Quote:
Originally Posted by weswood
It's been a while since I've shot mine (.45 Kentucky percussion) but I know SABOT and minnie rounds are available for the larger .50 & .54 calibers. Not sure of .45.
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This is one reason I am looking at the 1861 Springfield. The weapon is well known for its' use of the minnie ball. The relative size of the load allowed 2-3 rounds a minute, which at the time, was revolutionary for rifled guns. Yes, a well trained English soldier could get off 3-4 rounds a minute with a Brown Bess. But a well trained Union/Confederate soldier could hit that English soldier at 100-200 yards. The English soldier was lucky to hit at 50-100 yards.
This is one reason that you saw enormous earthen works on Civil War battlefields, especially toward the middle and end of the war. This would keep your riflemen covered while they prevented your opposition soldiers from shooting the guys who were working the artillery. The artillery was there to cover the riflemen if the opposition got too close. Cannister and double cannister would devistate ANY mass assault.
The minnie round caused more grief that any other. Even if you were hit in a non-lethal area, arm or leg say, you had to contend with the horrific shattereing effect that the minnie caused. With the lack of medical knowledge, amputation was usually the ONLY thing that might keep you alive. Even modern medicine would have a hard time with a hit from a minnie.
My $0.02
Mike