Southron
06-10-2015, 01:11
Black powder shooters have long debated whether the American Springfield or the British Enfield was the "Most Accurate" Civil War Rifle or Rifle-Musket. The answer is neither!!!!
Actually, the answer to that question was determined way back in 1862 by the Ordnance Officers of General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia! A long series of tests were conducted using the various Minie Rifles (American, British and European) then in use in the Army of Northern Virginia.
What was discovered was that most all .577 and .58 Caliber rifles and rifle-muskets were roughly equally accurate out to 500-600 yards. However, the clear winner in the accuracy department was the British made .577 Enfield Naval Rifle and the .577 Army Short Rifle [both rifles used the identical barrel.]
These rifle, when fired with British made ammunition, were accurate out to 800-900 yards!!! Far surpassing the other rifles and rifle-muskets in the accuracy department. The reason for this was that the Naval Rifle and the Army Short Rifle used a 33 inch long "Heavy" barrel along with 5 Land & Groove, Progressive Depth Rifling and a 1 in 48" Twist.
When the Army of Northern Virginia organized Sharpshooter Battalions, the Enfield Naval Rifles and Army Short Rifles (along with British made, Eley .577 caliber ammunition) were the preferred weapons. When supplies of the Naval and Army Short Rifles proved to be insufficient, then regular P-53 Enfield Long Rifles were issued.
The rifles often identified with Confederate Sharpshooters are the British Whitworth and Kerr Rifles. However, only a few of these arms were imported and issued to Sharpshooters compared to the number of Enfield Naval and Army Short Rifles issued to the Sharpshooters.
As for the accuracy of the Enfield Naval and Army Short Rifles, the British NRA conducted target matches all over the British Isles in the early 1860's and any member of the British Army or the militia could enter and compete in those matches. The Enfield Naval Rifle and the Army Short Rifle proved to be so accurate, compared to the British P-53 Rifle-Musket, that the rules were changed.
The new rules stipulated that any competitor using either a Naval Rifle or an Army Short Rifle in the matches would automatically have 10% of his final score deducted when he winners were determined and prizes awarded!
THE REPLICA ENFIELD NAVAL RIFLES...
Then back in the early 1970's the Parker-Hale company of Birmingham, England manufactured a replica Naval Rifle that reproduced the rifling found in the original Enfield Naval Rifles and these rifles quickly developed a reputation for superb accuracy.
Unfortunately, when Euroarms and Armi-Sport produced their "replicas" of the Enfield Naval Rifle, they botched it because they did not use the correct rifling and hence, their accuracy suffered. However, Pedersoli has reproduced the 5 Land & Groove Rifling with the 1 in 48" Twist of the original Enfield Naval Rifles. The only difference being is that Pedersoli uses "Constant Depth Rifling" (rather than Progressive Depth Rifling) which means for optimum accuracy, the Minie Ball used in those Pedersoli barrels cannot not be more than 2 Thou of an inch UNDER actual bore diameter.
However, Pedersoli has the reputation for making "the best replica barrels in the business" as their replica Gibbs Target Rifles often win the 1,000 Yard matches at Oak Ridge.
The Confederate Sharpshooters of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia were used much more than just "Snipers" in the modern sense of the word, but as elite troops in a variety of combat roles in which they were needed. For more information on the subject, I can highly recommend Fred. Ray's book on the Sharpshooters:
http://www.amazon.com/Shock-Troops-Confederacy-Sharpshooter-Battalions/dp/0964958597
Actually, the answer to that question was determined way back in 1862 by the Ordnance Officers of General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia! A long series of tests were conducted using the various Minie Rifles (American, British and European) then in use in the Army of Northern Virginia.
What was discovered was that most all .577 and .58 Caliber rifles and rifle-muskets were roughly equally accurate out to 500-600 yards. However, the clear winner in the accuracy department was the British made .577 Enfield Naval Rifle and the .577 Army Short Rifle [both rifles used the identical barrel.]
These rifle, when fired with British made ammunition, were accurate out to 800-900 yards!!! Far surpassing the other rifles and rifle-muskets in the accuracy department. The reason for this was that the Naval Rifle and the Army Short Rifle used a 33 inch long "Heavy" barrel along with 5 Land & Groove, Progressive Depth Rifling and a 1 in 48" Twist.
When the Army of Northern Virginia organized Sharpshooter Battalions, the Enfield Naval Rifles and Army Short Rifles (along with British made, Eley .577 caliber ammunition) were the preferred weapons. When supplies of the Naval and Army Short Rifles proved to be insufficient, then regular P-53 Enfield Long Rifles were issued.
The rifles often identified with Confederate Sharpshooters are the British Whitworth and Kerr Rifles. However, only a few of these arms were imported and issued to Sharpshooters compared to the number of Enfield Naval and Army Short Rifles issued to the Sharpshooters.
As for the accuracy of the Enfield Naval and Army Short Rifles, the British NRA conducted target matches all over the British Isles in the early 1860's and any member of the British Army or the militia could enter and compete in those matches. The Enfield Naval Rifle and the Army Short Rifle proved to be so accurate, compared to the British P-53 Rifle-Musket, that the rules were changed.
The new rules stipulated that any competitor using either a Naval Rifle or an Army Short Rifle in the matches would automatically have 10% of his final score deducted when he winners were determined and prizes awarded!
THE REPLICA ENFIELD NAVAL RIFLES...
Then back in the early 1970's the Parker-Hale company of Birmingham, England manufactured a replica Naval Rifle that reproduced the rifling found in the original Enfield Naval Rifles and these rifles quickly developed a reputation for superb accuracy.
Unfortunately, when Euroarms and Armi-Sport produced their "replicas" of the Enfield Naval Rifle, they botched it because they did not use the correct rifling and hence, their accuracy suffered. However, Pedersoli has reproduced the 5 Land & Groove Rifling with the 1 in 48" Twist of the original Enfield Naval Rifles. The only difference being is that Pedersoli uses "Constant Depth Rifling" (rather than Progressive Depth Rifling) which means for optimum accuracy, the Minie Ball used in those Pedersoli barrels cannot not be more than 2 Thou of an inch UNDER actual bore diameter.
However, Pedersoli has the reputation for making "the best replica barrels in the business" as their replica Gibbs Target Rifles often win the 1,000 Yard matches at Oak Ridge.
The Confederate Sharpshooters of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia were used much more than just "Snipers" in the modern sense of the word, but as elite troops in a variety of combat roles in which they were needed. For more information on the subject, I can highly recommend Fred. Ray's book on the Sharpshooters:
http://www.amazon.com/Shock-Troops-Confederacy-Sharpshooter-Battalions/dp/0964958597