Muzzleldrs Best Muzzleloading Rifle?

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Playing a lot of Ultimate Civil War General has gotten me wondering more about the difference among the various muzzleloading rifles in the American Civil War.

I have no direct experience with black powder firearms and limited experience with modern arms, but I think I understand the basic principles and mechanics so I'm not a total novice on the subject.

1. The Enfield seems widely regarded as the best of these arms. What gave it the advantage over the Springfield?

2. How did the M1855 Harper's Ferry compare to the M1855 Springfield?

3. What was the quantity and quality of Confederate arms made with equipment from Harper's Ferry (Fayetteville, Richmond, etc)?

4. Was the 1861 Springfield a significant improvement on the 1855? What about the 1863 over the 1861?

5. What was the main drawback of the Lorenz? The lighter weight making it less sturdy? Cost of import? Supply problems with the unique ammo size?

6. Was the Sharps a longer rifle, and therefore slower to load? Or were there other reasons it wasn't suited for line infantry?

7. Was the Whitworth too expensive and too logistically difficult because of its unique ammo, or were there other issues preventing greater use - reluctance to strange technology, problems with the design, slower loading, etc?

8. How does the M1841 Mississippi Rifle compare to the later rifles (Enfields and Springfields). Did the newer rifles simply have the advantage of Minie bullets i.e. more accurate ammunition or were there significant mechanical improvements?

 

[johan_steele]

Playing a lot of Ultimate Civil War General has gotten me wondering more about the difference among the various muzzleloading rifles in the American Civil War.

I have no direct experience with black powder firearms and limited experience with modern arms, but I think I understand the basic principles and mechanics so I'm not a total novice on the subject.

1. The Enfield seems widely regarded as the best of these arms. What gave it the advantage over the Springfield? Nothing IMO as the Springfield proved to be more robust and have better quality control.

2. How did the M1855 Harper's Ferry compare to the M1855 Springfield? They were the same weapon made to the same standard and pattern. They were interchangeable arms that were fundamentally the same.

3. What was the quantity and quality of Confederate arms made with equipment from Harper's Ferry (Fayetteville, Richmond, etc)? Arms made from the Harpers Ferry machinery was quite good, certainly comparable to that of Springfield. Fayetteville & Richmond both saw quality degrade as the war progressed.

4. Was the 1861 Springfield a significant improvement on the 1855? What about the 1863 over the 1861? It depends upon who you ask. The M1864 was arguably the finest muzzle loading arm ever produced IMO.

5. What was the main drawback of the Lorenz? The lighter weight making it less sturdy? Cost of import? Supply problems with the unique ammo size? Neither the US ir CS issued the correct ammunition, it called for .55 and both sides issued .54. Those bored out to .58 were very well regarded.

6. Was the Sharps a longer rifle, and therefore slower to load? Or were there other reasons it wasn't suited for line infantry? Cost, it was considerably more expensive to manufacture than the typical muzzle loading Infantry rifle.

7. Was the Whitworth too expensive and too logistically difficult because of its unique ammo, or were there other issues preventing greater use - reluctance to strange technology, problems with the design, slower loading, etc? A single Whitworh cost roughly the same as 100 P53's. 1 Whitworth or a company worth of rifle muskets was the question that had to be asked.

8. How does the M1841 Mississippi Rifle compare to the later rifles (Enfields and Springfields). Did the newer rifles simply have the advantage of Minie bullets i.e. more accurate ammunition or were there significant mechanical improvements? Weight and balance, the M1841 in .58 with "modern" rear sights was as good as anything out there and was as well liked as anything. In many cases it was preferred to the P53.

Hopefully that answers some of your questions.