Civil War Sniper requirement

[earthworm94]

According this article from the History Channel Club:

http://www.thehistorychannelclub.com...ect.aspx?id=86

With the relatively primitive weapon at the time...

at 600 feet, 10 consecutive shots at an average of five inches from the bull’s-eye

So, that's 10 inche group from 200 yds., about 5 MOA. Of course, with a standard infantry weapon today like a M16 with an ACOG, that's not too difficult at all.

But back then, you have to take many actions to reload so the stance has to be change dramatically between shot to shot.

Also, soldiers cast bullets in the field and those are probably not "match grade by today's standard. They have very well made rifles at that time and even primitive scopes, but the precision of their equipment is probably not as good as they are now.

I just found this tidbits of information rather interesting. Anyone has anything else to say?

[Iraq Ninja]

Interesting.

Here is a link to a book called Sniping in France. It was based on lessons learned in the first World War. This is the complete book in a PDF

http://ia341317.us.archive.org/3/ite...4027946619.pdf

[danpass]

Interesting.

Here is a link to a book called Sniping in France. It was based on lessons learned in the first World War. This is the complete book in a PDF

http://ia341317.us.archive.org/3/ite...4027946619.pdf

I've been reading since you posted, great stuff.

How did you find it?

[Iraq Ninja]

I've been reading since you posted, great stuff.

How did you find it?

Saw the link on the lightfighter forums. I have been reading it tonight as well.

[ZDL]

*******

[Skunkworks]

Interesting.

Here is a link to a book called Sniping in France. It was based on lessons learned in the first World War. This is the complete book in a PDF

http://ia341317.us.archive.org/3/ite...4027946619.pdf

nice find.thanks for sharing

[Gianavel]

Actually, that seems fairly accurate.

It's been a while, but I spent several years reading just about everything I could get my hands on relating to the military aspect of the CW. Memoirs, histories . . . the US Ordinance Manual of 1861 (read every page except for the logarithm tables ).

Also, I've read Alvin York's memoirs, and various other "black powder" type accounts. Basically, York said that for anything under 100 yards (such as shooting turkeys in the head at local matches), he preferred a "hog rifle" to any of the modern arms.

From everything I have read, a ten inch group at 200 yards is very doable.

[Gianavel]

BTW, by the time of the CW, soldier's didn't cast their own bullets unless they had some exotic rifle not supported by army supply (such as Grandad's squirrel gun). Bullets were mass manufactured, rolled into cartridges, and distributed to the troops in crates.

[TY44934]

Interesting link!

[Coperator]

Nice read, thank you.