View single post by Johan Steele
 Posted: Sun Apr 19th, 2009 12:09 pm
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Johan Steele
Life NRA,SUVCW # 48,Legion 352


Joined: Sat Dec 2nd, 2006
Location: South Of The North 40, Minnesota USA
Posts: 1050
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 On the impact of the rifled musket on any combat... I admit to being on the fence. I'm a shooter, arguably a pretty good one, and I will simply say that rifling makes hitting a target easier. Whether that target is at 300 yards or 20.

IMO the biggest reason there were not far more casalties in the ACW is two fold. Poor or no accuracy training for the average soldier. And a moral and very religious bent to so many Americans... it is not an easy thing to kill a man. And many a man refused to do so... which w/ a rifled weapon is easily done.

Keep in mind in WW2 that the US soldier was pretty decently trained in hitting his target... and there was far more ammunition expended per enemy hit than in the ACW. The same was true in both Korea and Vietnam.