cory http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball.htm#comment-788113 Cory Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:41:20 +0000 #comment-788113 I was metal-detecting in Kentucky near my home and found a lead sabot. It was about 8-10 inches deep. I do not know if it is modern or old. It is in very good condition. Is it possible to send pics of it to you or anyone that could tell me anything about it. I was metal-detecting in Kentucky near my home and found a lead sabot. It was about 8-10 inches deep. I do not know if it is modern or old. It is in very good condition. Is it possible to send pics of it to you or anyone that could tell me anything about it.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball.htm#comment-782148 Nathan Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:25:11 +0000 #comment-782148 BillG, I'm sure their accuracy would have been much higher if they didn't have people trying to kill them also with guns and cannon fire going off around them. I have never had anyone shoot a gun at me in a deliberate intent of trying to kill me, but I suspect that such an environment isn't ideal for accuracy. Something perhaps to keep in mind. BillG, I'm sure their accuracy would have been much higher if they didn't have people trying to kill them also with guns and cannon fire going off around them. I have never had anyone shoot a gun at me in a deliberate intent of trying to kill me, but I suspect that such an environment isn't ideal for accuracy. Something perhaps to keep in mind.

]]> By: Nick http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball.htm#comment-780354 Nick Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:06:19 +0000 #comment-780354 Great article. Great article.

]]> By: TheOneThatComments http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball.htm#comment-779988 TheOneThatComments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:11:23 +0000 #comment-779988 You guys are crazy! This article was amazing! You guys are crazy! This article was amazing!

]]> By: Dave Shane http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball.htm#comment-779017 Dave Shane Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:19:25 +0000 #comment-779017 There are two reasons for the really low, "hit rates". Neither is the fault of the weapon. First, the average Civil war officer did not see much value in target practice and there was no such thing as "qualifying" as the term is used today. At 100 fpm, you have a pretty high ark, so a lot of practice is necessary to hit at various ranges. The second problem is combat stress. In one study, a group of expert marksmen, using modern weapons fired while a number of tennis ball thrower machienes were "returning fire". Their accuracy dropped to about 25% of non stressed accuracy. There are two reasons for the really low, "hit rates". Neither is the fault of the weapon. First, the average Civil war officer did not see much value in target practice and there was no such thing as "qualifying" as the term is used today. At 100 fpm, you have a pretty high ark, so a lot of practice is necessary to hit at various ranges. The second problem is combat stress. In one study, a group of expert marksmen, using modern weapons fired while a number of tennis ball thrower machienes were "returning fire". Their accuracy dropped to about 25% of non stressed accuracy.

]]> By: Bill G http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball.htm#comment-662661 Bill G Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:07:16 +0000 #comment-662661 It seems to me that the actual accuracy of the civil war rifled musket and mini ball is atrocious. 200k KIA out of how man tens of millions of shots fired? A Union sharpshooter was required to shoot 5" groups at 200 yards. With a conservative 4 RPM a competent sharpshooter would have at least 7 shots at an advancing enemy, the last 3 from within 75 yards. It seems like 4-5 hits would be likely, especially when firing from behind a stone wall to act as a rifle rest. The hundreds of men of the famed 20th Maine inflicted less than 1 casualty per (Kia and wounded) in 2 hours of fighting off repeated assaults. If just 10% of their shots fired from 50 yards or less hit the Alabaman's casualties would have been far greater. It seems to me that the actual accuracy of the civil war rifled musket and mini ball is atrocious. 200k KIA out of how man tens of millions of shots fired? A Union sharpshooter was required to shoot 5" groups at 200 yards. With a conservative 4 RPM a competent sharpshooter would have at least 7 shots at an advancing enemy, the last 3 from within 75 yards. It seems like 4-5 hits would be likely, especially when firing from behind a stone wall to act as a rifle rest.

The hundreds of men of the famed 20th Maine inflicted less than 1 casualty per (Kia and wounded) in 2 hours of fighting off repeated assaults. If just 10% of their shots fired from 50 yards or less hit the Alabaman's casualties would have been far greater.

]]> By: Bill Young http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball.htm#comment-331254 Bill Young Sun, 05 Sep 2010 00:11:48 +0000 #comment-331254 Thank for a great explantion that is too often ignored by other writers. It would be even better if it were accompanied by photos of the paper cartridges carried during at period together with drawn illustrations.. I have read elsewhere that civil war soldiers oftens moisted minie bullets in their mouths before loading and that the British packed them in grease. Thank for a great explantion that is too often ignored by other writers. It would be even better if it were accompanied by photos of the paper cartridges carried during at period together with drawn illustrations..

I have read elsewhere that civil war soldiers oftens moisted minie bullets in their mouths before loading and that the British packed them in grease.

]]> By: Meh Summers http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball.htm#comment-66018 Meh Summers Tue, 26 May 2009 23:34:07 +0000 #comment-66018 wow this was not even helpful. wow this was not even helpful.

]]> By: James Boatwright http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rifle-musket-and-the-mini-ball.htm#comment-1675 James Boatwright Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:11:29 +0000 #comment-1675 Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest (CSA) had not gone to West Point (or to ANY educational institution higher than possibly the 8th grade), and so did not know the "correct" way to fight a battle. He DID know that frontal charges were mostly useless --- he would rather take the time to attack from the flank, or, hopefully (taking a little longer), from his enemies' REAR --- as at Brice's Cross Roads. Thank you, James Boatwright Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest (CSA) had not gone to West Point (or to ANY educational institution higher than possibly the 8th grade), and so did not know the "correct" way to fight a battle.
He DID know that frontal charges were mostly useless — he would rather take the time to attack from the flank, or, hopefully (taking a little longer), from his enemies' REAR — as at Brice's Cross Roads.

Thank you,

James Boatwright

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