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BlueTrain · May 16, 2012, 06:00 AM

Oh, the answers are all over the place and coming from all directions. People have different viewpoints, yet some things have yet to be mentioned.

A military musket for military purposes was one thing; a smoothbore musket for hunting was another. There were different things that had to be considered.

With the tactics of the day, the important thing about a musket was speed in firing, although it was terribly slow by our standards. Even with loose fitting unpatched balls, reloading had to be done carefully and a flintlock, or firelock as was the term, often misfired. Military rifles, like the Baker, were not loaded with cartridges. Riflemen carried powder horns and were especially careful with reloading. They did also carry cartridges when they couldn't take their time. The rifle armed unit in British service had it's origin in the 5th Battalion (I think it was the 5th Battalion) of the 60th (Royal American) Regiment. They were the military elite of the period, at least of those who walked to work.

Non-military rifles so romanticised in the United States as the Kentucky or Pennsylvania rifle were typically of smaller bore, more like .45 caliber. They were weaker but were unquestionably accurate, not to mention the fact that their users were well practiced in shooting. Soldiers at the time did not get in a lot of practice with their weapons but no one here thinks they do now either.

Another limiting factor with a black powder musket in battle was the fact that after a couple of volleys, the field would be covered with smoke. There would be no precise aiming possible even with a rifle. Riflemen did not take their place in the line; they were skirmishers trained to operate further apart and to exercise more initiative.

There was also a belief advance that it was pointless to stand in line and fire volley after volley at the enemy. There would be casualties but no decision in the battle. It was claimed that after a couple of volleys, a charge at the enemy with bayonets fixed would actually result in fewer casualties and a decisive end to the engagement.

An experienced musket shooter loading single shots in a flintlock could make it very dangerous for a man to stand in front of him 150 yards away.

May 16, 2012, 06:00 AM	#13
BlueTrain Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 6,141	Oh, the answers are all over the place and coming from all directions. People have different viewpoints, yet some things have yet to be mentioned. A military musket for military purposes was one thing; a smoothbore musket for hunting was another. There were different things that had to be considered. With the tactics of the day, the important thing about a musket was speed in firing, although it was terribly slow by our standards. Even with loose fitting unpatched balls, reloading had to be done carefully and a flintlock, or firelock as was the term, often misfired. Military rifles, like the Baker, were not loaded with cartridges. Riflemen carried powder horns and were especially careful with reloading. They did also carry cartridges when they couldn't take their time. The rifle armed unit in British service had it's origin in the 5th Battalion (I think it was the 5th Battalion) of the 60th (Royal American) Regiment. They were the military elite of the period, at least of those who walked to work. Non-military rifles so romanticised in the United States as the Kentucky or Pennsylvania rifle were typically of smaller bore, more like .45 caliber. They were weaker but were unquestionably accurate, not to mention the fact that their users were well practiced in shooting. Soldiers at the time did not get in a lot of practice with their weapons but no one here thinks they do now either. Another limiting factor with a black powder musket in battle was the fact that after a couple of volleys, the field would be covered with smoke. There would be no precise aiming possible even with a rifle. Riflemen did not take their place in the line; they were skirmishers trained to operate further apart and to exercise more initiative. There was also a belief advance that it was pointless to stand in line and fire volley after volley at the enemy. There would be casualties but no decision in the battle. It was claimed that after a couple of volleys, a charge at the enemy with bayonets fixed would actually result in fewer casualties and a decisive end to the engagement. An experienced musket shooter loading single shots in a flintlock could make it very dangerous for a man to stand in front of him 150 yards away. __________________ Shoot low, sheriff. They're riding Shetlands! Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag, and return us to our own beloved homes! Buy War Bonds.