The Rifled Musket

Plot

Even though the muzzle-loading, rifled musket, caliber .58, was the regulation arm of the infantryman of the Civil War, many other guns and other calibers were utilized. The Gunsmiths who made breech-loaders had a common and difficult problem: that of making a gas-tight joint. There resulted various approaches in mechanics and models. The repeating arm with its tremendous fire-power, an innovation, did not have time to antiquate the single-shot during the course of the conflict. Most of the cartridges were special for each make of gun, and this too adds to the general interest in the subject.