ResearchPress
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- Joined
- Feb 10, 2011
- Location
- UK
Don't confuse the 33" Short Rifle with the 24" or shorter barreled Carbines. The Short Rifles (with heavy barrel and 1 in 48 rifling) have a good repution fo accuracy. With the Muzzle Loaders Assocation of Great Britain we have National Rifle Championships for Enfield rifles out to 600 yards - most will be using Short rifles, although this may also be due to the rear sight position which is further from the eye of the Pattern 1853 Rifle Musket (with 39" barrel and 1 in 78 rifling) and for many gives a clearer sight picture. A club I am in also has an aggregate match for Enfields at 600 and 800 yards. Even at a known distance and shooting prone with sling for support I haven't kept all 15 match shots on the 800 yard 10' x 6' target (some have though) - however considering the target an artillery crew they'd have been having a hard time!Thx for that Saphroneth I must admit I always associated shorter barrels with the cavalry I didn't think such a short barrelled rifle could achieve such accuracy at long ranges , I was aware the 1853 pattern was tested alongside the Whitworth and the 1853 achieved 1400 yard shots but I had no idea the shorter barrel version was used for sniping.
In the 19thC Rifle Volunteers regularly competed with the P.53 at target shooting competition at distances out to 600 yards. At longer ranges, 'small-bore' rifles such as Whitworth, Henry, Turner, Kerr, and later Metford and Rigby rifles were generally used.
On my web site: Long Range Shooting with the Military Muzzle Loading Rifle
David