My opinions on matters of the day that, generally, have pissed me off.
Being described as a 'Surly Curmudgeon', by those who meet me on a good day, I have a poor regard for the human species.
This is my place for my free speech- not bloody yours. Crap under your own rock.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Todays toy!
Remington Model 1863 “Zouave”
A replica of the US Civil War rifle. Firing a .58" slug, it hits with quite a wallop!
Certainly makes the steel target plates ring and can hit them at 200 metres.
The modern self-contained cartridge made an appearance at the end of the war, but for the most part, it was fought with the sort of firearm in my post.They still needed powder tipped down the barrel, a bullet rammed home and a cap placed on the breech.
This was supplied in a paper cartridge- you bit off the end, tipped in the pre-measured powder and fitted the greased bullet.
The rifles of the type above were a transitional piece between the old smoothbore muskets and rifled cartridge guns.
The old firearms used a round lead ball, with a greased fabric patch as a gasket and to engage the rifling. The military did not use these, prefering the unrifled and less accurate soothbore musket, as it was quicker to load.
Then a Frenchman invented the Minie ball, a conical projectile with a hollow base, that expanded on firing, to engage the rifling.
These are much faster to load, more accurate and harder-hitting.
Remington Model 1863 “Zouave”
3 comments:
The modern self-contained cartridge made an appearance at the end of the war, but for the most part, it was fought with the sort of firearm in my post.They still needed powder tipped down the barrel, a bullet rammed home and a cap placed on the breech.
This was supplied in a paper cartridge- you bit off the end, tipped in the pre-measured powder and fitted the greased bullet.
The rifles of the type above were a transitional piece between the old smoothbore muskets and rifled cartridge guns.
The old firearms used a round lead ball, with a greased fabric patch as a gasket and to engage the rifling. The military did not use these, prefering the unrifled and less accurate soothbore musket, as it was quicker to load.
Then a Frenchman invented the Minie ball, a conical projectile with a hollow base, that expanded on firing, to engage the rifling.
These are much faster to load, more accurate and harder-hitting.
A Martini-Henry will do it at 800+ yards...
Worked out with a Zouave once - nice piece. Too much brasswork though. Prefer the contemporary Enfield. Rifles for men, aye!
Still kicking myself for 25 years ago, turning down a .577 Martini-Henry in the original grease, for $279!
At the time I said- 'who would want one of those old peices of junk'
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